A catechism on the Message of Fatima and the prayer of the Rosary for children
The Shrine of Fatima has promoted a celebration where 1500 children, divided in six groups, were present.
The 1500 children, coming from different diocese such as Lisbon, Leiria-Fatima and Portalegre-Castelo Branco, participated in a celebration called “Meeting with the Shepherds” which occurred in the Basilica of Most Holy Trinity, in Fatima.
Two parts can be distinguished: the celebration started with a catechism, on the message of Fatima focused on the Blessed Francisco and Jacinta, led by Sister Angela Coelho, Postulator for the cause of the shepherds.
This religious sister from the Congregation Aliança de Santa Maria, which charism is based on the Message of Fatima, started by interacting with the assembly and asked the collaboration of some children in the altar with the purpose of recalling all that the story of the Message of Fatima started one hundred years ago with three children of the same age of the most children present in the Basilica.
She spoke about the three apparitions of the Angel in 1916 in order to underline the request made to the shepherd to not be afraid of praying and then she told the story of the six apparitions of Our Lady and the commitment they have made.
After the catechism, the children prayed the Rosary as the commitment made by Francisco and Jacinta to Our Lady. The celebration was presided by the Rector, with the participation of Fr. Francisco Pereira and the Sisters of Aliança de Santa Maria. At the end, the Rector of the Shrine, Fr. Carlos Cabeçinhas, in the same way as Sister Angela Coelho, has challenged the children and teenagers: “to remember the story of the two blessed children is as important as to imitate them in their behaviors”.
“I would like to ask you to pray as the shepherds did, mostly to pray for the canonization in order that other children of your age, around the world, are able to know that they are saints,” said the Rector of the Shrine.
The liturgical feast of the Blessed Francisco and Jacinta continues with a book launch – A Missão do Francisco – (the Mission of Francisco) and the II Evocative Concert of the Shepherds in the Parish Church of Fatima, tonight, at 21h00.
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