My good friend Anni and I are giving away a one of a kind Our Lady of Fatima doll from My Little Felt Friends.  See the end of the post for details!

I’m a wimp.  I hate the idea of suffering as much as I hate suffering itself.  I can’t watch apocalyptic shows or read dystopian fiction.  In my happy little world, wild animals die of old age.  And war and fear and terrorism are things that happen in other places.

Except none of that is true.

This quirk spills over into my faith.  I can’t read about Marian visitations or prophecies.  I can’t listen to people talk about the words of Our Lady of LaSalette without chanting a constant refrain of “private revelation; private revelation.”  I also can’t handle speculation about the end times, even though that’s not super common in Catholic circles.

So if you’re still with me at this point, you’re probably wondering:  why in the world am I writing about Our Lady of Fatima?

Our Lady of Fatima

Because today marks 99 years since her last appearance in Fatima, Portugal, following six months of apparitions to three Portuguese children: Lucia Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto.  Our Lady spoke to them of many things, including the necessity of consecrating Russia to her Immaculate Heart.  Her message was dire: pray and fast for Russia’s conversion.  Otherwise, “Russia will spread her errors throughout the world raising up wars and persecutions against the Church, the good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated. ”

Yikes.

This is the kind of thing that makes me run for the hills, especially when news stories like this one start popping up.  I feel like disappearing for the next few days while I build a bomb shelter in my backyard.

Anybody have a shovel?

This is where you say to me, Ginny, read your own series.  Yes.  I know.  But knowing and feeling are two separate things, and when your temperament runs toward melancholy, feelings can override knowledge.  Fortunately for me (and for all of us, really), Our Lady knows the human tendency toward anxiety and despair.  That’s why she appeared to  the children, to use them as a vehicle for her message of hope.  I realize what I quoted sounded like a message of despair.  What I haven’t mentioned yet, though, is what she said later: “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”

It is up to us to choose the spirit with which we receive her message.  Will we cower in fear, waiting for the moment the world around us crumbles (more so than it already has)?  Or will we conquer in faith, secure in the knowledge that while we are the Church Militant – soldiers for Christ – the battle has already been won?

I’m working toward the second option.  I have too much at stake, namely the beautiful children I’ve been gifted in this vocation of motherhood.  They need me.  I need them.

They are my fiat.  And the battle has been won.

Family Activities

• Watch The Day the Sun Danced
• Make a Fatima craft
• Pray the rosary daily

Family Prayer

Blessed Virgin, your Fiat saved the world.  Be near to us in our struggles, and consecrate our hearts to you. Amen

And now for the giveaway!

I’ve met some fantastic people in my blogging journey, and I’m excited to team up with two of them to bring you another fun giveaway.  Adrianna is the owner of My Little Felt Friends.  She hand sews the most exquisite felt saint dolls, and she’s made one of Our Lady of Fatima just for me and my friend Anni.  Isn’t it darling?

To throw your hat in the ring, see the Rafflecopter widget below.  The giveaway runs from October 13 through October 20 at midnight.

Good luck!  I might even enter my own contest!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is part of the series on 31 Days of Devotion to Our Blessed Mother. To see the rest of the series, click here.