Lent and Our Lady of Fatima
By John C. Preiss
The hardness of hearts within our society must change if we are to change society. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta said:
“Lent is the time for greater love; listen to Jesus’ thirst. … Repent and believe, Jesus tells us. What are we to repent? Our indifference, our hardness of hearts. He knows your weakness. He wants only your love, wants only the chance to love you.”
It is hard not to look around and see the damage being done in our society. It is through the grace and mercy of God that we can overcome the trials we face. If we look too high and try to fix what we can not fix, the wonderful things in front of us will be lead astray by the ever changing world. Instead of worrying about everything else, we must look to God in all things, whether good or bad. Our families should always come first. What is the point if you save others and your family is led astray by the evil one. It is a perfect time to reflect on the messages of Our Lady at Fatima as we prepare for the next forty days of lent and offer up all of our many sacrifices.
This is straight from Our Lady when Lucia asked how we do make sacrifices?
“Make everything you can a sacrifice and offer them to God as an act of REPARATION (to repair) for the sins by which He is offended and to ask for the conversion of sinners.
When we reflect on the July 13th, 1917 apparition
Our Lady said, “Sacrifice yourselves for sinners and say many times, especially whenever you make some sacrifice.
“O Jesus, it is for the love of you, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation (to repair) for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
Jesus truly wants us to love Him and share our many trials. No one is exempt from suffering. Let us not waste this opportunity to offer up these trials. We as Christians know that there is hope in suffering. Mediate on the cross.
In conclusion, I want to encourage you this Lenten season, to focus on your daily effort to live for Christ. Make this Lent special by living out the plan set forth by Our Lady of Fatima by offering up your personal sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. In order to change society, we need to first change ourselves and develop a deeper faith, while obtaining more knowledge, doing penance and making frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament. We must also find ourselves in the confessional more, and participating more often at Mass. If we do this, we continue to build the barrier against sin by obtaining the grace that will sustain us this Lent and beyond, especially in this Year of St. Joseph.
The floodgates of grace have been open to us these next 40 days; let us take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.
