Special Report: May 13, 2017, At Home & Abroad

A Multitude of Roses in Fatima for the Centennial

On May 13th, as we approached the city of Fatima, Portugal, it was difficult to know what to expect. This was the privileged place chosen by the Mother of God to appear exactly one hundred years ago.

The celebration of its first Centennial, the visit of the pope and fears of a possible terrorist attack made the usual unusual in this small Portuguese village. The police and army joined forces to bring security to the highest level.

The Virgin had come 100 years previous to announce the end of a war and the beginning of another. She came asking for prayer and sacrifice and, if her request had been answered, world peace would have been the reward. The presence of soldiers in Fatima was yet another sign that peace still evades mankind.

Road blocks did not allow us to drive the usual pickup truck full of large baskets of roses to the spot where Our Lady appeared. We attempted to talk the soldiers into allowing us through, but our plea was turned down and the only alternative was to walk.

So the first question was how to move 10,000 roses from the florist to the shrine. These baskets were huge and the distance considerable. If I did not know how much 500+ roses weigh, I know now; at different times my arms felt as if they were falling off. To top it all, rain began pouring down in the middle of our enterprise.

But difficulties aside, the multi-color rose offering to Our Lady of Fatima was made in the afternoon of May 13, 2017 and it was beautiful!

This amazing rose offering was a result of America Needs Fatima’s online effort. People were given the opportunity to choose one or more roses in one or more colors as an offering to the best of all Mothers on the day of her 100th Fatima anniversary. The result was a magnificent series of bouquets expressing…

Love with red roses
Gratitude with pink roses
Warmth and friendship with yellow roses and
Reverence for her Purity with white roses.

As one can plainly see, Mary, the best of all mothers, was given a spectacular Mother’s Day gift from America Needs Fatima and its devoted supporters.

Pilgrims from all over the globe came to inquire as to the reason for so many beautiful roses and if they could take some of them home. A frequent and repeated commentary was, “Oh, this is for Our Lady? How appropriate!”

17,358 Names

Later that same day, a large banner listing the names of friends of America Needs Fatima was present during the recitation of the Rosary by the “capelinha” – the place where Our Lady appeared – and then carried aloft during the candlelight procession. For those who have not been to the shrine of Fatima on such occasions, the candlelight procession is an expression of devotion not to be missed; it was the perfect way to close the feast of the Fatima Centennial.

As we walked shoulder to shoulder in this procession with Marian devotees from all over the world, our banner represented the love that you and I have for Our Lady and the hope we place in her promise given at Fatima:

“In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”

While absolutely true that the world at large has not responded to the requests of the Mother of God in 1917, it became obvious for anyone in Fatima this past May 13th, that she nevertheless is queen of many a heart. The 10,000 roses and the long list of names on the America Needs Fatima banner were a good sign of it.

Petitions Delivered as Promised

Last, but certainly not least, we delivered large plastic totes full to overflowing with petitions from Catholics all across the country to Our Lady of Fatima.

These petitions came to us through the regular mail and in response to our on-line campaign. Those who could not physically be present in Fatima on this historical occasion of the 100th anniversary of Our Lady’s first apparition were well represented that day and their heart-felt petitions will not go unheard by that august Queen.

Rosary Rallies in America on May 13th

America Needs Fatima organized 4,121 Rosary Rallies across the U.S.A. as a demonstration of our love for Our Lady of Fatima and a sign of America’s willingness to heed her Fatima Mission:

“Pray the Rosary for Peace in the World.”