Our Lady Guides the Family 

By Greg Zambrano

The 13 of May is a very special day for our family. We remember our trip four years ago to Fatima, Portugal. It was an amazing experience to be able to take the whole family and see, firsthand, the location where the apparitions of Mary to the three children took place.

Of course, I had a pop quiz for the kids. I knew that if they didn’t know the answer it was an amusing way for them to learn some fun facts about Our Lady.

On the last apparition which took place on October 13, 1917, I asked them, how did Our Lady reveal herself (multiple ways) to the shepherd children? How was she dressed?

One of my daughters answered that it was as Our Lady of Fatima. I responded by telling her answer was very good, but in fact it was Our Lady of The Rosary. Our Lady of the Rosary was also seen joining St. Joseph and the child Jesus as the Holy Family.

Lucia saw, secondly, Our Lady of Sorrows with Our Lord blessing everyone. Thirdly, Our Lady appeared as Our Lady of Mount Carmel while holding the child Jesus.

My kids responded by asking what could all of this mean to show up the same day with different ensembles? This is one of my favorite parts of the Fatima apparitions. I have thought about this often. My thought is that Our Lady wants us to stay close together as a family and pray the rosary.

Most likely she wants us to also meditate on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and never forget to wear the brown scapular. This way, we may stay together and one day enter into heaven.

“One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, I will save the world,” Our Lady of the Rosary to St. Dominic.