On The Inner Life with Patrick Conley, Fr. John Eckert walked you through the awe-inspiring, world-shaking events of Fatima, and why this message still matters big time today.
Click here to listen to the entire hour. This podcast episode is just the highlight!
Fr. Eckert also lit up when talking about the Marian devotion of our brand-new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. From the moment he stepped onto the balcony, the Pope made it crystal clear: Mary’s leading the way. He prayed a Hail Mary with the entire world, referenced Our Lady of Pompeii, visited St. Mary Major, and entrusted his papacy to her care. He even sang the Salve Regina with pilgrims at an Augustinian parish. 🙌
👉 As Fr. Eckert put it: “Right out of the gate, he’s showing us what it means to entrust everything to the Blessed Mother.”
A Heavenly Wake-Up Call
Fr. Eckert shared the story of Fatima if you need a refresher: three humble shepherd children, an angel of peace, and finally, Our Lady herself, appearing on May 13, 1917, in the hills of Portugal. Her call was to pray, do penance, and draw near to Jesus. Oh, and pray the Rosary every single day.
From Rosaries to the Miracle of the Sun
The kids were just 7, 9, and 11: ordinary children with an extraordinary calling. One of the standout moments was when Francisco couldn’t see Our Lady… until he started praying the Rosary. And let’s not forget the October miracle, when 70,000 people saw the sun dance in the sky and shoot toward the earth. Even skeptics were left stunned.
Fatima Isn’t Just for Portugal
What really hit home was Fr. Eckert’s reminder that you don’t have to go to Fatima to live the message of Fatima. It’s about simplicity, humility, prayer, and real conversion of heart. Plus, he recommended two must-read books for diving deeper:
📘 Fatima for Today by Fr. Andrew Apostoli
📙 Inside the Light by Sr. Angela de Fatima Coelho
🙏 The Rosary Is Your Weapon
If you haven’t started praying the Rosary daily, now is a perfect time to start. Fr. Eckert admitted he didn’t always pray the Rosary daily; once he started consistently, it changed everything. He also mentioned the First Saturday Devotions and asked to come back on the show to talk about them more. (Yes, please!)
✨ Final Blessing: Fatima Is a Call to Hope
Even amidst warnings and visions of hell, Fatima is a message of hope. A gentle but firm call to holiness from a loving mother who wants to lead us to her Son. It’s about Divine Mercy, heavenly light, and finding God in the ordinary.
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