Grand Finale eve for the celebration of the 2017 Marian Year in the Diocese started with a Rosary Procession.
Rev Fr. Joseph Ekwoanya on the Eve of the Grand Finale of the Marian year at Holy Family Cathedral, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto while addressing the Catholic Faithfuls said that "The message of Fatima is Simple and yet Profound".
"Fatima apparition is surely the most prophetic apparitions today. The apparition of Fatima closely and critically looked at, possess the characteristics of an authentic private revelation".
The spirituality of the apparition of Fatima is motherly love: the love of a mother towards her children, seeking earnestly for their salvation in return asking their love by paying heed to her voice.
"The Fatima Apparition is a message of an urgent call to conversion, penance, prayer, reverence, doing the duties of ones state of life".
Furthermore, he stated when and how the Fatima apparitions started "There were 6 Marian apparitions to the shepherd children, from 13 may 1917 - 13 October 1917 and each were preceded by 3 apparitions of the angel of peace.
The angel prepared the little seers to become messengers of the mother of God , he taught them several prayers and asked them to pray the rosary every day".
He pointed out that "Our Lady appeared to the simple Children of Fatima and this teaches us today, the need of simplicity of life." Recalling the sayings of Lucia "we are children, with lots of life and life simple pleasure - singing, dancing and praying".
God works with the simple hearted surely Mary would not Have appeared to wicked and deceitful hearts, hearts that are noisy, easily carried away and deaf to what is happening around them.
In the message of Fatima, Our Blessed Mother told the Little Children of Fatima to keep praying the rosary; for Peace, penance and Sacrifices for the conversion of Sinners and keep spreading devotion to her immaculate heart.
"The peace as seen was promised to us that we can achieve through meditatively reciting the Rosary calling on the mother of Jesus who is ever ready to come to our assistance".
"In our world today, we are in dire need of Peace; individual peace and communal peace. We are in a world where peace is lacking, hatred and enmity between Countries, religions, persons and communities seem to be the order of the day."
Fr. Ekwoanya said "Wars begins and ends but this hatred/ enmity have no end". A call for peace is of paramount importance today, hatred and enmity is more dangerous than wars.
He intimated the Faithfuls on the need for communal praying of the rosary as directed by our Lady of Fatima
saying "A family that prays together stays together".
Miracles and wonders performed by our Mother Mary through the praying of the Holy Rosary was testified to by: Fr. Matthew Saleh, Mr. Perfect Abdulahi, Mr. Emma Igono and some other faithful.
Rev Fr. Capt. Okafor the Cathedral Administrator, equally urged the Faithfuls to remain ardent to their faith and never waiver. In his words, "if Catholics remain Catholic, there won't be any other church".
