Pope To Consecrate World To Our Lady

Our World To Be Consecrated To The Immaculate Heart Of Mary

On October 13, 2013, Pope Francis will consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as part of the Marian Day celebration that will include the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima.

It is the deepest desire of The Holy Father that the Marian Day should incorporate, as an unique sign, one of  the most important Marian icons for Christians throughout the world.  “It is for that reason, we thought about the cherished initial Statue of Our Lady of Fatima,” wrote Archbishop Rino Fisichella.

Archbishop Fisichella, who works as head of state of the pontifical council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, made his opinions in a letter to Bishop Antonio Marto of Leiria-Fatima.

According to the Portuguese temple’s site, the statuary of Our Lady of Fatima will leave for Rome on the early morning of Oct. 12 and return on the afternoon of Oct. 13. The statue usually lives in the shrine’s Little Chapel of Apparitions.

The archbishop said that “all ecclesial entities of Marian spirituality” are invited to take part in the event. Hundreds of motions and institutions that emphasize Marian dedication are anticipated to attend, the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima says.

The two-day regard consists of an Oct. 12 trip to the tomb of St. Peter and minutes of prayer and reflection. On Oct. 13, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

Our Lady of Fatima appeared to three shepherd children in the village of Fatima in Portugal in 1917. She warned of intense trials in the twentieth century if the world did not make reparation for sins. She advised prayer and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

At the request of Pope Francis, Cardinal Jose Polycarp, the Patriarch of Lisbon, consecrated the Pope’s pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima on May 13, her feast day.