Catholic Archdiocese Of Benin Marks Fifth Centenary Apparition Of Blessed Virgin Mary At Fatima

By Felix Azamosa

It was a day of great spiritual activities as catholic faithful in Archdiocese in Benin City celebrated the fifth apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima in Portugal.
The ceremony which was officiated by Very Rev. Fr. Festus Omende, the Administrator of Holy Cross Cathedral and was assisted by a great number of priests and religious at Saint Gabriel The Archangel Catholic Church, Benin City.
The event which witnessed a huge number of catholic faithful, began with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Recitation of the twenty decades of the Rosary, procession with the status of our Lady of Fatima round the church and Holy Mass.
There were six apparitions of Blessed Virgin Mary to three little shepherd, Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. The first centenary apparition was celebrated on May 13th, second on June 13th, third on July 13th, fourth on August 19th, fifth on September 13th and the sixth which is the grand finale shall be celebrated on October 12th to 14th 2017, by all catholic faithful in Nigeria at University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) field at 9am prompt.
According to Rev. Fr. Edwin Omoregbe, Blessed Virgin Mary promised the children that she will perform miracle on her last apparition. And as a result of this, multitude of people keep going to the venue of the apparition as they did not know the last visit of Blessed Virgin Mary. The priest advised catholic faithful to always go for confession in order to reconcile themselves with God. He said God is never tired of forgiving us our sins if only we can ask God for forgiveness adding that it is people who are tired of asking God for forgiveness of our sins. The priest sighted the example of the prodigal son in the Bible to encourage people to go for confession always.
Rev. Fr. Edwin Omoregbe emphasises the benefit of praying the Rosary as he said Rosary is a prayer of praising and worshiping to Almighty God. He said, “Hail Mary Full Of Grace, The Lord Is With You” was a message sent by God through Archangel Gabriel to Blessed Virgin Mary. When Mary visited Elizabeth her cousin, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and the child in her womb leapt for joy and she said why should the mother of my Lord come to me. And she said “Blessed Are You Among All Women And Blessed Is The Fruit Of Thy Womb”. The priest said the church added “Holy Mary Mother of God Pray For Us Sinners Now And At The Hour Of Our Death Amen”. The priest said we should always ask Blessed Virgin Mary to take our request to her son, Jesus Christ who will never refuse request put to him by Blessed Virgin Mary.
According to Rev. Fr. Dr. Jude Chike Anara, “The air suddenly became cool, the sun dimmed as if it was night, even the stars could be seen, yet it was day. The rain suddenly began to fall, yet the supposed rain resembling petals or snowflakes disappeared even before they touched the ground.” The priest said that it was the cosmic event and atmosphere conditions that greeted Blessed Virgin Mary’s fifth apparition in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 to the three shepherd children.
The priest said Blessed Virgin Mary told the children to continue to pray the rosary to obtain the end of the war, that God is pleased with their sacrifices. The war referred to here, was the first world was which ravage most of the Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. According to the promise of Blessed Virgin Mary the war come to an end the following year.
According to Rev. Fr. Dr. J. C. Anara, there are some of us who are going through health challenges, psychological ailment, unemployment, hunger, and spiritual ailments, adding that Blessed Virgin Mary’s message to the children one hundred years ago, stands a glimmer of hope to us all. The priest said in order to combat these many battles in our lives, we must continue to pray the rosary.
The priest said at wedding feast in Canaan, Galilee, Blessed Virgin Mary, instruction was “Do Whatever He Tells You”, adding that the servants heeded her instruction and Jesus turn water to wine. The priest pray that Blessed Virgin Mary may continue to supply whatever is lacking in our lives through her son Jesus Christ who will never refuse her request.
The re-consecration of Nigeria to Immaculate Heart of Mary which luckily will be hosted by catholic Archdiocese of Benin City will take place between 12th to 14 October, 2017, at University of Benin Teaching Hospital field at 9am prompt.
The ceremony which was officiated by Very Rev. Fr. Festus Omende, the Administrator of Holy Cross Cathedral and was assisted by a great number of priests and religious at Saint Gabriel The Archangel Catholic Church, Benin City.
The event which witnessed a huge number of catholic faithful, began with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Recitation of the twenty decades of the Rosary, procession with the status of our Lady of Fatima round the church and Holy Mass.
There were six apparitions of Blessed Virgin Mary to three little shepherd, Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. The first centenary apparition was celebrated on May 13th, second on June 13th, third on July 13th, fourth on August 19th, fifth on September 13th and the sixth which is the grand finale shall be celebrated on October 12th to 14th 2017, by all catholic faithful in Nigeria at University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) field at 9am prompt.
According to Rev. Fr. Edwin Omoregbe, Blessed Virgin Mary promised the children that she will perform miracle on her last apparition. And as a result of this, multitude of people keep going to the venue of the apparition as they did not know the last visit of Blessed Virgin Mary. The priest advised catholic faithful to always go for confession in order to reconcile themselves with God. He said God is never tired of forgiving us our sins if only we can ask God for forgiveness adding that it is people who are tired of asking God for forgiveness of our sins. The priest sighted the example of the prodigal son in the Bible to encourage people to go for confession always.
Rev. Fr. Edwin Omoregbe emphasises the benefit of praying the Rosary as he said Rosary is a prayer of praising and worshiping to Almighty God. He said, “Hail Mary Full Of Grace, The Lord Is With You” was a message sent by God through Archangel Gabriel to Blessed Virgin Mary. When Mary visited Elizabeth her cousin, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and the child in her womb leapt for joy and she said why should the mother of my Lord come to me. And she said “Blessed Are You Among All Women And Blessed Is The Fruit Of Thy Womb”. The priest said the church added “Holy Mary Mother of God Pray For Us Sinners Now And At The Hour Of Our Death Amen”. The priest said we should always ask Blessed Virgin Mary to take our request to her son, Jesus Christ who will never refuse request put to him by Blessed Virgin Mary.
According to Rev. Fr. Dr. Jude Chike Anara, “The air suddenly became cool, the sun dimmed as if it was night, even the stars could be seen, yet it was day. The rain suddenly began to fall, yet the supposed rain resembling petals or snowflakes disappeared even before they touched the ground.” The priest said that it was the cosmic event and atmosphere conditions that greeted Blessed Virgin Mary’s fifth apparition in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 to the three shepherd children.
The priest said Blessed Virgin Mary told the children to continue to pray the rosary to obtain the end of the war, that God is pleased with their sacrifices. The war referred to here, was the first world was which ravage most of the Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. According to the promise of Blessed Virgin Mary the war come to an end the following year.
According to Rev. Fr. Dr. J. C. Anara, there are some of us who are going through health challenges, psychological ailment, unemployment, hunger, and spiritual ailments, adding that Blessed Virgin Mary’s message to the children one hundred years ago, stands a glimmer of hope to us all. The priest said in order to combat these many battles in our lives, we must continue to pray the rosary.
The priest said at wedding feast in Canaan, Galilee, Blessed Virgin Mary, instruction was “Do Whatever He Tells You”, adding that the servants heeded her instruction and Jesus turn water to wine. The priest pray that Blessed Virgin Mary may continue to supply whatever is lacking in our lives through her son Jesus Christ who will never refuse her request.
The re-consecration of Nigeria to Immaculate Heart of Mary which luckily will be hosted by catholic Archdiocese of Benin City will take place between 12th to 14 October, 2017, at University of Benin Teaching Hospital field at 9am prompt.

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Kadiri Christopher

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