“The world needs the wisdom of the heart”

“The world needs the wisdom of the heart”

On 13 June, Bishop Alexandre Palma invited pilgrims to follow Mary's example and walk the path to God along the “road of the heart”.

Inspired by the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which was announced in the second apparition as a refuge and path that leads to God, Bishop Alexandre Palma delivered a homily during the Mass of the June International Anniversary Pilgrimage.

“Here we bring our hearts, as in jars of clay, to entrust everything to the Mother of Heaven,” began the Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon, addressing the approximately four thousand pilgrims present in the Prayer Area, and the many thousands more who were following the celebrations on television and digital media. He proposed that they walk the path to God from within, “along the road of the heart,” certain that the greatest challenges and joys lie therein.

“The world needs this wisdom of the heart,” said the president of the celebration, identifying three traits of those whose hearts have been transformed by divine grace.

The first trait is “knowing how to bless”. The Auxiliary bishop of Lisbon emphasised that “a heart that blesses is a blessed heart,” he said encouraging pilgrims to choose to speak well rather than the opposite. “Let us be that salt and light of blessing in the Church and in the world,” he urged.

The second trait is “knowing how to see and knowing how to listen”. He emphasised that a wise heart “has eyes, ears and arms” and described it as follows: “eyes to see one's neighbour and recognise in him a call from God himself; ears to listen to what cannot be immediately understood; arms to cooperate with God in building his Kingdom.”

The third trait is “knowing how to keep everything within oneself”. Like Mary, who kept all events in her heart, Bishop Alexandre Palma reminded pilgrims that “only a heart like this will allow us to unify and harmonise our own personal history, which so often seems fragmented into a thousand pieces, yet in which everything can acquire meaning.” He recalled: “The Apostle Paul already exhorted us to ‘evaluate everything, keeping what is good’.”

“A wise heart knows the art of discernment, which requires attention, patience and, above all, hope,” said the president of the celebration, emphasising that this is what Mary has to say in the “heart-to-heart” dialogue that each pilgrim establishes with her in Fátima.

“If we have brought our dreams and fears, our supplications and acts of thanksgiving here today, then let us take back with us the firm will to bless, see, listen and keep everything in life,” he said. Bishop Alexandre Palma concluded by saying that this is the way to find in Mary's heart not only refuge, but also the map for the path to the merciful heart of God.

For peace and for the Pope

In his final greeting, after the blessing of the religious objects, the Bishop of Leiria-Fátima invited the pilgrims to include two intentions in their prayers.

On the night when the war in the Middle East saw dramatic new developments, Bishop José Ornelas appealed to those responsible for these conflicts to find “paths of agreement, peace and brotherhood.”

In the second intention, he referred to the approaching one-month anniversary of Pope Leo XIV's mandate. “We entrust him to Mary's protection here in Fátima,” said Bishop José Ornelas, “so that, in communion, active participation and a spirit of mission, we may build a better Church.”

During the June International Anniversary Pilgrimage, the Shrine of Fátima recorded more than 80 groups of pilgrims registering, most of whom were from other countries.

The Polish groups stood out among the foreign ones, with 19 pilgrimages and more than 850 pilgrims. Next were the Spanish with seven groups and around 500 pilgrims, followed by the United States of America with ten groups and almost 250 pilgrims.

The Portuguese pilgrimage organised by senior citizens from the municipality of Mesão Frio was notable, with 500 participants.

During this pilgrimage on the 12th and 13th June, the Association of Servants of Our Lady of Fátima welcomed 32 pilgrims to the foot-washing service and provided medical care for 46 people.