See how your rose and name were taken to Fatima, Portugal

For years now America Needs Fatima delivers to Fatima, Portugal, a red rose for every person who commits to lead a Public Rosary Rally every October, and a white rose for every person who donates toward the nation-wide effort. Every year these rallies are scheduled on or close to October 13, the feast of the last apparition of Fatima and the miracle of the sun. This year, there were 11,247 groups simultaneously praying for our country and the world all across America–2,000 more than in 2012!

Therefore, the roses delivered to the Fatima Shrine for October 13 grow in number each year.

When a gentleman gives his sweetheart a dozen roses, don’t her eyes light up? If he wishes to make a deeper impression and doubles that number, can’t he expect a tear?  Imagine 1,250 times twelve and that is the number delivered this year to Our Lady at Fatima–15,000 roses!

Perfect woman and princess that Mary is, can’t we expect a smile on her lips, and a tear in her eye? Better still, can’t we hope that the sight of that ocean of blooms, wiped a few of the many tears our sweet queen weeps for our sinful world?

Felipe Barandiaran, our European correspondent, generously undertakes the daunting task of securing and delivering the roses to the Fatima Shrine. Maureen Coon and Katie Slobodnik also travelled to Fatima from the U.S. bringing with them three banners inscribed with the number of Rosary Rallies (at the time the banners were printed 11,200 rallies had been confirmed, by October 12, the actual day of the rallies, the number had risen to 11, 247, therefore, the resulting discrepancy between the banner and the final number). On these three banners were also inscribed the names of all the Rosary Rally captains and donors.

Maureen and Katie were also the bearers of thousands of petitions of ANF members and friends, as well as several candles made from thousands of tiny red candles sent in to be melted into great ones and lit at Fatima.

“As we entered the esplanade of Cova da Iria, on October 12, the day was cloudy, just like that day on October 13, 1917 when 70,000 awaited the miracle of the sun,”  reports Felipe Barandiaran. As pilgrims gathered around attracted by the amazing number and beauty of the flowers, they were even more amazed to learn what each of those roses represented.

“They could not believe,” writes Mr. Barandiaran, “that each of those roses stood for a group, which, on October 12, at 12:00 noon would be saying the Rosary in the streets of America! They were also impressed by the number of white roses symbolizing each person who donated to make this effort possible!"

On the eve of October 13, thousands upon thousands of people converge on Fatima.  As the esplanade fills with pilgrims, and as night descends, each person lights his and her candle, and the Rosary begins after which the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, on a bier, atop a cloud of white flowers, is processed to the sound of sacred hymns. The white effigy of the Immaculate above a sea of small lights is one of the most moving sights on earth.

Thanks to ANF and its members and friends, on that day, the Fatima Shrine was adorned with 15,000 extra roses from America for the joy and edification of those thousands of pilgrims.  “Bravo, to the American People!” say Don Felipe, “May Our Lady protect you always!”

Sign up as a 2014 Rosary Rally Captain Now!

- See more at: http://www.americaneedsfatima.org/Articles/15000-roses-to-fatima.html#sthash.gPkDnbHO.dpuf