The Benedictine University community came together for a special evening of prayer and reflection Monday, Dec. 2. The event, held in honor of Our Lady of Fatima, filled St. Benedict Chapel in Lownik Hall with students, faculty, staff, and local residents.
The service focused on the historical and spiritual significance of the Marian apparitions in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917, which are formally approved by the Catholic Church. The program also reflected on the subsequent private revelations experienced by the visionary Sr. Lucia de Jesus Rosa dos Santos.
A central feature of the evening was the presence of a replica of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima. In a solemn moment during the ceremony, President Joseph J. Foy, PhD, placed a crown upon the statue, a traditional act of devotion and honor.
Following the crowning, the assembled guests joined together to pray the Rosary. The communal prayer offered a time for quiet meditation and unity. The evening concluded with a warm reception in the lobby of Lownik Hall, allowing attendees to fellowship and discuss the significance of the event.
For those seeking further academic resources on Marian studies, information can be found through the Pontifical Academia Mariana Internationalis and the Mariological Society of America.
