TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO 10, ALL ABOUT MAY

The month of May held many customs and traditions.  Some are still observed, some have dwindled considerably and others have completely disappeared.  One which I am pretty sure disappeared with the closure of our Catholic Schools is the wearing of the blue ribbon and medal in honour of Our Lady. Oh, and May Altars.  Remember those lovely May Altars in classrooms and even in some of our homes? 

Another tradition was the daily recitation of the Rosary.  When the Virgin Mary appeared to the three children at Fatima in 1917, she asked that the Rosary be prayed daily.  

Of course there was that wonderful and still continuing tradition of getting away for the 24th weekend!  Up to the cabin or to a favourite fishing spot for a revitalizing breath of fresh air - never mind that it could very well snow!  That didn't diminish the pleasure of the 24th weekend one iota.

The St Patrick's Girls went off for the weekend too. Lawrence Pond or Seal Cove, anywhere at all, they were together and they enjoyed themselves!

Audrey Dawe-Sheppard reminded me of the beautiful May Crownings that were such a part of our young lives.  We sang some very lovely hymns and one of my favourites was this one, sung here by Emmett Cahill.

https://youtu.be/PxFux66sLWo?si=mpKpPXzDTLerdjED

I hope you will enjoy this little look back at the month of May.  If you have any memories, stories or pictures of May, Mary's month. please share them with us.  You can send them to me at mcallistersmith@gmail.com.

🌷🌻🌷🌻🌞⛅⛈🌂🌈⛄☔🌷🌸🌹🌻🌼🌹

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA

On 13th May 1917, nine year old Lucia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto were herding sheep at the Cova da Iria near their home in Fatima. To these poor humble children Mary the Mother of Jesus appeared. The apparitions continued until 13th October that year. Because she asked the children to pray the Rosary daily for peace,Our Lady of Fatima is also know as Our Lady of the Rosary.

Jacinta and Francisco did not live to adulthood, dying just a couple of years after the apparitions. Lucia became a Nun and lived to the great age of 97 years. She died on 13th February 2005

Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta

Today, 13th May 2017, Pope Francis is in Fatima.  On this 100th Anniversary of the first appearance of Our Lady at Cova da Iria, His Holiness will beatify the two little shepherds, Jacinta and Francisco Marto.

We Newfoundlanders have our own special connection to Our Lady of Fatima. Back in May of 1955, thousands of Portuguese fishermen walked in procession from the Harbour to the Cathedral (now Basilica) of St John the Baptist. Through the streets of St John's, these devout men bore on their shoulders beautiful statues of Our Lady of Fatima and the three little seers.  The old City rang with the voices of the fishermen as they praised Our Lady in song. Upon reaching the Cathedral, they reverently deposited the statues in a niche near the altar where they remain loved and honoured, to this day.

May 1955, thousands of Portuguese Fishermen accompany their Lady of Fatima to the Basilica

Thanks to CBC, this amazing footage of that memorable day in 1955 can be seen by clicking here.  Please take the time to watch this beautiful video.  It is another important part of our wonderful history.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us