Fatima Today

By World Apostolate of Fatima, USAReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Fatima Today episodes

October 01, 2018 The question came up: How do I continue to trust in God when everything around me is falling apart?
The question came up: How do I continue to trust in God when everything around me is falling apart?
That is a loaded question! There is a lot that can be unpacked from it such as experiences that reflect family turmoil, financial upsets, spiritual dryness, disappointments, and betrayal. Let me try to answer by giving you a perspective based on my own convictions.
3 min
September 26, 2018 Fatima Presents - On Love and Devotion to Our Lady, Lucia Bem-Merle
Lucia Bem-Merle, a devotee of Our Lady shares her beautiful story of love and devotion to Our Lady of Fatima.
5 min
September 12, 2018 Fatima and the vocation of marriage and family
Barb Ernster interviews Dr. Mary Shivanandan, a retired professor of theology from the John Paul II Institute of Studies on Marriage and Family. She has authored a new book: The Holy Family, Model Not Exception, and discusses the Church’s teaching on marriage and family, in light of Humanae Vitaeand the works of St. John Paul II, the particular role of St. Joseph, and the Fatima call to live God’s design for marriage and family in the image of the Holy Trinity.
31 min
September 08, 2018 The Feast of the Birth of Our Lady, a reflection by Fr. David Kime
The Feast of the Birth of Our Lady, a reflection by Fr. David Kime
3 min
August 31, 2018 A call to keep our swords in hand at this time in the Church - Official Statement from Our Lady's Blue Army
Fom the Desk of the Executive Director - David Carollo
Official Statement from the World Apostolate of Fatima - Our Lady's Blue Army - A call to keep our swords in hand
I want to speak with you about the troubling happenings in the Church which have dominated the news these past few weeks.
Certainly it is sad when anyone acts contrary to the laws of God, and it is even more troubling when those that we look up to and trust fail to live up to their responsibilities. The very foundation of our Faith is shaken.
Certainly those who are guilty of crimes and those who helped facilitate these actions must be punished, but we must be careful not to support actions that will do serious long term damage to the Church of Christ. Her enemies are many and are ready to attack as a wild beast attacks a wounded animal.
Thou art Peter the rock and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The optimal word here is prevail.
Throughout history the Church has suffered persecution and difficulty. It is no different now. Whether these attacks are from the outside or from within they are non-the-less attacks against the Body of Christ.
There are many good priests and bishops, truly the majority, who labor faithfully in the vineyard of the Lord. They work daily for the salvation of souls. We must support them and the Church.
At Fatima Our Lady warned of the many difficulties that would envelope the world if her requests were not headed. The Church is not immune from these difficulties.
Instead of the Church transforming culture as is its mission, in many quarters the culture is transforming the Church.
The Cure of Ars once said the there is no such thing as a bad priest just those who have not been prayed for enough. Our job as members of this apostolate is to pray for the sanctification of our clergy so that they can effectively transform the world.
He also said:
“If a priest is determined not to lose his soul, as soon as any disorder arises in the parish he must trample under foot all human considerations as well as the fear of the contempt and hatred of his people. He must not allow anything to bar his way in the discharge of duty, even where he is certain of being murdered on coming down from the pulpit. A pastor who wants to do his duty must keep his sword in hand at all times.'”
We too as laity must keep our sword in hand at all times. Our sword is the rosary, the weapon as St. Padre Pio called it.
101 years after the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima the many things that she predicted have come to pass. Unfaithfulness in all walks of life has become the norm. One half of all marriages end in divorce, even Catholic marriages. Many religious vocations are abandoned. The problems which we are witnessing in the Church reflect the problems of a society that has turned from God and decided to set its own course. We as the Church of Christ must make an even stronger effort to be faithful to Him.
We are calling for a new initiative of prayer for priests. Let’s help them be soldiers in this war. It is indeed a war, and the consequence of losing this conflict is eternal loss of God.
The Fatima message is one of prayer, penance and sacrifice. Let us make a new effort to bring holiness back in to the world. The Triumph of the Immaculate Heart, promised by the Queen of Heaven will come when we have merited it by our faithfulness.
Our website bluearmy.com has many resources to help you grow spiritually. Join us in this effort to convert the world.
God bless you!

A Prayer for Priests
O Almighty Eternal God, look upon the face of Thy Son, and for the love of Him who is the eternal High Priest, have pity on Thy priests. Remember, O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail human beings. Stir up in them the grace of their vocation, which is in them by the imposition of the bishop’s hands. Keep them close to Thee, lest the enemy prevail against them, so that they may never do anyt
5 min
August 31, 2018 A call to keep our swords in hand at this time in the Church - Official Statement from Our Lady’s Blue Army

Fom the Desk of the Executive Director - David Carollo

Official Statement from the World Apostolate of Fatima - Our Lady's Blue Army - A call to keep our swords in hand

I want to speak with you about the troubling happenings in the Church which have dominated the news these past few weeks.

Certainly it is sad when anyone acts contrary to the laws of God, and it is even more troubling when those that we look up to and trust fail to live up to their responsibilities. The very foundation of our Faith is shaken.

Certainly those who are guilty of crimes and those who helped facilitate these actions must be punished, but we must be careful not to support actions that will do serious long term damage to the Church of Christ. Her enemies are many and are ready to attack as a wild beast attacks a wounded animal.

Thou art Peter the rock and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The optimal word here is prevail.

Throughout history the Church has suffered persecution and difficulty. It is no different now. Whether these attacks are from the outside or from within they are non-the-less attacks against the Body of Christ.

There are many good priests and bishops, truly the majority, who labor faithfully in the vineyard of the Lord. They work daily for the salvation of souls. We must support them and the Church.

At Fatima Our Lady warned of the many difficulties that would envelope the world if her requests were not headed. The Church is not immune from these difficulties.

Instead of the Church transforming culture as is its mission, in many quarters the culture is transforming the Church.

The Cure of Ars once said the there is no such thing as a bad priest just those who have not been prayed for enough. Our job as members of this apostolate is to pray for the sanctification of our clergy so that they can effectively transform the world.

He also said:

“If a priest is determined not to lose his soul, as soon as any disorder arises in the parish he must trample under foot all human considerations as well as the fear of the contempt and hatred of his people. He must not allow anything to bar his way in the discharge of duty, even where he is certain of being murdered on coming down from the pulpit. A pastor who wants to do his duty must keep his sword in hand at all times.'”

We too as laity must keep our sword in hand at all times. Our sword is the rosary, the weapon as St. Padre Pio called it.

101 years after the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima the many things that she predicted have come to pass. Unfaithfulness in all walks of life has become the norm. One half of all marriages end in divorce, even Catholic marriages. Many religious vocations are abandoned. The problems which we are witnessing in the Church reflect the problems of a society that has turned from God and decided to set its own course. We as the Church of Christ must make an even stronger effort to be faithful to Him.

We are calling for a new initiative of prayer for priests. Let’s help them be soldiers in this war. It is indeed a war, and the consequence of losing this conflict is eternal loss of God.

The Fatima message is one of prayer, penance and sacrifice. Let us make a new effort to bring holiness back in to the world. The Triumph of the Immaculate Heart, promised by the Queen of Heaven will come when we have merited it by our faithfulness.

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5 min
August 23, 2018 The question came up: Why pray to Mary? - A short reflection by Fr. James Walling, CPM
The question came up: Why pray to Mary?
Does not praying to Mary go against the first of the Ten Commandments: “I am the Lord your God, you shall have no strange gods before me?” By this commandment, doesn’t God forbid placing a creature in between Himself and the person who prays? So why go to Mary?
Underneath the question, there is a presupposition: one has presupposed that Mary is an obstacle in between us and God; both, in going to God and in God coming to the person who prays.
Now, having such a quick ear, you can notice that common sense is the best approach for answering this question.
First, Mary cannot be an obstacle for God coming to the person who prays, since He already came to each of us by being born “ex Maria virgine,” that is, outof the Virgin Mary. When the innkeeper at Bethlehem refused Mary, he also refused the Messiah, Jesus Christ. God is the one who placed Mary in between us and Himself. Dare we refuse?
Second, Mary cannot be an obstacle for the person who prays toward God because Mary is not the object of the act of faith. It’s something like how people use eye glasses for corrected vision. One does not look at the glasses. Rather, one always looks through the glasses for the purpose of seeing the object beyond more sharply. It is the same with praying to Mary, or more precisely, throughMary. When we pray through Mary, and that is the same thing as praying with her, we are able to see the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit more clearly. Mary is not an obstacle. Mary is an amplifier. Mary amplifies our prayers to God, and through her, God amplifies His love to us. After all, she did say, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” Finally, Pope Saint John Paul the Second encourages us to “enter into the school of Mary,” where she presents to us the sacred countenance of Jesus Christ, who is the object of our acts of faith, our hope, and our charity.
May Our Lady of Fatima protect you and may her mantle cover you and your family.
4 min
August 22, 2018 On the Queenship of Mary - a reflection by Fr. Caliente
"Where Mary was, the Church is. Where Mary is, the Church will be."
"The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
The queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir." Psalm 45

A reflection on the Queenship of Mary from Fr. Caliente.
3 min
August 13, 2018 His Eminence, Raymond Cardinal Burke delivers homily during the Fatima Anniversary Celebration
His Eminence, Raymond Cardinal Burke delivers homily during the Fatima Anniversary Celebration on August 13, 2018 at the Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Washington, New Jersey.
16 min
August 01, 2018 54-Day Novena for Our Nation to include the Fatima sacrificial element, Deacon Bob Ellis
The World Apostolate of Fatima, USA is partnering with The Holy League on the54-day Novena for Our Nation and the nationwide Rosary Coast to Coast, Oct. 7, adding a sacrificial element as was emphasized at Fatima.
Sister Lucia said that the most essential part of the Fatima message is the sanctification of your daily duty according to your state of life. In other words, to offer up all of your sufferings, trials and tribulations that God permits in your life every day as reparation for the salvation of souls and in supplication for the conversion of sinners. This was the first request Our Lady posed to the three Fatima children on May 13, 1917.
7 min