FT Chapter 3 (School of the Angel)
When I was young, I prepared to start elementary school, but first I had to go to preschool. At preschool I was made ready to enter elementary. I was taught the basics and this helped me to be ready for all that was ahead. I am thankful for this. The children of Fatima first are visited by the Angel of Peace, it is as if they are in preschool or the School of the Angel. They are preparing for the school of Mary to happen. The children (Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco) are visited by the Angel of peace who has come to make the children ready for the Virgin’s upcoming visit. “At Fatima, an angel who called himself the Angel of Peace visited the visionaries to prepare them for what was to come” (Fatima for Today, 20). The angel came to the children three times before Our Lady visited the children.
The first lesson (apparition) of the Angel of Peace: “Then the angel spoke: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me’” (Fatima for Today, 21). I can only imagine what having an angel appear in front of me would be like, but I bet I might be a little bit afraid of what I didn’t understand; I know that hearing these words would comfort me. “Do not be afraid” is found in the bible so many times, it is important for us to remember to not fear God in this way. The angel goes on to show them how to pray. “First [the angel] knelt down and bowed until his forehead touched the ground” (Fatima for Today, 21). The angel was showing the children to be respectful toward God in how they pray.
The first lesson continues with the angel teaching the children “the Pardon Prayer: My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You” (Fatima for Today, 22). First we praise God, than we pray for those who don’t have faith, it is so simple. “Praying for the salvation of souls is at the very center of Our Lady of Fatima’s message” (Fatima for Today, 23). The angel was there to prepare the children. The angel’s prayer was so important that he repeated it three times (Fatima for Today, 22). I guess any good teacher would repeat their lesson for the students to learn, so it seems fitting that an angel would repeat his message to children. The angel concludes this first lesson with, “’Pray thus. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications’” (Fatima for Today, 22). Wow… kids… humble little kids, and God is listening to their prayers. This is because God listens to all of our prayers, He loves all His children.
The second lesson (apparition) of the Angel of Peace: “’What are you doing? Pray! Pray very much! The Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy on you. Offer prayers and sacrifices constantly to the Most High’” (Fatima for Today, 25). The Angel is trying to teach them, but like children and us, they have relapsed. They need a good reminder, that is what this second lesson begins with, but then the angel expands on the lesson. Not only are they to pray, but to offer sacrifices. Lucia asks a question and the angel goes on to say: “Make of everything you can a sacrifice, and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners. You will thus draw down peace upon your country. I am its Angel Guardian, the Angel of Portugal. Above all, accept and bear with submission, the suffering which the Lord will send you” (Fatima for Today, 26). That is a lot for an adult to hear, but the angel of peace who is the Angel Guardian of their country is teaching the children and preparing them. This is a big part of the message of Fatima.
Sacrifice, Prayer, Reparation, Intercession and Patience is what these children are called to in the second lesson. The same would be true for us; we should be following what the angel is asking the children to do.
(Fr. Andrew Apostoli does such a great job in this book, I really suggest rereading pages 26 through 29, these fill in the gaps especially with his explanation of things).