“What do you want of me?”
“I wish you to come here on the 13th of
next month, to pray the Rosary every day,
and to learn to read. Later, I will tell
you what I want.”
[Lucia asked for the cure of a sick person.]
“If he is converted, he will be cured during
the year.”
[Lucia]: “I would like to ask you to take us
to heaven.”
[Our Lady]: “Yes, I will take Jacinta and
Francisco soon. But you are to stay here
some time longer...”
“Jesus wishes to make use of you to make
me known and loved. He wants to
establish in the world devotion to my
Immaculate Heart.”
“I promise salvation to those who embrace it,
and those souls will be loved by God like
flowers placed by me to adorn His throne.”
[Lucia]: “Am I to stay here alone?”
“No, my daughter. Are you suffering a great
deal? Don’t lose heart. I will never forsake
you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge
and the way that will lead you to God.”
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Do you also desire to know what Our Lady wants of you?
In opening our heart to Our Lady, Her inspirations help us to make simple short term commitments,
daily faithful practices, and a specific task to accomplish. If we are faithful to these
temporal preparations which are permeated with spiritual value, She will later reveal what She
wants of us.
In this impatient and self-absorbed society, people seek instant gratification. Yet within the
context of a promise, and in order to give encouragement, this good, wise, and prudent Mother
has Her children work for what they want, by putting their priorities first. We should consider
this example in our dealings with suffering.
Once Lucia has her selfless concerns addressed, she makes known to Mary her own personal
request. But God has different plans.
Here Our Lady reveals the first reason for Her visits. Placing Jesus’ wishes before Her own,
She reveals what it is that Jesus wants of us right now. Let these words penetrate into your heart. [Re-read these words of Our Lady again... slowly]
How do Her words affect you? Do you feel pierced in some way? Listen to Her promise:
Do you not wish to console your outraged God, deeply hurt by the numerous, grievous sins of
humanity, by making Mary known and loved? God wishes your salvation, and Mary promises Her intercession on your behalf.
Your little acts of love will be like those of St. Therese, the Little Flower.
Lucia is pierced in two ways: She does not receive her request to go to heaven soon and she is informed she will lose the companionship of her very
dear cousins.
Again, Our Lady balances the pain of the cross with Her comfort--both in words and in commitment...
an example for us in the way to extend mercy to the sorrowing. Mary does not hide
from Lucia the painful truth, nor deny her sorrowful realization, but promises Lucia Her presence
and Her help. Our compassion, too, must be balanced with truth and sacrificial commitment.
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[The light of God coming from Mary, again, permeates the children as they find themselves immersed in God.
It is the communication of Her own participation of His Presence, which they share in. She reveals, and
lets them experience, the glory of that joy which accompanies the acceptance of the Will of God in their
life. We see the participation of their partnership together, acting both in heaven and on earth by the
light, and how it was directed in their regard. This is the communion of saints. Lucia receives strength
from this communication and her great suffering becomes bearable. In seeing Our Lady’s own Heart, pierced
by thorns, they recognize and understand that She too, participates in a suffering that is made manifest
to them on a human level. It is this participation of love and suffering which makes them understand they
are ALL really in it together...yet, for Our Lady, a chasm of omission - thorns of ingratitude and
blasphemies leveled against Her - are yet to be repaired, as God now reveals.]
REFLECTION & RESOLUTION: God’s call and plan is made known to you. Let the truth of this reality sink
deep within you. Go before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, or to a quiet place, and become aware of
how these words affect you. The deeper you participate in its realization, the more Our Lady will be
able to use you. Consider: Isn’t it so often true that we see things from our own perspective, and
even perhaps other’s perspectives, but fail to see things from God’s point of view? So many set Mary
aside thinking devotion to Her takes away from the attention we owe to Christ. Jesus is compared to
Mary, and then Our Lady is rated accordingly. But Jesus wants us to look at Mary from His relationship
perspective. In doing so, we might begin to understand the kind of relationship He wishes us to have with Him.
[Brief period of silent reflection]
Discussion
Examination of last month’s resolutions
Apostolic resolution
Resolution in brief: Ponder deeply on the relationship between Jesus and Mary, especially when you pray the Rosary.
Consider how much Mary means to Jesus. How will you help to make Mary known and loved in order
to please Him?
Act of Consecration
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