Is it not an overwhelming thought that an Angel admonished the Fatima Children for playing when the need for prayer and sacrifice was so great?

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1916 The Apparitions of the Angel at Fatima 

The first apparition of the Angel took place on the side of a hill called Lopa do Cabeço in the spring of 1916.  Although the children had previously seen a nebulous figure of light, this was the first time they could definitely perceive the Angel and hear him speak. The Angel then knelt, bowing low with his head touching the ground.  The three children, impelled by a supernatural impulse, did the same, and then repeated after him: "My God, I believe, I adore, I trust, and I love Thee.  I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not trust, and do not love Thee."  Having repeated this prayer three times, the Angel rose and said: "Pray thus.  The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to your supplications."

Lucia later told Canon Galamba

About this visit of the Angel

"The supernatural atmosphere which enveloped us was so intense that, for a long time, we were scarcely aware of our own existence, remaining in the same position and repeating the same prayers. "So intimate and intense was the feeling of the presence of God, that we did not even attempt to speak to one another. The next day we could still feel the holy atmosphere. It began to disappear only very slowly.  We said nothing about this apparition... it seemed to impose silence on us.  It was of such an intimate nature that it was not easy to speak of it at all."

The next apparition of the Angel took place in the heat of midsummer, while the children were playing by a well not far from Lucia's home. 

Suddenly they saw the Angel descending towards them and heard him ask: "what are you doing?  Pray!  Pray a great deal!  The Hearts of Jesus and Mary have merciful designs upon you.  Offer prayers and sacrifices continually to the Most High."  "How are we to make sacrifices?" Lucia asked.  The Angel replied: "Make everything you do a sacrifice, and offer it as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and as a petition for the conversion of poor sinners.  Bring peace to our country in this way.  I am its Angel Guardian, the Angel of Portugal.  Especially accept and bear with submission the sufferings sent you by Our Lord."

VALUE OF SACRIFICE

"These words," commented Lucia, "made a deep impression on our minds, like a light making us understand Who God is, how He loves us and desires to be loved, as well as the value of sacrifice, how pleasing it is to Him, and how, on account of it, He grants the grace of conversion to poor sinners."

For this reason, from that moment we began to offer such mortifications as daily befell us... and to remain for hours with our forehead touching the ground, repeating the prayer the Angel had taught us." The experience of this apparition  overwhelmed the children, and for days they remained silent and in a spirit of deep reflection.  Jacinta said: "I can't speak, nor play, nor sing; I have no strength for anything."  "Nor do I," replied Francisco, "But what does it matter?  The Angel is more important than anything!  Let us think about him."

Is it not an overwhelming thought to consider that the Angel admonished these little children, who were only nine, eight, and six years old for spending their time playing when the need for continual prayer and sacrifice was so great? 

Is that need any less today than it was then?  How many parents coddle and pamper their children, never teaching these little souls entrusted to them by God the importance of prayer and sacrifice.

We greatly underestimate the capacity of children for prayer and sacrifice!  When children are taught by example they are generous in their response to the good.  Very often the children's unreserved "offering of self" far surpasses the half-hearted offering of adults, who are overly imbued with self-love and attachment to material wealth, prestige, security, and comfortable living.

Remember well how our Lord set a little child before the apostles who were arguing over who would be most important in the Kingdom, solemnly assuring them, that unless they were converted and made like little children, they could not enter his kingdom. Children, when very young, do not desire authority, do not regard outward distinctions, are free from malice, are teachable, and willingly dependent on their parents. Granted  It is true that they soon begin to show other unfavorable dispositions due to concupiscence from original sin but these are marks of childhood, and render them proper emblems of true Christians. Surely we need to be daily renewed in the spirit, that we may become simple and humble, as little children, so that we may enter Gods Kingdom.

We will consider in the next post the last apparition of the Angel where the children received more light on the their mission of prayer and sacrifice for the conversion of poor sinners given to them by God.  Here their mission was linked by the mediation of the Angel directly to Eucharistic Reparation. Suggesting that the cause of the loss of so many souls is directly in proportion to the scorn and contempt our Lord receives by his own people in this Sacrament of His Love.

Bl. Jacinta and Francesco Marto and Sister Lucia  little shepherds of Fatima, and confidants of Our Lady and the Angels pray for us that we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.

Above Photo copyrighted by the Real Presence Association you are invited to visit their web page for a complete listing of Vatican approved Eucharistic Miracles.  Posted via email from Speramus's posterous