It seems like there is so much going on in the world around us. News of violence, war, and natural disasters swirl around us like waves in a tumultuous sea. When that happens, it is good that we have the Church. The image of the Church as a ship is often a metaphor of the Church, through Jesus, being a place of protection from the worldly storms on our way to eternal life. It doesn’t mean we won’t be affected by them. However, if we cling to the Church, we won’t be lost.

One way to stay anchored to faith is to pray, along with receiving the sacraments. October is the Month of the Holy Rosary. Recently, Pope Leo XIV asked the faithful to pray every day in October for peace through the Rosary. This is a wonderful initiative that can only result in good fruits. Even if we start late, adding to the efforts will only help more.

“I invite everyone, each day of the coming month, to pray the Rosary for peace—personally, in the family, and in community.” — Pope Leo XIV

In fact, in 1917, God sent the Blessed Virgin to visit three young children in Fatima to deliver a message of warning and hope. There was much going on at that time that was displeasing to God as well, and Mary brought a message with a solution. We could change our hearts with the First Five Saturday Devotion. This devotion would turn our hearts toward God, prayer, and the sacraments. Every first Friday for 5 consecutive months we were to:

• Go to Confession
• Receive Holy Communion
• Recite the Rosay
• Keep Mary company for 15 minutes by meditating on the 15 mysteries of the Rosary.

Check out this website dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima.

They also have a great resource called the Great Promise Passport. Check it out!

**Fun fact – the image above was used in my previous project, Parables Magazine. It was a digital catholic based magazine for children. **