Station 6 - Our Lady of Fatima Archway
Location: Between the Convent and the Albeus Fahey Building
Audio: Read by Sister Irene Young PBVM, Presentation Sister, Past Pupil (Class of 1969) and Past Staff Member.
An apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary presented herself to three children in 1917 in Fatima, Portugal, asking them to devote themselves to the Holy Trinity. Following two further apparitions, Mary became known as Our Lady of Fatima to the locals and focus for prayer for faith and devotion. Over 100 years have passed since the apparitions of Our Lady to the three shepherd children at Fatima, Portugal.
The message of Fatima highlights many central truths and devotions of the Catholic faith: the Trinity, the Eucharist, Penance, the Rosary, and sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. There is special emphasis on the Immaculate Heart of Mary because Mary is full of God's grace and is all pure. She has the heart of a mother who cares for her children and wishes them to be saved by her Son, Jesus.
Fatima is one of the most significant of all Marian apparitions. Along with Guadalupe (December 12) and Lourdes (February 11), it is one of three Marian apparitions honoured with a feast day by the Catholic Church. In 2002, Pope St. John Paul II added the May 13 feast of Our Lady of Fatima to the general Roman calendar. It is estimated that some 4-5 million people visit Fatima each year.
It is understood that the 'Our Lady of Fatima' archway could have been erected in 1917 to recognise the significance of the apparitions of Our Lady, which also reflected the piety of the time. Many Presentation Convents, especially in Ireland and in Australia, feature similar dedications to Mary and her appearances at Fatima, Guadalupe or Lourdes. These dedications often depicted Mary, praying while standing in a recess or grotto, encircled by flowers or natural surrounds.
Nano Nagle's spirituality transformed her own heart and life and after a busy day's work educating the poor, she would return to her Cottage in Cove Lane to pray for hours on end. Given the Sister's connection to Mary (the congregation of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary), Marian prayer, particularly the Rosary, has been an established form of prayer in the College community.
The Our Lady of Fatima Archway was originally situated over the statue of Mary in the Iona Convent Garden. It is now located between the Convent and the Albeus Fahey Building, bridging the old and new parts of our beautiful campus.
Acknowledgements:
Legion of Mary Headquarters Perth
Presentation Sisters' of Western Australia Archives
Nagle Education Alliance Australia. (2016). Induction Module 2: Presentation Spirituality. Retrieved September 2020 from www.neaa.edu.au
