Suggested Rosary Congress events for parishes

In observation of the Oct. 1-7 Archdiocese of Baltimore Rosary Congress, the Archdiocese of Baltimore encourages parishes to inform parishioners of events happening at the Baltimore Basilica and to organize their own activities.

  • Participate in prayer at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore
  • Schedule a parish-wide rosary at your own parish.
  • Show the modern film on Fatima: The 13th Day (PG, 2009). Show it to the parish as a whole and show it to the Youth Group.
  • Preach on the message of Fatima at your parish Masses.

Some facts about Our Lady of Fatima

  • Mary appeared in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 to a group of three children: Lucia aged 10, Francisco aged 9, and Jacinta aged 7. She appeared on the 13th day of each month from May until October, and delivered a message to them.
  • By the time of the final appearance Oct. 13, more than 100,000 pilgrims were present with the children. They all witnessed a miracle; for several minutes it seemed as if the sun was moving in the sky. It seemed to be a warning to the world; we are fragile and should continually look to God for assistance and guidance.
  • Mary encouraged us to pray the rosary as a form of personal prayer. She reminded us of the importance of personal daily prayer, in addition to Mass on Sunday.
  • Mary reminded us to pray for peace: in the family, the country, and the world. She appeared in 1917, the beginning of the most violent century in the history of the human race.
  • Mary reminded us to make little acts of self-denial as a way of interceding for others, helping them to be more open to grace. Self-denial, when offered as a prayer, can also make reparation for our sins and the sins of others. It is a way of putting God before ourselves, showing love for him.
  • Mary encouraged us to receive Holy Communion not just on Sundays, but also occasionally on weekdays; she encouraged us to attend Mass on the first Saturdays of the month.
  • Francisco died at age 11 and Jacinta at age 10. Lucia lived to 98 years old, dying in 2005. She was visited by Pope John Paul II before her death.  Francisco and Jacinta were canonized in 2017.

Some facts about the rosary

  • It is a way to set aside twenty-five minutes of personal prayer. The beads help you stay focused.
  • It is a way to meditate on events in the life of Jesus, the “mysteries” of his life.
  • It is a way to draw Mary into our daily prayer, praying with her to Jesus.
  • One can pray simply a decade at a time, using little breaks in the day to remember the presence of God (especially when driving or waiting in lines).
  • It is a way to intercede for other people, offering each decade or each Hail Mary for a different person.
  • The main prayers of the rosary are derived from Scripture: the Our Father was taught to us by Christ himself, and the first half of the Hail Mary repeat the words of the Angel Gabriel and of St. Elizabeth to Mary.

For more information about the Our Lady of Fatima Rosary Congress, click here.