Originally published at Churchpop
Throughout Lent, many people deepen their prayer lives with spiritual practices and devotions.
Some choose to pray the rosary daily. Others pray the Stations of the Cross. Some might even sing the Stabat Mater along the way.
Mary is an excellent companion during the Lenten season, especially with her messages and apparitions.
Prayer, penance, and almsgiving are the three pillars of the Lenten season. In Our Lady’s approved apparitions, she directs us to these pillars and encourages us to live them.
Our Lady appeared to five children in the village of Beauraing in Belgium. She told the children to “pray, pray very much, pray always.”
In Fatima, she requested they pray the rosary for peace in the world. In Champion, Wisconsin, she requested they offer their Holy Communion for the conversion of sinners.
Not only did Our Lady tell us who or what to pray for, but she also requested different methods of prayer. Mary encourages us to become more prayerful and intercessors for others.
Our Lenten observance also emphasizes penance. Our Lady also requested this in her apparitions.
To Saint Bernadette in Lourdes, she said, “penance, penance, penance.”
At Fatima, she told the three children to offer their small sacrifices out of love for God and the Immaculate in reparation
