From Fr. Mark-May 10

On Wednesday, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima, this memorial is more than secrets and public consecrations of the Pope and the bishops of the world. It is a continual message of seeking Mary’s intercession is a world that continues to be at war.

A public dispute has unfolded after Pope Leo XIV’s repeated public appeals for peace in the Iran war prompted sharp criticism from President Donald Trump; both figures have stood by their statements, and the exchange has produced political, diplomatic, and religious reverberations.

The dispute began when Pope Leo XIV publicly denounced the war and urged ceasefire and reconciliation, prompting President Trump to call the pope “weak” and criticize his foreign‑policy stance. The pope replied that he has “no fear” of the Trump administration and will continue to speak for peace. These exchanges have drawn attention from U.S. and international media and raised questions about domestic political fallout and Vatican‑U.S. relations.

T his was not the first time a Pope spoke about the evils of war and the need for peace in our world in the midst of war. In 1917 the First World War was raging, without showing any sure sign of concluding peacefully. By this time the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XV, who had been in the diplomatic service of the Vatican, had exhausted all of the natural means in his power to bring about peace, but to no avail. Realizing the limited power of even Papal diplomacy, the tired and frail Pope turned to the Blessed Mother of God, through Whom all graces are dispensed. He urgently requested all Christians to beg the Virgin Mary to obtain peace in the world, and to solemnly entrust the task to Her alone.

The Pope wrote of his plea for peace in a letter dated May 5, 1917:

Our earnestly pleading voice, invoking the end of the vast conflict, the suicide of civilized Europe, was then and has remained ever since unheard. Indeed, it seemed that the dark tide of hatred grew higher and wider among the belligerent nations, and drew other countries into its frightful sweep, multiplying ruin and massacre. Nevertheless Our confidence was not lessened …. Since all graces which the Author of all good deigns to grant to the poor children of Adam, by a loving design of His Divine Providence are dispensed through the hands of the most holy Virgin, we wish that the petition of Her most afflicted children, more than ever in this terrible hour, may turn with lively confidence to the august Mother of God.

He wished the world to have recourse to the Heart of Jesus through the mediation of Mary, and he ordered that the invocation Queen of Peace, pray for us be permanently added to the Litany of Loreto. Then, confidently placing the peace of the world in Her hands, the Pope made another appeal:

To Mary, then, who is the Mother of Mercy and omnipotent by grace, let loving and devout appeal go up from every corner of the earth – from noble temples and tiniest chapels, from royal palaces and mansions of the rich as from the poorest hut – from blood-drenched plains and seas. Let it bear to Her the anguished cry of mothers and wives, the wailing of innocent little ones, the sighs of every generous heart: that Her most tender and benign solicitude may be moved and the peace we ask for be obtained for our agitated world.

The Blessed Mother responded quickly to this agonizing plea of the Pope and the Christian people. Only eight days later, at Fatima, the Virgin Mary came in response to the cries raised to Her from a warring world. She came to demonstrate Her maternal care for us, and that, as Mediatrix of all Graces, She alone can show us the way to peace. In order to grant this favor, though, She requires our cooperation. She requires that each one of us obey Her requests for prayer and penance, and that the Pope and bishops obey Her request for the Consecration of Russia.

Eight days after Pope Benedict XV’s plea, Between May 13 and October 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared six times to the children, calling the world to prayer, penance, and conversion. Her message was both simple and urgent: pray the Rosary daily for peace and the conversion of sinners. She warned that without repentance, humanity would suffer wars and persecutions, but also promised that “in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”

Mary’s words resonated deeply at a time when the world was engulfed in the chaos of World War I and moral uncertainty. Yet her message remains timeless; a reminder that the peace of the world begins in the conversion of hearts.

On that fateful day, October 13, 1917, an estimated 70,000 people gathered in the Cova da Iria. Rain poured relentlessly, turning the fields to mud. Suddenly, the clouds parted, and the sun appeared as a spinning disc of light. Witnesses reported it “danced” in the sky, changed colors, and appeared to plunge toward the earth before returning to its place. Even skeptics, journalists, and scientists present that day could not deny what they saw. When the miracle ended, the drenched ground and soaked clothing were inexplicably dry.

It was a moment that pierced through disbelief, a visible sign confirming Heaven’s presence and the truth of Mary’s message.

More than a century later, Our Lady of Fátima’s call still echoes through the Church. The world continues to wrestle with war, division, and moral confusion, yet Mary’s plea is unchanged: “Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners.”

Each Rosary prayed, each act of penance, and every conversion of heart is a light pushing back the darkness of the age. The promise remains: the Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph.

As we celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima, let us renew our devotion to the Rosary and entrust our lives, our families, and our world to Our Lady of Fátima. Her message is not a memory; it is a mission of the church and of us.

May we, like Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco, answer her call with faith, courage, and love.

Today, as we celebrate Mother’s Day we are given a wonderful opportunity to highlight the beautiful vocation of motherhood and the gift of human life. It calls us to cherish the gift of life that we receive from our mothers and to pray for all women to whom God has entrusted life in a very special way.

As we pray in thanksgiving for the gift of mothers, we remember mothers experiencing difficult pregnancies and pray they may find support and encouragement in choosing life for their children.

While Mother’s Day is not a liturgical or Catholic observance, Mother’s Day provides an

opportunity to pray for mothers while honoring and seeking the intercession of Our Blessed Mother. It is a fitting day to ask God’s special blessing on all mothers.

In our efforts to celebrate the vocation of motherhood, it is also important to remember that Mother’s Day can be a difficult holiday for many people: married couples struggling with infertility; parents who have lost a child; those who have lost their own mothers; couples longing to welcome a child through adoption; and women and men who are suffering because of their participation in abortion. For these Women also, we pray for the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession upon them.

A Mother’s Day Prayer

Heavenly Father,

I thank You for the gift of mothers—

For their love, their wisdom, and their sacrifice. Reflection Journals

Bless my mother today and always.

Give her strength in weariness,

Peace in trials,

And joy in her calling.

May she feel honored, loved, and supported

In her daily offering of love.

For mothers who are struggling—

Bring hope.

For mothers who are grieving—

Bring comfort.

For mothers who have gone to You—

Grant eternal rest and reward.

Through the intercession of Mary, our Blessed Mother,

Surround all mothers with grace,

And guide them to the heart of Your Son, Jesus.

Amen.