06 july, 2011
Thousands of pilgrims came to Fatima to participate, on July 12/13, in the national anniversary pilgrimage of the third apparition of Our Lady to the Little Shepherds, presided by the Bishop of Santarém, Portugal.
From this Marian Shrine, Bishop Manuel Pelino Domingues sent out to the world a message to be on alert at this time of crisis and an exhortation to change our ‘style of life’: “We face a crisis not only economic and financial, as everyone recognizes. We live also with lack of hope in the future, a feeling of insecurity, a sensation of distrust in promises and economic projections. (…) The economic crisis reflects and it is the result of a wider crisis, which is spiritual and ethical. It is the fruit greed, consumism, selfishness and vanity”.Bishop Rodrigues thinks that “the oblivion of God in today’s culture has resulted in the oblivion of man and has diluted the responsibility to build a more humane world, just and healthy…resulting in the absence of ethical references and in the impoverishment of human values”. “To overcome this crisis – he pointed out – we need to change our style of life, to follow a new road, to sing a new song, supported by the power that will save the world, the love of Christ. (…) When we are convinced that God loves us, we try to love, to bring joy where there is sadness, to reflect light where there is darkness, to be attentive to others where indifference prevails”. Fifty-two groups of pilgrims from 17 countries signed up for the Mass of July 13. Twenty-one were from Italy, five from Spain. During this same Mass, 139 people received the blessing of the Sick. Throughout the pilgrimage, 69 people were attended at the First-Aid Station of the Shrine and 37 at the Foot-Washing Station. Confessions numbered 1755. |
