May Devotions: 13 - 15 May

Our Lady of Fatima: The first apparition (4)
On 13 May 1917, around midday, Our Lady appeared to Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco, who were pasturing their sheep in a hollow, known locally as the 'Cova da Iria'. (5) The Blessed Virgin asked the children to return there on the thirteenth of each month for the next six months.
Her message to them speaks of penance for sins; about saying the Rosary, and consecration of the world to her Immaculate Heart. Each time the beautiful Lady appeared to the children she asked them to say the Rosary every day.
She also taught them a prayer to say often in which they would offer God the events of their lives, especially many small mortifications: "O Jesus, this is for love of you, for the conversion of sinners and in reparati0on for the offences made to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
"Mary came to awaken men's consciences, illuminate the authentic meaning of life, call men to conversion from sin and to spiritual fervor. To inflame souls with the love for God and with charity towards their neighbor. Mary came to help because many, unfortunately, do not wish to accept the invitation of the Son of God to return to their Father's house.
"From her sanctuary at Fatima Mary renews even today her maternal and urgent petition: conversion to Truth and Grace; return to the life of the sacraments, especially Penance and the Eucharist; devotion to her Immaculate Heart, accompanied by a spirit of penance." (6)
"The message of Fatima is, in its basic meaning, a call to conversion and repentance, as in the Gospel ... The Lady seems to have read with special insight the 'signs of the times', the signs of our age. The call to repentance is a motherly one; at the same time strong and decisive." (7)
In the Gospel the words 'repent' and 'penance' (cf Mk 1:15) appear repeatedly. Jesus begins his mission asking for penance: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mt 4:17). 'Penance' signifies conversion of the sinner, and stands for internal and external actions aimed at making reparation for sins committed. (8)
Mary reminds us that without penance man does not receive the Kingdom of her Son; without penance man is in the kingdom of sin. In Our Lord's own words, without penance "all likewise perish". (Lk 13:3)

May Devotion: 13 May
Mary's hidden life with Jesus (10)
"I like to go back to my imagination to the years Jesus spent close to his Mother, almost the whole of his life on earth. ... as a little child, cared for by Mary who kisses him and plays with him. ... growing up before the loving eyes of his Mother and Joseph ... What tenderness and care Mary and the Holy Patriarch must have shown towards Jesus, during his childhood, silently leaning so much from him. Their souls would become more and more like the soul of that Son, who was both man and God. This is why his Mother, and after her, Saint Joseph, understand better than anyone the feelings of the heart of Christ, and the two of them are thus the best way, ... the only way, to reach the Saviour." (11)

Let us offer our Mother: The effort of doing our ordinary work well, on time, with competence and finesse.

References:
(4) F Fernandez, In Conversation with God, 6:221-4
(5) C Barthas, The Virgin of Fatima, Madrid, 1963
(6) John Paul II, Angelus, 26 Jul 1987
(7) cf Ibid, Homily at Fatima, 13 May 1982
(8) cf L Bouyer, Penitence in Dictionary of Theology, Barcelona, 1983
(10) Belmonte and Socias (Eds), Handbook of Prayers, p308
(11) St Josemaria Escriva, Friends of God, 281

NB: Copied from TO JESUS DAILY THROUGH MARY, a compilation of spiritual readings by John Bautista de Mayo, Vol 2 (Apr-May-Jun), 2005, p183. Imprimatur: Most Rev Honesto F Ongtioco, DD, Bishop of Cubao, Quezon City

May Devotion: 14 May

Mary loses and finds the Child Jesus (6)
"The Mother of God, who looked for her son so anxiously when he was lost through no fault of her own, and experienced such great joy in finding him, will help us retrace our steps and put right whatever may be necessary when, because of our carelessness or our sins, we have been unable to recognize Christ. With her help we will know the happiness of holding him in our arms once more, and telling him we will never lose him again." (7)

Let us offer our Mother: A good, sincere and sorrowful confession of our sins and failures in the sacrament of Penance.

References:
(6) Belmonte and Socias (Eds), Handbook of Prayers, pp308-9
(7) St Josemaria Escriva, Friends of God, 278

NB: Copied from TO JESUS DAILY THROUGH MARY, a compilation of spiritual readings by John Bautista de Mayo, Vol 2 (Apr-May-Jun), 2005, p185. Imprimatur: Most Rev Honesto F Ongtioco, DD, Bishop of Cubao, Quezon City

May Devotion: 15 May

Mary in Cana (9)
"In the Gospel Saint John recorded how our Lady at the wedding of Cana turned to the waiters and said: 'Do whatever he tells you.' That's it! Getting people to face Jesus and ask him: 'Lord, what do you want me to do?'" (10)

Let us offer our Mother: Prompt obedience when we are asked to do some errand or act of service.

References:
(6) Belmonte and Socias (Eds), Handbook of Prayers, pp309
(7) St Josemaria Escriva, Christ is passing by, 149

NB: Copied from TO JESUS DAILY THROUGH MARY, a compilation of spiritual readings by John Bautista de Mayo, Vol 2 (Apr-May-Jun), 2005, p189. Imprimatur: Most Rev Honesto F Ongtioco, DD, Bishop of Cubao, Quezon City