Advent with Our Lady of Fatima by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle is one of the most exceptional and fascinating Advent books that I have had the opportunity to read. It is filled with powerful Advent prayers and readings for each day of the liturgical season that will keep the reader focused on preparing for the coming of the Christ Child.

Advent is a time of expectant joy. The theme of Advent is one of longing and yearning for the Christ Child to come into our lives. Each of the daily reflections centers on the Blessed Mother’s messages to the three shepherd children at Fatima and on the personal devotions of three holy contemporaries: St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. John Paul II, and the late Fr. Andrew Apostoli. Daily, we journey with Our Lady, reflecting on the gifts of hope, love, peace, and joy of this holy season. In each meditation, we are given a short passage to read, a reflection of the passage, and an action to perform.

The first week of Advent focuses on hope. During this week, Donna-Marie shows us how Our Lady of Fatima brings hope to our hearts through the eyes of Fr. Andrew Apostoli. The late Fr. Apostoli was a strong devotee of Fatima. This Advent he calls each of us to be Christians anchored in hope and ‘doers’ of the faith, following Our Lady’s peace plan from heaven. Through his teachings and example, he shows us how to fulfill Our Lady of Fatima’s requests.

The second week of Advent centers on peace. During this week, we focus on Our Lady of Fatima’s message through the eyes and hearts of the three visionaries Lucia dos Santos, St. Francisco Marto, and his sister St. Jacinta Marto. In the reflections, we are encouraged to pray the daily Rosary and to develop a devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary to obtain peace. We are also given specific prayers to pray and sacrifices to offer up in reparation for sins.

The third week of Advent focuses on joy. We look at Advent during this week through the eyes of St. John Paul II, with Our Lady of Fatima at our side. The third secret of Fatima was about Pope John Paul II, “the bishop dressed in white” who was killed. However, it was Our Lady’s hand that guided the would-be assassin’s bullet, protecting the pope from death. In a similar way, God sends His Blessed Mother, the beautiful Queen of Heaven, to protect and save each of us, to give our lives back to us.

The fourth and final week of Advent focuses on love. This week we look at Advent with Our Lady of Fatima by our side and through the eyes and heart of St. Teresa of Calcutta. Mother Teresa was close to Mother Mary and communicated with her frequently. She chose the Immaculate Heart of Mary as her special patroness and established that special feast day as the titular feast for her congregation. The Blessed Mother helped her determine her mission and remained close to her during trials and never left her side. Mother Teresa encourages each of us to call on Mary often to draw us closer to her Son.

In Advent with Our Lady of Fatima, Donna-Marie shares some original and captivating anecdotes about Fr. Andrew Apostoli and St. Teresa of Calcutta. Some of these stories are humorous, while others reveal the courage and conviction of these holy people. Through their eyes and hearts, we learn what Fr. Andrew considered to be the most important of Our Lady of Fatima’s requests and how in his final months, he fulfilled her requests. We also learn the role Mother Teresa secretly played in the consecration of Russia.

Advent with Our Lady of Fatima is a powerful spiritual guide that you will be able to use year after year to reflect on Our Lady of Fatima’s messages. Six saintly guides, along with Our Lady of Fatima, will help make this your holiest Advent season ever.

~ Copyright Jean M. Heimann November 2018

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