JOHN CARROLL, World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF) of England and Wales promoter for the Diocese of Middlesbrough, introduces a new initiative to stimulate a Rosary revival…

The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales have begun the rededication of our countries to Our Blessed Lady.

In the past year, the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima visited places including Middlesbrough, Hull and York and the statue Our Lady of Walsingham recently came to St Mary’s Cathedral.

As part of this ongoing process, WAF is promoting the Five First Saturdays Devotion in honour of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as requested by her to the three shepherd children of Fatima, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta.

Our Lady told Sister Lucia: “I am the Lady of the Rosary, I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. They must not offend Our Lord any more, for he is already too grievously offended by the sins of men. People must say the Rosary. Let them continue saying it every day.”

She also said in a grave manner: “Sacrifice yourselves for sinners and say often, especially when you make some sacrifice, ‘O my Jesus, this is for love of you, for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for the offences committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary’.”

After showing the children a vision of hell, Our Lady said: “Pray, pray a great deal and make many sacrifices, for many souls go to hell because they have no one to make sacrifices and pray for them.”

Inspired by these words of the Mother of God we must encourage devotion to Mary’s Immaculate Heart, alongside the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, by making reparation for sin. By trusting in Mary’s intercession, we hope to obtain the salvation of many souls, the triumph of Mary’s Immaculate Heart and an era of peace for all mankind.

Our Lady gave this pledge to Sister Lucia on December 10 1925: “I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary and keep me company for 15 minutes while meditating on the 15 mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.”

WAF is appointing promoters in each diocese to encourage prayer groups and parishes to start the devotion. We hope a network of groups will help stimulate a Rosary revival in the diocese and throughout the land and we would warmly welcome anyone who would like to join us.

For more information email 3woldview@gmail.com or call me on 01759 380415.