A friend recently remarked that the work my husband and I do adds up to a perfect blend of liturgy and devotion.
Bill, my husband, travels the country with the National Pilgrim Virgin statue of Our Lady of Fatima. He speaks about the Fatima message, particularly a part of the message that is least noticed but most practical. This would be the part that we can play daily in answering Our Lady's requests: that we accept, bear with submission, and "offer up" every big and small pain, inconvenience, frustration, suffering, etc., for the love of God, in reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and for the conversion of sinners. This facet of the Fatima message gets a warm welcome from everyone who hears it. Many people who come to Bill's talks don't feel up to a commitment to the daily rosary, but are relieved to learn of something that they can do. After all, daily suffering comes to everyone regardless of their degree of piety and devotion to prayer. Traffic jams, stubbed toes, overdue bills. So much daily straw that can be spun into gold. A brief prayer of offering that makes suffering meaningful is within everyone's grasp.
Instant penance, joining our little problems to the sufferings of Christ. No hairshirt required.
So Bill goes around telling everyone about this easy and valuable spiritual practice.
And I write about the Liturgy of the Hours.
So we enjoy today's optional memorial of Our Lady of Fatima. This memorial was only put on the calendar a few years back, so the second reading and the concluding prayer will not appear in your printed breviary. But you will find them at ibreviary.com. Scroll down to the end of each hours to find the Our Lady of Fatima elements.
O my God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love you. I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love you.
