August 2014

Dear Friend,

It’s hard to make the argument that one war isn’t as bad as another war.  That’s because in all wars, hundreds, thousands, and sometimes millions of people still die horrible deaths, and so many of them are the helpless and innocent.

In the summer of 1914 one of those terrible wars began, and by the time it came to an end on November 11, 1918, 16 million men, women, and children had been killed.  A generation later a second world war was fought killing another 75 million.

In 1917 Our Blessed Lady appeared to three peasant children in the small village of Fatima, Portugal.  In a series of six apparitions she simply asked that the faithful seek forgiveness for the sins and pray the rosary daily.

If her requests were answered positively, she said the “Great War” would come to an end and the world would live in a time of peace.  If not, the “Great War” would continue and another war, even more devastating, would follow.  And as we all know, the “Great War,” did continue for another year and an even greater war did indeed follow.

This summer marks the 100th Anniversary of the beginning of that “Great War” and I hope this sad anniversary can serve as a reminder that what Our Lady asked for in 1917 still holds true today.  Peace in the world, peace in our country, peace in our neighborhoods, peace in our families, and peace in our own lives can only be fully realized through a personal religious conversion and a daily praying of the rosary.

What can you and I do to make our lives more reflective of Gospel values?  That is the real question we should be asking ourselves in the fall of 2014.  What are the sins for which we should be seeking forgiveness?  What are those personal sins which are keeping us separated from our loving God and our Blessed Mother?  And are we praying the rosary daily as our Dear Lady asked of us?

For years people worried about what had become known as the “third secret of Fatima.”  Such worry and concern continues to be such an unimportant distraction.  The most important and timeless message of Fatima is so direct and so very simple, “Change your lives, seek forgiveness for your sins, and pray the rosary daily.”

Now, in the last half of the year 2014, is the time to again open our ears so we might truly hear Our Lady’s words.  Now is the time to again open our hearts to do what she has asked.

Now, in the late summer and early fall of 2014, is the time to more fully receive and experience the peace of mind which she promised.

To appropriately celebrate the 97th Anniversary of Our Lady’s 1917 Fatima apparitions, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Shrine will pray a special Fatima Mass Novena of Thanksgiving. 

It was on that day that over 70,000 people had gathered in the “Cova de Iria” in hope of actually seeing the Blessed Mother.  What they did witness was probably the greatest and most powerful miracle of the 20th Century, the “Miracle of the Sun.”  The details of this event are printed on the enclosed form.

On this form I’d like you to please check and write all the personal prayer petitions you would most want remembered and prayed for in our special Anniversary Mass Novena.  Ask Our Lady to heal your physical and emotional illnesses.  Ask Our Lady to bring peace into your live and into the lives of your loved ones.  Ask Our Lady to bless your life with that special miracle you pray for at the end of each day.  Ask Our Lady for the gift of an abundance of healing and Hope. 

Your prayer petitions will not only be prayed for here at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Shrine but also in an additional Mass Novena celebrated at the Fatima Shrine in Portugal.

When sending your prayer requests please also try to enclose a generous donation in support of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Shrine.  As you ask for Our Lady’s help, also be willing to give so that through the Shrine’s ministries the message of Our Lady of Fatima might daily touch the lives of both believers and unbelievers.

If you are able to send a donation of $20 or more, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Shrine would like to show its deepest appreciation by giving back to you in return a Fatima Anniversary Rosary.

I do pray you are well and look forward to receiving your Fatima prayer petitions just as soon as possible.  Please reach out to Our Lady of Fatima so that she might also reach out to you.

In the Peace of Our Lady of Fatima,

Fr. Raymond M. Dien, C.M.C.