The World Apostolate of Fatima USA — Our Lady’s Blue Army will sponsor a Prayer Day on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Aug. 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Anne’s Shrine in Isle LaMotte.

The 10:30 a.m. Mass will be followed by recitation of the rosary, a noon procession and presentation of prayer intentions. Bring your own lunch.

The mission of The World Apostolate of Fatima USA — Our Lady’s Blue Army is to spread the message of Fatima as given by the Blessed Mother to the three shepherd children, Lucia Dos Santos, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, during six apparitions in 1917.

The apostolate was founded in 1947, 30 years after the apparitions and at the beginning of the Cold War. A co-founder, Msgr. Harold Colgan, called for a blue army of prayer to counter the red army of atheistic communism. It is believed that approximately 20 million people signed the pledge to pray and do reparation as requested.

There is active membership in more than 100 countries. Members are located in 77 Dioceses in the United States including the Diocese of Burlington.

The World Apostolate of Fatima is made up of individual members around the world who strive to practice the spiritual requests of Our Lady of Fatima in reparation for sins and for the conversion of sinners:

  • Offer up every day the sacrifices demanded by daily duty
  • Pray the rosary every day
  • Wear the Brown Scapular as a sign of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
  • Practice the First Saturday devotion.

For more information go online to bluearmy.com.

For more information about the Prayer Day on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, call 802-734-3067 or 802-864-0561.

—Originally published in the Aug. 7-13, 2021, edition of The Inland See.