This year is the 100th Anniversary of the visits of Blessed Mother to Fatima, Portugal, which makes it the perfect time to introduce your children (and perhaps yourselves) to the message of Fatima. The Fatima Family Handbook: Heaven’s Plan for Your Family by Tom Hoopes (published by Holy Heroes) can help you do just that.
One reason the story of Fatima appeals to children is that the visionaries were children. The recently canonized Francisco was eight years old when the visions began. His younger sister Jacinta (also canonized) was seven. Their cousin Lucia, the oldest of the three, was only ten. As Hoope writes, “The story of Fatima is the story how Catholic children dramatically changed history in our times by being obedient to Our Lady of Fatima’s plan from Heaven.”
The Fatima Family Handbook provides short biographies of the three shepherd children, a description of each of the monthly visions that took place from May to October 1917 and the prayers that Mary asked the children and all of us to offer. It also includes a Fatima Family Action plan to help your family put Mary’s requests into practice in your life.
The plan includes three parts: consoling Jesus, converting sinners, and committing to Mary. These are practical suggestions on how to do all three as well as room to room to write down what your family will do to accomplish this mission.
“Why did Our Lady of Fatima reveal the secrets of Heaven to three ordinary shepherd children? The reason is clear. Jesus, Mary and Saint Joseph see children as supremely important – and they have a special mission.” We have the opportunity now to continue that mission with our own children.
For more info on the Fatima Family Handbook and other Fatima resources for your family, please visit http://www.HolyHeroes.com/Fatima.
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(Note: There is an unfortunate typographical error in this book that appears several times. Where the letters “st” at the end of a word such as “request” have been auto formatted to “Saint.” While this is a bit distracting, it in no way takes away from the message of the book.)