Thematic itinerary for the Centennial of the Apparitions of Fatima«My Immaculate Heart will lead you to God»On November 28, 2010, First Sunday of Advent, the Shrine of Fatima began a new stage, which has as its aim and goal the year 2017. It is a thematic plan, with seven years, to prepare and supervise the centennial celebration of the Fatima apparitions. The plan here presented, which serves as a base for this cycle, was elaborated by a theological commission constituted as follows: Virgílio Antunes, Vítor Coutinho, Angela Coelho, Carlos Cabecinhas, Emanuel Silva, Jacinto Farias, Joao Duque, José Carlos Carvalho, Luciano Cristino. The source to itemize the several elements of this reflection itinerary was found in Sister Lucia’s Memoirs. In each of the annual thematic cycles there is an allusion to one of the apparitions, both of the Angel and of Our Lady, and so is covered the whole history of the Fatima events. Leaning on testimonial texts and various theological insights, the main intention was to identify the fundamental ideas of the Fatima Message, finding for each of the seven annual cycles a diversified set of proposals, adequate to present and illuminate such a message: an inspiring phrase or motto was adopted, from which a general theme was derived and formulated for each year; also was defined a theological nucleus, a catechetical element and a believing attitude to be developed. In order to create a correspondence with the main months of pilgrimage, from May to October, each general theme was divided into six thematic units; and each unity was provided with several specific contents. This itinerary connects the significant themes of the Fatima Message in a threadlike course, so as to highlight the unifying ideas between them, to discern and divide into its central and secondary aspects, to find a perspective or relational approach and several reading keys. There was a concern to integrate and bring together into this plan the theological contents of the Fatima Message and the concrete expressions of its spirituality, that can be included and developed in the various pastoral proposals: the worship of the Most Holy Trinity, the centrality of the Eucharist, the call to conversion, penance as a way of spiritual change, the Marian dimension of the Catholic faith, prayer for the conversion of sinners, for the Pope and for peace in the world, reparation to the hearts of Jesus and Mary, fraternal solidarity. All these elements provide further development prospects of the Fatima Message, because they afford a theological framework for the devotional exercises peculiar to Fatima spirituality: Rosary prayer, Eucharistic adoration, the devotional practice of First Saturdays, devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. And so they constitute a guidance for thematic support of the liturgical celebrations, of catechesis, of spiritual and devotional acts, of study and reflection activities. |
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