OUR LADY OF FATIMA
May 13
	I recently listened to an audio version of the book Heaven is for Real. I will not go into the amazing experience this young boy went through, but I will share what he repeated over and over to his parents following the ordeal: “Jesus loves children…Jesus really loves the little children…Jesus loves children so much!!” This is made evident by the repeated Marian apparitions three Portuguese children experienced in 1917. Jesus sent his Mother to Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia, to ask them to pray the rosary for world peace, an end to World War I, for sinners and for the conversion of Russia. Our Lady also confided in them three secrets, which were revealed publicly at different times. These apparitions were approved by the local bishop in 1930, at which time they began celebrating her feast day in Portugal. It was added to the calendar of the Catholic Church worldwide in 2002. May Our Lady’s words continue to touch the hearts of God’s beloved children and motivate us to pray the rosary frequently, begging our Lord for world peace and the conversion of sinners.
—Tami Urcia