For the Marian devotees of Our Lady of Victories Church, this year’s Month of the Holy Rosary began in an extra special way. In past weekend (October 1–2) parishioners attended these two recollection days in preparation for the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima. The recollections were conducted by Father Stehlin, Director of Militia Immaculatae.
Father Stehlin preached 5 conferences about the most important messages from Our Lady in Fatima and guided the faithful through meditations.
The first important message: the apparition of Our Lady changed the children (Lucy, Francisco, Jacinta) who had seen Our Lady. After the first apparition the children prayed ardently, and made many sacrifices and they desired go to heaven. Our Lady changed also people who consecrated themselves to Our Lady.
Second message: our salvation is the most important thing in our earthly life for each of us. Lucy first asked Our Lady: “Shall I go to Heaven?” — this question was about her salvation. We too need to take care of our salvation. How? The answer is short: prayer and sacrifices.
The third message was love of our neighbours and attention to their salvation also.
The fourth message related to the devotion of the Five First Saturdays and reparation for the blasphemies and insults which people dare to commit against the Immaculate Heart of our Heavenly Mother.
The fifth message was about the devotion of the Holy Rosary.
The sixth message concerned devotion tothe Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Immaculate Heart of Mary is the way in which Jesus Christ came to earth. Our consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is simple, because it is an act of our will.
At the end of the two recollection days Father Karl Stehlin explained the goal and the essence of the M.I. and he accepted 50 new Knights into the Militia Immaculatae. After a final conference on the apparitions of Fatima, he invited everyone who wished to be enrolled in the MI to the altar rail. Then with two brother priests from Our Lady of Victories, he imposed the Miraculous Medals on the fifty new knights and led them in the prayer of consecration. At the end of the simple ceremony, Father Stehlin reminded everyone that all new enrollees of the Militia Immaculata, as well as all knights who renewed their consecrations that day, were eligible for a plenary indulgence.
Now, in the Philippines there are almost 3,000 Knights and in the all world — 15,000. Let us zealously pray for the new Knights, that they aspire to the ideals of the M.I.
Very soon we shall embed in our website a video of the 5 conferences by Father Stehlin.
