Diocesan parishes celebrate 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima
WEST JORDAN — May 13 marked the 100th anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions in Fatima, Portugal.
Parishes around the Catholic Diocese of Salt lake City marked this anniversary by celebrating a special Mass or offering prayers the Our Lady.
At Saint Joseph the Worker Parish in West Jordan, the celebrations started early in the morning with Mass and continued throughout the day with the Sacrament of Confession, recitation of the Divine Mercy chaplet, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
In 1916, 10-year-old Lucia Santos and her cousins, 6-year-old Jacinta Marto and 8-year-old Francisco Marto saw the apparitions of an angel; the following year, they saw the Blessed Mother.
Our Lady appeared to the three children on six occasions; in 1920 she appeared once again to just Lucia.
For the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions, Pope Francis granted a plenary indulgence opportunity throughout the centennial year, from Nov. 27, 2016 to Nov. 26, 2017.
There are three ways to obtain the indulgence; these include ordinary conditions: that the faithful go to Confession and Communion, be interiorly detached from sin, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.
The first way of obtaining the indulgence is to undertake a pilgrimage to the shrine in Fatima, Portugal and participate in a celebration of prayer dedicated to the Virgin.
The second way is to pray before a statue of Our Lady of Fatima that has been place in any church, oratory or proper place during the days of the anniversary of the apparitions. These days are the 13th of each month from May to October. Before the statue, the faithful are to participate devoutly in a celebration or prayer in honor of the Virgin Mary. In addition, the faithful must pray the Our Father, recite the Creed and invoke Our Lady of Fatima.
The last way is for those who, because of age, illness or other serious cause, are unable to get around. To receive the indulgence, the aged and infirm must pray in front of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima while spiritually uniting themselves to the jubilee celebrations on the days of the apparitions, the 13th of each month between May and October.
At the celebration at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, the pastor, Fr. Javier Virgen, began with a prayer.
“On this special day we ask Our Lady to pray to Jesus to ask him to touch and embrace the many sinners who will be experiencing God’s mercy and peace,” he said.
Fr. Virgen and the faithful who were present during the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament prayed for the Church, the diocese, the priests, the bishop and the families of the diocese.
As they began the recitation of the Divine Mercy chaplet, Fr. Virgen asked the people to remember Jesus’ sacrifice.
“Think of his agony and suffering, and ask for a special favor, pray for a special intention, especially today, as we honor her on her 100th anniversary,” Fr. Virgen said.
The faithful from different parishes throughout the area joined Fr. Virgen in celebrating the Virgin.
“I came here today to ask for her blessing. She is our Mother and she will always protect us,” said Claudia Gonzalez from Sacred Heart Parish.
For Sonia Batalla, another Sacred Heart parishioner, it was the first time that she participated in the Divine Mercy chaplet.
“I felt something very special, and more when I got to hug the image of Our Lady,” she said.
“I heard something that told me to come today and be with her,” said Sonia Gonzalez, a Saints Peter and Paul parishioner.
For Linda Montoya, who went with her husband to celebrate the Virgin, it was a very special moment.
“I love to receive her blessing,” she said.
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