16 february, 2009
|
The Church celebrates the liturgical Feast of Blesseds Francisco and Jacinta Marto on February 20, birth anniversary of Blessed Jacinta.
The special program prepared by the Shrine of Fatima for this year’s celebration has in mind specially the children.
The Rosary will be said at 10h15, in the Little Chapel of Apparitions, followed by a procession from the Little Chapel to Most Holy Trinity Church, where, at 11h00, Holy Mass will be celebrated and the children blessed.
Fr. Virgílio Antunes, Rector of the Shrine of Fatima, will preside over.
Let us recall that siblings Francisco and Jacinta Marto were beatified on May 13, 2000, by the late John Paul II.
John Paul II, in his homily of the Beatification Mass, declared: “«I bless Thee, O Father, because Thou Has revealed these things to the little ones». Jesus’ praise takes solemn shape today in the beatification of the Little Shepherds Francisco and Jacinta. The Church wishes, by this rite, to place on the candelabrum these two candles which God has lighted in order to illuminate mankind at its darkest and most uncertain hour. May they shine over the way of this immense multitude of pilgrims and of all those who follow by radio and television. May they be a friendly light illuminating Portugal and, in a special way, this Diocese of Leiria-Fatima”.
Jacinta died in holiness on February 20, 1920, at the Hospital de Dona Estefânia, in Lisbon, after a long and painful illness, while offering up all her sufferings for the conversion of sinners, for peace in the world and for the intentions of the Holy Father. |
