By Ben Broussard
On Sunday, March 3, 2019, TFP-Louisiana hosted the inaugural First Sunday Talk at its New Orleans center. The gathering served as a way to prepare for Lent in contrast to the Mardi Gras excesses.
The talk focused on a poorly-known occurrence in the history of New Orleans. In July 1972, the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima miraculously wept human tears in the city. Photographs circulated widely. Tests verified real human tears came from the statue’s eyes. Naturally, a question arose: Why does Our Lady weep?
Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira heard of this occurrence in Brazil. A longtime promoter of the Fatima message, he commented at length on the tears shed by Our Lady in New Orleans. The calls to prayer, sacrifice, and amendment of life requested by Our Lady of Fatima have been largely ignored. Both the crisis in the Church and the sins of the world caused the Queen of Heaven to manifest her sorrows. This miraculous weeping serves as a warning of the chastisements that will come.
Prof. Plinio concludes his comments saying: “I am convinced special mercy will be shown to those who, in their personal lives, have taken the miraculous warning of Mary seriously. … It is logical that God’s vengeful and purifying wrath should fall upon mankind. Furthermore, Our Lady promised that, after the punishments, ‘Finally, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.'”
The remainder of the gathering focused on offering reparation during the Holy Season of Lent. Lunch soon followed, concluding with praying the Most Holy Rosary.
The TFP New Orleans center is dedicated to the Tears of Our Lady of Fatima. The next First Sunday Talk is Sunday, April 7 at noon. A presentation will be given about the Holy Week processions in Seville, Spain.