When Our Lady appeared to the children of Fatima, she asked them to offer sacrifices not only for their own sins but for those of others by which Our Lord was, she said, “too much offended.” This is the dynamic of reparation by which we console the heart of Jesus and contribute to peace, and to the good of the world.

The means of such reparation are prayer and penance. Our Lady encouraged us to say the Rosary every day, and the Angel prepared the children for their meeting with Mary by teaching them to receive Holy Communion with great devotion and reverence. One of the simple prayers he taught them was: “My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.” We could say this prayer especially before the tabernacle when we come into the Church.

Our prayers must be accompanied with the offering of penance. One of the most effective penances is to accept daily inconveniences without complaining, and in a spirit of charity towards others, offering our sacrifice to Our Lord.