Our Lady of Fatima: Intercessor of Peace
May 13, 2017
by Mac Norhen Bornales
by Mac Norhen Bornales
HER HUSBAND almost died due to heart failure but he managed to survive. During the time of desolation, Grace Donaire, chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, said she was unable to pray and started asking God why it is happening to them.
“During that time, hindi ako makapagdasal. Bakit naman kami pa? We gave everything to God Siyempre tao ka lang e. Nakausap ko yung pari namin. He said, ‘there is God, there is Mary. Be still.’ First day after ng operation, di pa rin ako makadasal,” Donaire said.
But after the operation, Donaire started praying again to God and asking help from the Our Lady of Fatima. Donaire continued her devotion to the Our Lady of Fatima and now, her husband serves as a lay minister in the shrine.
Donaire’s story is only one of the few accounts that proved the devotion of Filipinos to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Father Jess de Silva from the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima said that the Blessed Virgin Mary has been in line with the life of the Filipinos.
“Alam naman nating lahat na ang mga Pilipino ay makaina. Ang tawag nga sa Simbahan sa Pilipinas ay Pueblo Amante de Maria o Ang Bayang Nagmamahal kay Maria. Kasi di ba it comes to our instincts na kapag ina ang pinag-uusapan malapit sa ating puso,” Fr. De Silva said.
The Blessed Mother has been there for the Filipinos. Fr. De Silva added that one of the most significant thing that happened to the devotion to the Our Lady of Fatima was when it was brought to EDSA for the peaceful power revolution.
“Ito yung national pilgrim image, ito yung mismong dinala noong rally. And we all know that EDSA People Power One is a peaceful revolution,” Fr. De Silva added.
The Church mentioned in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) that Mary is the Mother of the Church explaining that “since the Virgin Mary's role in the mystery of Christ and the Spirit has been treated, it is fitting now to consider her place in the mystery of the Church. The Virgin Mary . . . is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and of the redeemer.... She is 'clearly the mother of the members of Christ... since she has by her charity joined in bringing about the birth of believers in the Church, who are members of its head."
In the Catechism of Filipino Catholics (CFC), the Church rooted the teachings about the Blessed Virgin Mary from the doctrines. CFC mentioned Vatican II saying “Vatican II presents the Blessed Virgin Mary in the final chapter of its Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium). The Church’s teaching on Mary is presented in four sections: (1) the Role of the Blessed Virgin in the Plan of Salvation (2) the Blessed Virgin and the Church (3) Devotion to the Blessed Virgin in the Church; and Mary as a Sign of Sure Hope and Solace for the Pilgrim People of God.”
Fr. De Silva said that Mama Mary has been a harbinger of peace, particularly on the devotion to the Our Lady of Fatima. “Noong nagaaral pa lang ako sa seminary, I just see the Our Lady of Fatima just a normal apparitions. Since I am assigned here, siguro mag wa-one year na ako ditto siguro ang pinaka-ano ko talaga sa kanya, yung hindi ko talaga makakalimutan sa kanya, she is the intercessor of peace,” he said.
Essence of apparitions to Spirituality
Fr. De Silva explained that these apparitions of Mary are reminders to the people that God is here and that His presence could still be felt by everyone.
“Apparitions are private revelations. There are private revelations where they were people who were chosen to witness some miracles katulad nga ng Our Lady of Fatima. Kasi ang point ng Catholic Church about this, apparitions happen when there is really a need to a specific situation or specific areas of our history for us to realize that there is God, for us to realize that we should not be the way we are,” Fr. De Silva said.
According to the CFC, no one is obliged to believe in apparitions, even it was officially recognized such as Lourdes and Fatima but the Church viewed these apparitions as signs, not a proof, that can help people in their faith.
“Proper response is not fulfilled by merely erecting a shrine or organizing certain devotions, but by imitating Mary’s faith, hope and love of God and neighbor,” the CFC mentioned.
Fr. De Silva added that in times of need, Catholics should never hesitate to call on to Jesus and to Mary as well. “Kapag napanghihinaan ng loob bang tao sa Diyos, the more he should pray. Dapat lalo pa siyang magdasal. In relation to our mother, she is always there to help us to intercede for us in our times of desolation. Nandiyan siya para samahan tayo papunta kay Kristo,” Fr. De Silva concluded.
Christ should be the center
Catholics are called to show utmost respect and love for the Blessed Virgin Mary. But Fr. De Silva said that some Filipinos have a problem about the fanaticism to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“The problem is sometimes there are people na nafafall doon sa fanaticism na nakafocus na lang images. Diba? Nakafocus na lang sa images ni Mama Mary. Yung iba nawawala na sa focus, nakakalimutan na si Jesus Christ because of their devotion to Mama Mary,” Fr. De Silva said.
Fr. De Silva also added that he always see Mary pointing to Jesus. “Makikita mo yan si Mama Mary parang lagi niyang tinuturo ang kanyang sarili papunta kay Hesus. Ganyan palagi si Mama Mary especially if you will notice the picture of Perpetual Help. Even though Mama Mary was on the center of the picture, you can see her hands pointing to Jesus Christ. It is the beauty of that image. You could see her hands to Jesus Christ,” Fr. De Silva said.
It was also emphasized in the CCC that the focus of spirituality and religiosity of Catholics should be centered to Jesus Christ. “God has said everything in his Word. In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son. Christ, the Son of God made man, is the Father's one, perfect and unsurpassable Word. In him he has said everything; there will be no other word than this one,” CCC mentioned.
“During that time, hindi ako makapagdasal. Bakit naman kami pa? We gave everything to God Siyempre tao ka lang e. Nakausap ko yung pari namin. He said, ‘there is God, there is Mary. Be still.’ First day after ng operation, di pa rin ako makadasal,” Donaire said.
But after the operation, Donaire started praying again to God and asking help from the Our Lady of Fatima. Donaire continued her devotion to the Our Lady of Fatima and now, her husband serves as a lay minister in the shrine.
Donaire’s story is only one of the few accounts that proved the devotion of Filipinos to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Father Jess de Silva from the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima said that the Blessed Virgin Mary has been in line with the life of the Filipinos.
“Alam naman nating lahat na ang mga Pilipino ay makaina. Ang tawag nga sa Simbahan sa Pilipinas ay Pueblo Amante de Maria o Ang Bayang Nagmamahal kay Maria. Kasi di ba it comes to our instincts na kapag ina ang pinag-uusapan malapit sa ating puso,” Fr. De Silva said.
The Blessed Mother has been there for the Filipinos. Fr. De Silva added that one of the most significant thing that happened to the devotion to the Our Lady of Fatima was when it was brought to EDSA for the peaceful power revolution.
“Ito yung national pilgrim image, ito yung mismong dinala noong rally. And we all know that EDSA People Power One is a peaceful revolution,” Fr. De Silva added.
The Church mentioned in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) that Mary is the Mother of the Church explaining that “since the Virgin Mary's role in the mystery of Christ and the Spirit has been treated, it is fitting now to consider her place in the mystery of the Church. The Virgin Mary . . . is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and of the redeemer.... She is 'clearly the mother of the members of Christ... since she has by her charity joined in bringing about the birth of believers in the Church, who are members of its head."
In the Catechism of Filipino Catholics (CFC), the Church rooted the teachings about the Blessed Virgin Mary from the doctrines. CFC mentioned Vatican II saying “Vatican II presents the Blessed Virgin Mary in the final chapter of its Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium). The Church’s teaching on Mary is presented in four sections: (1) the Role of the Blessed Virgin in the Plan of Salvation (2) the Blessed Virgin and the Church (3) Devotion to the Blessed Virgin in the Church; and Mary as a Sign of Sure Hope and Solace for the Pilgrim People of God.”
Fr. De Silva said that Mama Mary has been a harbinger of peace, particularly on the devotion to the Our Lady of Fatima. “Noong nagaaral pa lang ako sa seminary, I just see the Our Lady of Fatima just a normal apparitions. Since I am assigned here, siguro mag wa-one year na ako ditto siguro ang pinaka-ano ko talaga sa kanya, yung hindi ko talaga makakalimutan sa kanya, she is the intercessor of peace,” he said.
Essence of apparitions to Spirituality
Fr. De Silva explained that these apparitions of Mary are reminders to the people that God is here and that His presence could still be felt by everyone.
“Apparitions are private revelations. There are private revelations where they were people who were chosen to witness some miracles katulad nga ng Our Lady of Fatima. Kasi ang point ng Catholic Church about this, apparitions happen when there is really a need to a specific situation or specific areas of our history for us to realize that there is God, for us to realize that we should not be the way we are,” Fr. De Silva said.
According to the CFC, no one is obliged to believe in apparitions, even it was officially recognized such as Lourdes and Fatima but the Church viewed these apparitions as signs, not a proof, that can help people in their faith.
“Proper response is not fulfilled by merely erecting a shrine or organizing certain devotions, but by imitating Mary’s faith, hope and love of God and neighbor,” the CFC mentioned.
Fr. De Silva added that in times of need, Catholics should never hesitate to call on to Jesus and to Mary as well. “Kapag napanghihinaan ng loob bang tao sa Diyos, the more he should pray. Dapat lalo pa siyang magdasal. In relation to our mother, she is always there to help us to intercede for us in our times of desolation. Nandiyan siya para samahan tayo papunta kay Kristo,” Fr. De Silva concluded.
Christ should be the center
Catholics are called to show utmost respect and love for the Blessed Virgin Mary. But Fr. De Silva said that some Filipinos have a problem about the fanaticism to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“The problem is sometimes there are people na nafafall doon sa fanaticism na nakafocus na lang images. Diba? Nakafocus na lang sa images ni Mama Mary. Yung iba nawawala na sa focus, nakakalimutan na si Jesus Christ because of their devotion to Mama Mary,” Fr. De Silva said.
Fr. De Silva also added that he always see Mary pointing to Jesus. “Makikita mo yan si Mama Mary parang lagi niyang tinuturo ang kanyang sarili papunta kay Hesus. Ganyan palagi si Mama Mary especially if you will notice the picture of Perpetual Help. Even though Mama Mary was on the center of the picture, you can see her hands pointing to Jesus Christ. It is the beauty of that image. You could see her hands to Jesus Christ,” Fr. De Silva said.
It was also emphasized in the CCC that the focus of spirituality and religiosity of Catholics should be centered to Jesus Christ. “God has said everything in his Word. In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son. Christ, the Son of God made man, is the Father's one, perfect and unsurpassable Word. In him he has said everything; there will be no other word than this one,” CCC mentioned.