Pope Francis on Thursday announced that the two young shepherd children from Fatima, Francisco and Jacinta Marto will be canonised during his forthcoming pastoral visit to the Portuguese town on May 13th. - Read more here.
So much about Fatima has now been confirmed. Growing up, I was very much attached to the Fatima apparitions, the call to holiness, the promises of Our Lady - especially that she would take Jacinta and Francisco to heaven - although I was sure it would probably not be fulfilled in my lifetime. Yet it is unfolding right now. The example of the three children, especially Francisco and his fidelity to prayer, very much influenced my childhood piety, and as I learned more about prayer as an adult, he has been a guide and model for me to some extent.
Our Lady promised to take them to heaven, and canonization is affirmation of that promise.
What a difference in children today. Generally speaking, I suspect the majority are raised without faith, without knowing there is really is a place called hell, or that we were created to go to heaven. So many kids today want to be rich and famous, to attain celebrity status and fame. I'm not even thinking of Catholic kids. I wonder what they actually know about all of these things?
May St. Jacinta and St. Francisco pray for us, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The icon I made for Fr. Robert Fox.
The first icon I did of Bl. Francisco and Jacinta.
My parish has a huge Portuguese community - I hope they do something special to mark this day!
ReplyDeleteI wish all parishes would do something.
DeleteOur parish isn't doing anything for the canonization that I am aware of...but our archbishop is leading us in consecrating the Archdiocese to the IHM on Oct. 13, 2017, and has asked parishes and religious communities to prepare for it. I will be leading our parish in 6-week consecration preparation course using Fr. Michael Gaitley's dvd/book "33 Days to Morning Glory".
DeleteThat is excellent. I didn't know the archbishop was doing that. I'm not aware of anything scheduled here. Fr. Gaitley's book is very good. I'm glad you are doing that.
DeleteDiakonos - I've done the consecration using that book and renewed my consecration a year later using it - it's WONDERFUL!
DeleteRumored now true. Everyone knows they are in heaven because Mary told us that. What will their special area of intervention be? It is good news. Something to celebrate!
ReplyDeleteJacinta could be the patron saint of fashion - OL told her fashions would get bad. Francisco could be the patron of boys who aren't aggressive enough, since he was a bit passive, I think. ;)
DeleteThe icon is sweet. That is what I see.
ReplyDeleteI am passing this along in case you have not seen it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuhK82u_J94
Mosaic art is gorgeous too and just as painstaking it seems but all worth it after the treasure that is revealed.
Thanks for the link - very beautiful.
DeleteHow much would another such icon cost? Are those relics in the corners?
ReplyDeleteHi - Yes, those are relics in the corners - pieces of thread from their clothing I received at Fatima. I can't really take commissions any longer. I don't like selling my work any longer either. Why do you ask? Would you like an icon like that? Let me know.
DeleteI would very much like an icon like that! I have a very strong devotion to Fatima, and have seen the original Icon you made for Father Fox in Alexandria, SD. I used to attend the Marian Congresses he had there before he died. Did you know they are working on his cause for Canonization?
DeleteNo - I didn't know that.
DeleteWhere do you live - I always thought you lived in Ireland?
No, I don't live in Ireland. I live in the United States.
DeleteYou can email me at tjdotnelsonathotmaildotcom
DeleteThanks. I often day dream about a mosaic for my church which we built in 1987. It is a monastic style influenced by our Trappist monastery. Very plain inside. Cobblestones from local fields were used. Italian glass mosaics are amazing beautiful.
ReplyDeletewow - so you are near Genesee? You live close to holy places!
DeleteYes I do. Go there often and for retreats for over 30 years. They make and sell Monls Bread. Henri Nouwen wrote about building the new Chirch in the 70's. My parish church is similar. Just to clarify my earlier post neither have Italian glass mosaics. OLG does have some beautiful icons though. There is a local painter a woman who is very talented. Have you been there Terry?
ReplyDeleteNo, never visited. I've visited St. Joseph's several times - Genesee is their daughter house, isn't it? I can't recall the family trees of the Eastern abbeys.
DeleteOur Lady of the Genesee was founded in 1951 on land donated by the Chandler family who descended from the Wadsworths who were pioneers in the Genesee Valley. A beautiful spot with many horse farms and gentle rolling terrain. The Abbey now owns about 3,000 acres, was until recently into farming. Monks Bread is their primary source of income now. There are about 30 monks. I have had the pleasure of knowing several who knew Thomas Merton. It was a daughter house of Gethsemane but an independent Abbey now with its own daughter houses in Brazil and Africa. Worth a visit if possible. Here is their web site: http://www.geneseeabbey.org/
ReplyDeleteThat's right - Gethsemane.
DeleteThe icon is beautiful, Terry. I love Jacinta. I found a little shepherd girl kneeling in prayer with a lamb beside her at a thrift store and immediately associated her with Jacinta. I have her in a niche in my kitchen in front of a statue of Our Lady of Grace. Every time I'm in a thrift shop I look for Lucia and Francisco. So far they have eluded me. But Francisco liked to go off and be alone so maybe that's where he is.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Mary Ann. I'm so happy to be alive for their canonization.
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ReplyDeleteHello, Terry.
ReplyDeleteThe Fatima Family Apostolate International, founded by Father Robert Fox, publishes a little book on the lives of Saints Francisco and Jacinta. The icon you painted for Father Fox is shown on the book's cover. I just saw it recently at a Catholic bookstore, but it's also available online: https://www.fatimafamily.org/product-page/blessed-francisco-and-jacinta