Without hope, what we hear in the world and domestic news today seems frightening. Keep focus on Mary’s words: “ … there will be a period of peace. At the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph” (Our Lady of Fatima).

Having faith does not mean that we will be freed from difficulties, but in difficulties, we will find peace in trusting Jesus and have Mary by our side.

I remembered a conversation I had with my niece who had just come back from mountain climbing practice. There are many steps of trainings to gain skills, and the team is depending on one another’s help in coaching the move of each important step; how to select a spot to find a grip for fingers, where to land, and the minimum toe-space of the crack of ledges. Most importantly, she was learning how to troubleshoot — what does she need to do when she slips or loses grip, or the shallow ledge crumbles on her.

I can see the parallel description for our faith, in utilizing the spiritual tools and developing spiritual skills. I feel blessed to be a Catholic, the one Apostolic Church with free memberships and free unlimited continuing education courses from the bible, the priests and all forms of Catholic media.

Catholics believe in using many tools to help focus while praying; these include images of Jesus and the saints.

The image of Mary can easily be associated with an ideal and perfect mother everyone would like to have.

She inspired St. Dominic to pray the rosary. She showed up in many places that needed help. After World War I, Pope Benedict XV made a direct appeal for peace to the Blessed Mother to intercede for peace in the world. Just over a week later, Our Lady began to appear at Fatima to the three shepherd children, Lucia and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta. She appeared six times from the May to October 1917.

The important messages Mary gave to obtain peace in the world are to pray the rosary often for the conversion of sinners, repentance and to offer up personal sacrifices.

Our Lady’s Blue Army in Vermont is launching a campaign to say “Yes” to Mary in this election year 2020, for the protection of our country and its Constitution.

  1. The first Saturday Devotion for the reparation to Mary (minimum five consecutive first Saturdays) Please join some churches that already offer this devotion or ask your priest if possible, to have the service: the rosary includes the prayer for the Holy Father plus Confession and Mass.
  2. Lead or join the rosary daily or often at home or at church.
  3. Volunteer to help spread the message by transporting the pilgrim Fatima statue from one church to the next.
  4. Join the rosary prayer cell, which began on Jan. 21, or every third Tuesday of the month at St. Mark’s Adoration Chapel from 8 to 9 p.m. at St. Mark Church on North Avenue, Burlington. To learn more about the Blue Army and the Fatima message go to bluearmy.com. For more information contact: Yorini Undyantara yoandmic@yahoo.com 802-864-0561 (leave a message) Diana Charboneau sonrisefoods@ gmail.com 802-734-3067

— Yorini Undyantara

The World Apostolate of Fatima, the Blue Army in Vermont, is the only Fatima apostolate organization approved by the Church. We are volunteer parishioners from different parishes, united in praying for peace and for the conversion of the heart of sinners. The Fatima pilgrim statue and the home statue are going around churches and homes to encourage families to increase the habit of praying the rosary. As Holy Cross Father Patrick Peyton, founder of the “Family Rosary Crusade,” said, “The family that prays together stays together.”

—Originally published in the Feb. 8-14, 2020, issue of The Inland See.