Today the Novena to Our Lady of Fatima here in Drogheda ended. It was a wonderful ending to a great 9 days of prayer. One did not have to travel to the beautiful shrine of Fatima to experience Our Blessed Lady's message of Fatima. Our Lady brought Fatima to Drogheda.
Fr. Maurice spoke on how Our Blessed Lady leads the Church. When Jesus gave Mary to the Disciple John He was entrusting the Church to Mary. Our Blessed Lady, Mother of the Church will not let her Son's Church fall into error. Fr. Maurice spoke on the Immaculate heart of Mary and how it is surrounded with a crown of thorns. He spoke on the sufferings inflicted upon the heart of Our Blessed Mother Mary.
Today Our Blessed Lady must surely have smiled on the people in the Dominican Church this afternoon. The sound of the prayers being recited at Holy Mass were so uplifting. The church was full of song and full of praise for God.
After Mass, a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Fatima adorned with lots of pretty flowers was wheeled through the church and the congregation processed behind the statue around the car park across the road from the church. Six Dominican priests and a large gathering of the lay faithful processed as Our Blessed Lady lead the way. The rosary was recited as the people passed by parked cars and a tractor and trailor. It was all very primative and typically Irish, but there was something magical about the occasion. It was the Lord's Day and what better way to celebrate it than by giving public witness to prayer.
The Novena ended with The Prior, Fr. Dermot thanking all involved in the Ceremony and he gave a special word of thanks to Fr. Maurice who joined the Priesthood eight years ago and who lead such a wonderful Novena of prayer.