This Sunday, we will have arrived at the 101st anniversary of the Fatima apparitions. Devotion to Fatima surely grew during the 100th anniversary last year. When I made my way through some of the latest books about Fatima, something struck me about Our Lady’s message in Fatima. When Our Lady appeared monthly from May to October 1917 she consistently made promises to the three shepherd children, Jacinta, Francisco, and Lucia. As Mary spoke those words to the children, she revealed not only to them, but to all of us that she is a woman of her word. In Fatima, Mary not only revealed herself as the Queen of the Rosary but also as the Woman of the Promise, a title not confined to the apparition alone but also to Mary’s very identity.
It is very important to me that the next Synod of Bishops, which relates to “Young people, faith and vocational discernment”, is prepared by truly listening to the young. And I can testify that this is being done. You also demonstrate this to me, with the work that is going on in your diocese. And when I say “truly listening” I also mean the willingness to change something, to walk together, to share dreams, as that young man said. But I want to ask you a question, too. You rightly ask yourself if we bishops are willing to really listen to you and change something in the Church. And I ask you: are you willing to listen to Jesus and change something about yourself? If you are here, I think it is so, but I can not and I do not want to take it for granted. Each of you, reflect on this within yourself, in your heart: Am I willing to make Jesus’ dreams my own? Or am I afraid that His dreams can “disturb” my dreams?
This coming Saturday, March 31st, twenty students in the RCIA for adults and for children will become full members of the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Mass at 7 PM.
