In 1917, it is said that the Blessed Mother made an appearance to three children. Three requests were made by Our Lady and one of them was penance. As associated with Lent, a period for penance, it is worthy of discussion to understand how Rosary, Penance and Our Lady all unite. Celtic rosary owes its tribute to this wonderful revelation on the glory of Rosary.



Penance

According to the Gospels, penance was used to bring back life to God. According to the Gospels and thematically too, Our Lady's apparitions also mention atonement, moving off from sin and adopting praying the Rosary. A striking reminder of this was Fatima. The Blessed Mother exhorted men to change their way of life and seek forgiveness for the sins. Among the three children to whom the Blessed Mother appeared was Sr Lucia and reminded Our Lady's emphasis on not offending God anymore and her displeasure that God already was offended extremely with the manner in which things were moving. It is essential to bear in mind this event happened in 1917. Celtic rosary understands this entwinement between Penance and Rosary.

Importance of Sacrifice

Like Sr Lucia, Jacinta was the young girl at Fatima's apparition and stated that if only mankind had knowledge of eternity it would help them change their lives, through the Biblical definition for penance and turn away from committing sins. Another part of this message also was that Sacrifices were dear to the Lord as a means to atone for the sins and that the souls which go to hell are there due to the absence of someone to offer the sacrifices on their behalf. This brings us to the question of definition of sacrifices. Offering up the sufferings that God chooses to send us is what the Blessed Mother asked in the form of sacrifice. Every man should offer sacrifice according to Our Lady. It would also appear that among the hopes of Fatima, persons would turn over their problems to God.

Growing in Hope and Faith

Cardinal Ratzinger, who went on to become Pope Benedict helped unravel the third mystery of Fatima stating that it was the cry of Penance, Penance and Penance as stated by the Angel which appeard before the children along with a flaming sword held in his left hand. In an attempted interpretation of the Secrets of Fatima, a theological commentary was contributed by Cardinal Ratzinger during the Congregation of the “Doctrine of Faith” in 2000. He emphasized the need to accept that there was urgency for penance conversion and faith. Sr.Lucia however held that in the ultimate analysis, the purpose of Fatima's apparitions was to assist people grow in hope and faith.

Conclusion

Another common thread running between Penance and Rosary- Celtic rosary - is that usually Rosary is prescribed as a form of penance after person goes to a confession, which is again the Sacrament of Reconciliation and being the recipient of absolution. To conclude this diatribe, the path to salvation is Rosary and sacrifice is what Our Lady advocates in her messages. Celtic rosary upholds these values.