Our Lady of Fatima

100 Years of Stories, Prayers, and Devotions. By Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle, this is a non-fiction account of the Marian apparitions in Fatima, Portugal in 1917, culminating with the miracle of the sun on October 13 of that year. The messages are discussed, as well as the sees, the times, and what Our Lady could want from us today. Each chapter includes a prayer, a reflection, and an attainable call to action; making the book a devotional more than a history.

I read this for Book Club in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the final appearance of Mary at Fatima. I knew about the event and to whom Our Lady appeared, and that's about all. So in this book I learned of the Angel of Peace who appeared to the children twice, in preparation. I learned the messages Mary gave. They are homey messages; simple, though not easy. Conversion. Penance. Prayer. I fall so short; it's disheartening. So. Begin again. In the Sacred Heart of Christ and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, begin again.