Rosary rallies planned for Fatima anniversary

Jul 27, 2007 / 08:51 am

Ninety years after the Marian apparitions in Fatima, Catholics in the United States are gearing up to commemorate the anniversary with 2,000 public square rosary rallies.

The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property and its America Needs Fatima campaign are coordinating the event, set for Oct. 13, the day of the Miracle of the Sun.

More than 537 Catholics have already volunteered to hold peaceful rosary rallies in their respective cities, said Robert Ritchie, executive director of America Needs Fatima.

The Catholic group's web site (www.tfp.org) offers material to start a rosary rally, such as posters, banners, rosaries, and a detailed map that indicates rally locations by state. It also lists over 20 universities and colleges where students have started Campus Rosary Crusade chapters to pray the rosary in public locations each month.

"An amazing network is forming to honor the Mother of God and to pray for the conversion of America," said Ritchie. "It's important to remember that Our Lady of Fatima appeared asking mankind to stop offending God in order to avert punishment. She asked for prayer, penance and amendment of life. However, God continues to be offended. Just consider how abortion, pornography, blasphemy and sins against nature are so widespread.

"If anything can reverse the moral crisis in society, it's the power of the Rosary," he said.