Rosary March at Sanford Veterans' Memorial: First Sunday of October

Many faithful with their families, some onlookers joining in spontaneously, prayed a fifteen-decade rosary, sang traditional Marian songs, and bore witness to the Catholic faith and their devotion to the Holy Virgin Mother of God as their ancestors had done for generations. It was a powerful and beautiful reminder of what Catholics do; they turn to their heavenly mother with all their heart and soul to ask for her powerful intercession.

Although this procession had the usual prayers, songs, flowers, and banners as in other years, this Sunday was unmistakably different from previous years. This time the faithful prayed with a palpable urgency and fervor such as the kind we read about in Catholic history books or the lives of the saints. This year has been a tumultuous and difficult one affecting the population of the entire world. Disease, civil unrest, violence, and hardship have been suffered by many in America. During this unprecedented time of uncertainty Catholics have turned to prayer begging the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a newfound fervor.

The rosary procession began with a brief history lesson of times in the past when it appeared that evil would prevail but for the miraculous intercession of Mary through her rosary. We have heard many of these stories previously, such as the victory of the Christians at Lepanto, they had new meaning and power this time. We now did not simply remember an ancient naval battle that seemed hopeless or a divine favor of protection centuries ago. We prayed for the United States of America which is facing the threat of a Socialist conquest. This threat is not from Soviet tanks but in our upcoming presidential election this November 3rd. The threat from the Socialism of one party is as real, even if more subtle, as Stalin’s troops. We were praying for the defeat of communism in our own country, in our own lives just as our Lady of Fatima had foretold to Sister Lucia of Fatima almost a century ago, that communism would spread its errors throughout the whole world, even to the United States, if Our Lady’s request for the pope and all the bishops to consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart was not fulfilled. This sobering realization only served to strengthen our resolve in prayer.

Father’s encouraging words filled us with hope. We were the Catholics called to live in this day and age to bear witness and beg for heavenly intercession on behalf of our parish, our country, and our world. What an awesome, monumental, and humbling calling. It is a great privilege to live in the present time because it is the time God has chosen for us and if we do our best there is so much good we can do. With this unshakable faith and confidence in divine Providence, the faithful Floridian Catholics marched resolutely behind both the papal and American flags.

This chapel, its priests, the faithful, and their beautiful children are an extraordinary witness to the Catholic faith. The faith which can scarcely be found anywhere in today’s frenetic chaotic world was here displayed in a glorious way for all to see in this small lakeside town in Seminole county. It is a flame still burning brightly in spite of every attempt by the world to extinguish it.  

This year in particular the mystery of the message of Fatima and our Lady of the Rosary was showcased by those faithful Catholic clergy and laity who prayed together for all their intentions. We are so truly blessed to be part of such a church. May God continue to richly bless this little parish which truly gives us a taste of paradise.

Some Spectacular Victories of Our Lady

Spain

The Diocese of Seville has been protected from the Marxist Spanish War because of the consecration of the Diocese made by the Bishop. None of the atrocities which were so common in the whole country occurred within the Diocese of Seville.

Portugal

Portugal has been protected from WWII thanks to the consecration of the country to the Immaculate Heart as prophesied by Sister Lucy as soon as 1939.

Austria

The Russians peacefully left Austria in 1955 after ten long years of occupation. During seven years Austrians made Rosary Marches.

Japan

Nobody can give a scientific explanation for the protection of the four Jesuit priests living 8 blocks from the Hiroshima bomb blast epicenter in 1945. Against all the odds, these religious Jesuits, faithful to the daily rosary and living the spirit of Fatima, were completely preserved of any effect of the bomb.

Russia

We could also mention the Nedellin Disaster which occurred precisely after the Vigil Prayer in the presence of John XXIII in Fatima, in union with 300 dioceses in the world in October 1960.

Brazil

In 1962, the rosary defeated the communist intents of Joao Goulart.

Portugal

Again, in 1975, the communist government was peacefully overthrown after a National Rosary Crusade for Peace was launched.

Russia

On May 13, 1984, one of the largest crowds in Fatima history gathered at the shrine to pray the Rosary for peace. And that very day an explosion at the Soviets’ Severomorsk Naval Base destroyed two-thirds of all the missiles stockpiled for the Soviets’ Northern Fleet.

Four years later, during the night of May 12, 1988, as thousands prayed the Rosary at Fatima, another mysterious explosion wrecked the only factory that made the rocket motors for the Soviets’ deadly SS 24 long-range missiles, which carry ten nuclear bombs each.