June 2020 Newsletter | AFC Pillar of Spirituality

Take Refuge in the Immaculate Heart: June 13 Fatima Apparition

Listen to Catholic Corps Member Renee Scheu read the story about this apparition:

One month later, on June 13, Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco left the parish celebration being held for the Feast of St. Anthony and went to the Cova da Iria. After they prayed a Rosary, the heavenly Lady arrived with a flash of light. She stood on the tree like before.

“What do you want of me?” Lucia asked her.

“I wish you to come here on the thirteenth of next month, to pray the Rosary every day, and to learn to read. Later, I will tell you what I want,” the Lady told her.

Lucia asked if the Lady would cure a sick person.

“If he is converted, he will be cured during the year,” promised the Lady.

“I would like to ask you to take us to Heaven,” Lucia said to the Lady.

“Yes. I will take Jacinta and Francisco soon. But you are to stay here some time longer. Jesus wishes to make use of you to make me known and loved. He wants to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. I promise salvation to those who embrace it, and those souls will be loved by God like flowers placed by me to adorn His throne.”

Lucia felt sad when the Lady told her this. So she asked, “Am I to stay here alone?”

“No, my daughter. Are you suffering a great deal? Don’t lose heart. I will never forsake you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.”

Once again, the children received the brilliant light from Mary’s hands. The children felt like they were immersed in God when this light came to them. This time, they also had a vision that showed some of the light going up to Heaven with Francisco and Jacinta in it. Another part of the light was spreading across the earth, with Lucia in it.

Then the Blessed Mother showed them her heart, which was being cut by some sharp thorns that surrounded it. These thorns were like the sins that people commit against God and Our Lady.

After this vision, the Blessed Virgin Mary disappeared into Heaven through the stars.

Key Point from the June 13 Apparition

The grace Christ won for us through His Passion, death, and Resurrection is infinitely more powerful than sin and reconciles us with God. This is the Good News! However, we must freely choose to live in relationship with God. He needs our “yes” so that He can work in us and make us holy.