Daily Catholic Lectio
Mon, 13 May 2024
Seventh Week of Easter – Monday
Acts 19:1-8. John 16:29-33
Our Lady of Fatima – Opt. Mem.
Vision that transcends the eyes
Today we commemorate the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Fatima. The word ‘Fatima’ appears in the Holy Quran to denote one of the four women of wisdom, fullness, and virtues. Our Lady of Fatima is called so because of the place of apparition ‘Fatima’ in Portugal.
In 1917, from May 13 to October 13, Our Lady appeared to Lucia, Francesco, and Jacinta at Fatima. The recipients of the apparition declared before the local bishop, “A woman who was far more radiant than the sun invited us to pray the Holy Rosary for world peace.” The miracle of the sun that occurred on October 13, 1917, was the last of the signs.
Later, Lucia spoke about the three secrets of Fatima. The first was concerning hell, the second was concerning the consecration of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, and the third was concerning the consecration of Russia.
In response to the vision, Pope John Paul II, in 1984, consecrated the entire world to Our Lady of Fatima. Prior to that, Pope Pius XII and Paul V consecrated the world to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Our Lady of Fatima gives us three lessons or messages: (a) Pray the rosary constantly. The rosary is a kind of reminder of our endless lives; (b) Have peace as the goal of humanity. Peace is found in our inner being; and (c) Everything will pass away – including that radiant sun.
In sum, Our Lady of Fatima invites us to have a vision that transcends our eyes.
In the first reading (of the weekday), Apollos and Paul come to Ephesus. He asks the people there whether they have received the Holy Spirit. The people said they had never heard about the existence of the Holy Spirit. Paul leads them from the baptism of John to the baptism of the Spirit. He makes them see beyond the water.
In the gospel reading, Jesus, in his farewell discourse, assures that the disciples will have victory in the world. Victory is seen beyond the suffering that one endures today. Jesus walks his disciples from suffering, which is visible, to victory, which is invisible.
It is necessary that we move towards the vision that transcends our eyes.
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“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor 4:18). (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 96)
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
# Be M.er.cy.Fool
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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