St Joseph is the great foster father of Jesus, specially chosen by God the Heavenly Father for this special vocation. He is called to protect, guide and provide for the needs of the Holy family, for Jesus and Mary. He cares for Jesus as a small child and into adulthood. This unique gift of fatherhood and his own life lived in holiness, exemplies the providential care of a loving father . St Joseph was tasked with nurturing Jesus’ growth in wisdom and stature before God and men. St Joseph was a Jewish man, from the root and stock of King David yet was a poor man humble in stature putting the needs of Jesus and Mary first. He selflessly accepted the cross of preventing Mary’s scandalisation through accepting her as his wife, believing she was with child of the Holy Spirit, as revealed by God through an angel in a dream. As head of the Holy family, he can teach us and impart to us the virtue of holiness . St Joseph the wonder worker and terror of demons can become the great protector and head of one’s own family helping it to become an icon of the Holy Family, in a unity of loving communion, reflecting the Love of The Holy Trinity. Our act of consecration to St Joseph helps us faithfully to preserve family life from the assaults of Satan, who is intent on the destruction of family life as a very means to undermine the Church. Never has there been a greater need to protect family life in our day and share the Catholic Faith and Catechism to nurture children for the Kingdom of God - and help the Gospel spread to the ends of the earth for mankind’s salvation and sanctification. ‘“After Our Lady had disappeared into the immense distance of the firmament, we beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands. When, a little later, this apparition disappeared, I saw Our Lord and Our Lady; it seemed to me that it was Our Lady of Sorrows. Our Lord appeared to bless the world in the same manner as St. Joseph had done. This apparition also vanished, and I saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.” -Sr. Lucia in speaking about the sixth apparition at Fatima (the Miracle of the Sun)” ‘According to some who have studied the apparitions at Fatima, the vision of the Holy Family—with the peaceful St. Joseph and the Child Jesus—seems to contrast with the events of the “Miracle of the Sun,” in which the sun whirled about out of control in the sky just moments later. According to Msgr. Joseph Cirrincione, ” . . . the future event which both scenes foreshadow, has to do with fatherhood . . . St. Joseph was holding the Child Jesus and both were blessing the world, while Our Lady of the Rosary looked on. I see in that peaceful scene a reminder of what we pray in the Litany of St. Joseph, ‘Head of the Holy Family, Pray for us.’ And in the convulsions of the sun, I see an ominous foreshadowing of the consequences for the world which are sure to be felt if the true fatherhood of the family are rejected by mankind.”’ (Online: https://www.goodcatholic.com/st-joseph-and-the-lesser-known-fatima-apparition/ ) One way to restore fatherhood in the human family is to partake in a 33-day consecration to St Joseph. This may begin on 15th February ending on 19th March 2026, the Feast of St Joseph. One can use the Consecration prayers put together by Fr Donald Calloway MIC (See 33 days prayers following the links below) Through our own consecration one may embrace St Joseph as exemplar father figure and head of our families, as he is head of the holy family. Through his intercession we may come to know more fully the Love of Our Heavenly Father, in and through His Beloved Son Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. May Our families become icons of The Holy family reflecting The Divine Love of The Holy Trinity, a communion of self emptying sacrificial love outpoured. Amen, Lord Faithful King DAY 1 - WHY CONSECRATION TO ST. JOSEPH? DAY 2 - THE LITANY OF ST. JOSEPH “Used with permission of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Stockbridge, MA USA.”
The current article is written with the inspiration of the book “Fatima for Today”: the urgent Marian message of hope written by Fr Andrew Apostoli. In addition to this, it is informed by my last pilgrimage to Fatima in August 2025. In this article, my mission, is to explain from a young person’s point of view how relevant is the vision of Hell given by Our Lady is in today's world. In her First apparition, back in 1917, our Lady showed the little Shepherds a vision of Hell so that they remind humanity that is real. This message is particularly relevant nowadays and I thank the opportunity the trustees of the World Apostolate of Fatima, England and Wales, have given me to express a personal reflection and some fruits of prayer. When I first started reading the book last August, I felt discomfort. However, I was aiming to prepare myself for going to Fatima on a Pilgrimage. So, I had to continue to read. The preconceived worldly ideology of freedom was a discomfort. However, I decided to throw myself into it. As a result, I was given the grace of being touched by the message of our Lady. Particularly her words “many souls go to Hell because there is no one to pray and sacrifice for them”. This taught me that, beyond discomfort, there is hope. We are constantly told that the world is broken beyond repair (e.g., climate collapse, endless wars, social divisions). Our Lady of Fatima acknowledged the suffering within the darkness. In her motherly way, she showed the little Shepherds how to continue to fight for the souls, for her children. She urged them to pray, offer sacrifices and to convert every day. She offered protection by the consecration to her immaculate heart. Taking the words from Fr Apostoli, “Simply denying that there is a hell does not make it go away”. In her apparition, our Lady of Fátima reminded us through the Little Shepherds, and their vision of hell, what it means to live without God´s love. Hell exists, after our death, and while alive. The called Deceiver, and Accuser by Fr Apostoli, will make a fake deal with you to then make you feel ashamed, accused and will convince you there is no chance for redemption, that you are beyond forgiveness. Nowadays, as a young person living in our modern society, we exalt freedom. But what is freedom? And how do the messages from the apparitions in Fatima frame the concept of freedom? Our Lady of Fatima’s gentle approach was to trust children to convey her message to the world that struggles to this day to accept her messages. True freedom isn’t doing whatever we want it is choosing what leads to life, even when it is difficult. It is choosing true love offered from God and from Jesus instead of false love such as attachments and dependencies that the Devil, the Cheater, offers. From this perspective, why would we continue to choose to sin, to choose imitations of real love, the source of life? Because we are humans, we carry the aftermaths of original sin. So, what to do now? First, remember our identity, our true being we are, all of us, beloved Children of God. It is time to remind some Bible passages such as Isaiah 43, where God promised he had called us and he will always remain with us. He impels us to not be afraid, to trust that we are loved for who we are. That there is nothing wrong with us. He exhorts us to reclaim this true identity and break free from the slavery suggested by the Devil. Secondly, in the gospels of Luke (Lc 5, 27-32) & Mathew (Mt 9, 10-13) Jesus emphasises the importance of love and kindness and mercy and reminds us that yes, we are all sinners, but that is the reason, Jesus Christ came for all of us, to save us with his mercy and save us from the lies of the Devil that make us believe God wants to punish us. God also exhorts us to become like little children when listening to him. Our Lady of Fatima confirmed this by choosing the little Shepherds who were kids with very little education, and still, they were chosen by our Lady. This should help us to take some perspective of our current situation. What is essential in our lives? Where are we putting our worth? Where is the Devil lying to us? In addition, we can do as our Lady did: refuse to let darkness have the final word. Mary’s message is simple but radical: evil is real, but it is not all-powerful. Our Lady of Fatima’s message was never about fear but about love, and hope. What moves me most about our Lady of Fatima is that Mary respects human freedom. She doesn’t force belief, repentance, or love. She warns, invites, and waits. Hell exists not because God is cruel, but because love cannot be forced. Finally, I now know how to contribute to the Salvation of souls. To ease suffering in a heavenly way. A way that transcends human forces. It is a humbling experience of union with Christ. Through, Our Lady we can offer our sacrifices. It is a reality that we all suffer in our daily life, we sometimes choose to, other times we don’t. In those moments, our Lady of Fatima exhorts us to say the following prayer: “Sacrifice yourselves for sinners and say many times, especially when you make a sacrifice, ‘O Jesus, this is for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.'” This prayer was conveyed to Sr Lucia of Fatima on the 13th of July 1917. In conclusion, we have been desensitised to the Devil, and consequently, to recognising Hell is real and how the small choices can tear us apart from the love of God and make us experience hell on earth. Let’s follow Our Lady’s and the little Shepherd’s example. Let’s come back to the essentials, let’s turn our eyes to the real source of life and wonder. The message of Our Lady of Fatima is still very relevant nowadays, pray and pray the Rosary, repent, repair, and don’t be afraid, evil is real, but it is not all-powerful, GOD IS.
Statue of our blessed virgin Mary in Pontevedra, Spain.
One of the most striking and often misunderstood moments of the Fatima apparitions is the vision of hell shown to the three shepherd children Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta on 13 July 1917. Our Lady allowed them to glimpse this terrifying reality not to instil fear, but to awaken consciences to the gravity of sin and the urgent need for conversion. Immediately after the vision, Mary offered hope, pointing to prayer, penance, and reparation as the path to salvation. The Church has consistently taught that the reality of hell highlights the dignity of human freedom and the seriousness of our moral choices. St. Augustine expresses this clearly: “God created us without us, but He did not will to save us without us.” The Fatima message echoes this truth by reminding us that while God’s mercy is infinite, it must be freely accepted through repentance and a transformed life. Our Lady’s call to reparation is profoundly maternal. She invites us to unite ourselves to the redemptive suffering of Christ for the salvation of souls. Pope St. John Paul II emphasised this when he said, “The message of Fatima is a call to conversion and repentance, like the Gospel itself.” Reparation—offered through prayer, fasting, sacrifices, and the faithful acceptance of daily trials—becomes an act of love that consoles the Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Pope Benedict XVI further reminded the Church, “A humanity that excludes God from its horizons ends up destroying itself.” The vision of hell, therefore, is a merciful warning, calling the world back to God before hearts grow cold and faith is lost. It urges believers not to remain passive, but to become active participants in Christ’s saving mission. It is my great joy to be involved in the activities of the World Apostolate of Fatima. I deeply appreciate your devotion to Our Lady of Fatima and your generous commitment to living and spreading her message. I pray that all your work may come to full realisation for the greater glory of Our Lord and for a deeper, more fervent veneration of our Blessed Mother, who tirelessly leads souls to her Son and invites the world to peace through conversion. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all! “Ad Majorem Resurgentis Gloriam”- “Ave Maria”
The events of July 13, 1917, stand as a spiritual crossroads for the modern world. On that day, three young shepherd children in Portugal were shown the First Secret of Fatima: a terrifying vision of the hell. While many fixate on the imagery of the "sea of fire," the authentic message revealed by Sister Lúcia dos Santos is not one of fear, but of urgent, loving action. It is a call to Reparation . The Lost Sense of Sin In her memoirs, Sister Lúcia noted that the children—Lúcia, Francisco, and Jacinta—were the first to live the Fatima message. Despite their innocence and their simple lives in Aljustrel, far removed from the digital noise of today, they grasped the enormity of sin. They understood that sin is an infinite offense against an Almighty God. Today, we face a crisis: the loss of the "sense of sin." This is why reparation has become unpopular and why confessional lines have thinned. When we no longer see sin in ourselves or our culture, we no longer see the need to make amends. We may even treat the Fatima prayer—“especially those most in need of Thy mercy”—as a petition for "others," falling into the Pharisaic trap of looking down on the world while neglecting our own spiritual poverty. Understanding Reparation: Healing the Heart of God A common question arises: How can an omnipotent God be "hurt" by our actions? The answer lies in the distinction between God’s Intrinsic and Extrinsic Glory. Intrinsic Glory is God’s inherent perfection, which no creature can increase or diminish. Extrinsic Glory is the manifestation of God’s light in the created world. When we sin, we commit an injustice. We "steal" from God’s extrinsic glory by refusing to live according to His creative plan. St. Irenaeus famously said, "The glory of God is man fully alive." When we sin, we are not fully alive; we dim the light of God that should shine through us. Reparation is the act of "making it better"—restoring the justice due to God and consoling the Hearts of Jesus and Mary because they loved us first. It is the spiritual equivalent of tending to a loved one who has been injured. The Five First Saturdays: A Perpetual Devotion To facilitate this reparation, Our Lady requested the Five First Saturdays devotion. She promised to "assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation" all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, fulfil four conditions: sacramental confession, Holy Communion, reciting the Rosary, and a 15-minute meditation on the mysteries. However, true love does not stop at a checklist. While the "Five" Saturdays correspond to the five specific blasphemies against Mary’s Immaculate Heart, we should desire to carry this devotion on month by month. If we love someone, we do not stop comforting them simply because we met a minimum requirement. Every First Saturday should be seen as a "monthly appointment" with our Mother to intercede for the world. A Call to Action The message of Fatima is a call from the Mother of God for a renewed fidelity to penance and prayer and continual conversion of heart. She tells us to live the Gospel—to always, “do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). The Fatima message exemplifies Our Lord’s desire that his Mother be better known, loved, and venerated through the devotion to her Immaculate Heart. As we celebrate the centenary of the First Saturday request (December 10, 2025) , the call to action is more urgent than ever. The shepherd children practiced reparation before the age of Netflix, TikTok, and Instagram—tools that today often lead us away from God. We are called to follow their example by embracing the "sacrifice of daily duty." Each one of us is offered that same invitation and St. Paul tells us the reason for our positive response - for what is lacking in the body of the Church. As members of the WAF we can help save the church, the Body of Christ only if every member embraces the invitation to make reparation. There will, as a result be a period of Peace as promised by Our Lady at Fatima. This is the fruit of reparation for after suffering (daily duty) comes peace, after Good Friday comes the Peace of Easter. Reparation is the primary intention for the first Saturday devotion and serves to proclaim and restore the justice due to God. Practical Steps Forward To live this message today: Mark the Calendar : Treat every First Saturday as a sacred commitment. Sacrifice the Ordinary : Offer the trials of daily life as a constant morning offering for the conversion of sinners. Spread the Devotion : Do not be afraid to invite others or ask your parish priest to facilitate the First Saturday devotion. Know that you are doing something to bring about the peace in the world and console the Immaculate Heart of Mary. By making amends through reparation, we restore God’s glory in a darkened world and participate in the redemptive work of Christ. Article written by Patrick Cunningham 3. Jan. 2026 Based upon Canon Jason Jones talk on reparation at WAF-E&W AGM 2024.
THE FINAL BATTLE: Why the Message of Fatima is a Survival Guide for the Modern Family? FATIMA, Portugal — For over a century, the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima have been scrutinized by theologians, historians, and the faithful. The 1917 events are famous for their prophetic warnings, calling humanity back to God and Holiness by following heavens peace plan. However, buried within the memoirs of Sister Lucia dos Santos—the longest-living seer of Fatima—lies a less publicized theme for the 21st century: a divine battle plan for the preservation of the family. From the terrifying climax of the Miracle of the Sun to the intimate details of Sister Lucia’s childhood home found in her second volume of memoirs, the message of Fatima suggests that the "final battle" between good and evil will not be fought on a battlefield, but in the living room. The Forgotten Vision of October 13 Most accounts of October 13, 1917, focus on the "Miracle of the Sun," where 70,000 people witnessed the sun dancing and plunging toward the earth. This terrifying display was a public validation of the children's claims. However, while the crowd looked on in fear, the three shepherd children—Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco—were granted a private, beatific vision that serves as the theological key to the entire message. As the sun resumed its place in the sky, the heavens opened. In her Memoirs, Sister Lucia describes the scene: "We saw Saint Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. Saint Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands." The appearance of the Holy Family at the climax of the apparitions was not merely decorative. Theologically, it was a declaration. By presenting St. Joseph holding the Christ Child and blessing the world together, Heaven was emphasizing the father's crucial role in the spiritual protection of the family. In a world that would soon see the disintegration of family structures through war and secularization, God presented the Holy Family of Nazareth as the ultimate remedy. The vision suggests that peace—symbolized by the calming of the sun—will only return to the world when Christ reigns within the "domestic church." Roots of Sanctity: Inside the Santos Home To understand the type of family God desires, one need not look further than the family He chose to receive the message. In Fatima in Lucia’s Own Words, Volume II, Sister Lucia pulls back the veil on her parents, Antonio and Maria Rosa dos Santos, offering a masterclass in parenting. Contrary to some historical caricatures that paint her father as merely a sceptic or a drinker, Lucia’s fifth and sixth memoirs reveal a home rooted in deep, imperfect, human love. She recounts touching anecdotes of her father, Antonio, whom she describes with great affection. In one instance, seeing his wife overwhelmed with work, Antonio clumsily attempted to help her spin wool. Though he failed at the task, Lucia recalls her mother’s tender reaction, embracing him and saying, "What a good man you are!" Lucia paints her mother, Maria Rosa, as the spiritual anchor of the parish—a woman who refused to let her children merely parrot prayers. She insisted on a "lived faith," creating an atmosphere where the supernatural was a natural part of daily conversation. However, Volume II also serves as a reality check: holiness does not grant immunity from suffering. Lucia heartbreakingly details how the apparitions shattered the peace of their home. Under the pressure of constant interrogations and accusing neighbours, her mother once lamented, "My God, where has all the joy of our home gone?" This inclusion in the memoirs is vital. It demonstrates that the "Fatima family" is not one of plastic perfection, but one that perseveres in faith even when the joy seems to have vanished. The Prophecy of the Final Battle Decades after the apparitions, Sister Lucia’s warnings about the family turned from reflective to prophetic. In the early 1980s, she corresponded with Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, who had been tasked by Pope John Paul II with establishing the Pontifical Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family. When the Cardinal wrote to the nun asking for prayers, he received a handwritten reply that contained a chilling prophecy:
The Consecration to the Holy Family is a devotion in which we entrust our homes to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, asking for their protection and guidance. It invites our families to grow in holiness and unity by following the example of the Holy Family The Consecration to the Holy Family is a meaningful devotion through which we, as Catholics, entrust our homes to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Though love for the Holy Family has been part of the Church’s life from the earliest centuries, the more formal practice of consecrating families to them grew significantly in recent times. In 2018, the Knights of Columbus began widely promoting this devotion to strengthen Catholic family life and help households embrace their identity as “domestic churches.” This modern initiative builds on a long tradition encouraged by Popes Leo XIII , Benedict XV , and others, who urged Catholics to look to the Holy Family as the model of unity, virtue, and holiness. How do we make the Consecration to the Holy Family? Families are encouraged to prepare spiritually by attending Mass, praying together, reflecting on the virtues of the Holy Family, and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation when possible. On the day of consecration, the family gathers—either at home or during a parish celebration—and prays the official Prayer of Consecration to the Holy Family . This prayer entrusts the family to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, asking for their protection, guidance, and help in living out the Gospel within the home. Many families also place an image of the Holy Family in a prominent place as a reminder of their commitment. Which consecration prayer formula do we use? Most parishes today use the prayer provided by the Knights of Columbus , which is the standard and widely recognized Prayer of Consecration to the Holy Family . Because it is copyrighted, it is usually not printed in full without permission—but it is commonly available in parish bulletins, on Knights of Columbus materials, and on their official website. The prayer includes elements such as: dedicating the family to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph; asking for protection from spiritual and worldly dangers; a commitment to imitate the virtues of the Holy Family; and a pledge to strengthen faith, prayer, and unity within the home. Your parish may also provide an approved version of the prayer, and any formula officially recommended by the parish or diocese is entirely appropriate to use. By making the Consecration to the Holy Family, we unite ourselves to the perfect example of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. In a world where family life often faces many challenges, this devotion gives us a spiritual foundation rooted in faith, love, and mutual sacrifice. May the Holy Family watch over our homes and guide us ever closer to Christ.
33 Day Consecration to The Blessed Virgin Mary 01 January 2026 to 02 February 2026 (Solemnity of Mother of God to Feast of the Presentation)
Our 2026 Pilgrimage: The 12 Cathedral Visits
A beautiful Christmas Novena by St. Andrew, to help us prepare for the arrival of Our Lord Jesus.
