Fatima apparitions’ centenary chance for conversion – Bishop

MANILA, Philippines - Emeritus Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani on Friday reminded the faithful that now is the time to convert from a life of selfishness, as the world commemorates the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima.

In his homily during a mass held at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Bacani said that the centenary of the world-renowned apparitions is an opportunity to remove the “egoism” that creates the idea that one does not need God.

“Admit your mistakes and take the path to conversion, do some penance and make reparation,” he said.

“Follow God’s commandments, do some good deeds and accept wholeheartedly all the sacrifices that you need to suffer.”

According to CBCPNews, hundreds of devotees gathered at the UST for the celebration of the Fatima miracle, in which three young shepherds namely Lucia Dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary from May to October 1917.

In one of the six apparitions, Bacani said the Blessed Mother appeared as the Our Lady of Sorrows.

Pope Francis prays in front of the grave of young shepherds Jacinta and Francisco Marto at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal yesterday. AFP

“And the reason why she is sorrowful is that the world has lost sense of sin… and she wants to take us away from trouble,” he said.

The essence of the apparitions, according to Bacani, is a call to conversion and this centennial is an opportunity for people to revisit the devotion and incorporate it into their lives.

“One hundred years of Fatima… a very important message coming from a special messenger. God will do everything so that we won’t lose Him,” Bacani added. “We must give ourselves to God.”

After the mass, a candlelight procession of the Our Lady of Fatima statue was held inside the campus and was followed by an “Act of Consecration.”

Some of the devotees in the procession were holding rosaries and statues of the Our Lady of Fatima.