Return to
back issues 
Return to main pageSpecial to the HERALD
The Arlington Diocese Division of the World Apostolate of Fatima, widely known as the Blue Army, will sponsor a pilgrimage by the U.S. National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima to the diocese on April 1-21.
In past years, the diocese was privileged to receive the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue, namely in 1980, 1985, and 1992.
With the permission of Bishop John R. Keating, the Pilgrim Virgin Committee has sent letters to the pastors of all parishes in the diocese, inviting them to receive the statue into their parishes. The letters were mailed in early February. As of late February, 10 pastors have requested a visit of the statue. Open dates still exist.
Keith Downs, presently the custodian of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue, shall bring the statue to the parishes and shall speak on the Fatima message of Our Lady. This message carried by her Pilgrim Virgin Statue is as follows: Christ, and Christ alone, is our Redeemer; He is Love and Mercy, and the Giver of every grace. Because Mary is the Mother of Jesus, and His most perfect imitator, She can, and does, intercede for us, Her children. Mankind offends God by sin; therefore, we must offer reparation for our sins, and the sins of others. Our Lady's requests are: (1) Offer reparation by leading good lives, and doing daily duties well; (2) Pray the rosary every day, fervently; (3) Consecrate ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of this Loving Mother.
Her promises are: (1) Russia will be converted; (2) Her Immaculate Heart will triumph; and (3) Mankind will have an era of peace. Each month the statue travels to parishes in the dioceses of this country, where it can be the focal point of personal renewal (conversion) through parish liturgies, Marian devotions and the preaching of the Fatima message of Our Lady.
The history of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue begins with a radio address by Pope Pius XII to Fatima on the occasion of the closing of the Holy Year in 1950, when he proclaimed: "In 1946 we crowned Our Lady of Fatima as Queen of the World and the following year, through the Pilgrim Virgin, she set forth as though to claim her dominion, and the favors she performs along the way are such that we can hardly believe what we are seeing with our eyes."
Due to the many favors referred to by the pope, many countries were reluctant to see the Pilgrim Virgin Statue leave. This was especially true in Vietnam, which was being torn apart by a bloody war. Acceding to the pleas of the Vietnamese people, the bishop of Fatima decided to have a "National Pilgrim Virgin" blessed for Vietnam. This gave Blue Army leaders the idea of having special statues blessed for any nation desiring a statue; and to have them blessed by Pope Paul VI when His Holiness went to Fatima on May 13, 1967 (the Golden Jubilee of the Fatima apparitions).
On May 13, in the presence of a crowd estimated to be between one and two million, the pope came to Fatima. He issued the encyclical Signum Magnum, calling for personal consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On this occasion, the Pilgrim Virgin Statues for nations were blessed. A delegation of Vietnamese came in person to receive the first of these statues and to carry it back to their country.
Six months later, the Bishop of Fatima left in a special plane with more than 100 Blue Army members to deliver the statues to various nations, including Czechoslovakia, where Bishop Tomasek said, "You have brought us the sign of our hope." Other statues were also delivered throughout Africa, Mexico and South America.
In October 1967, the U.S. National Pilgrim Virgin Statue was brought by the Bishop of Fatima and delivered to Cardinal John J. Carberry, of Columbus, Ohio. The National Pilgrim Virgin, unlike the International Pilgrim Virgin, remains constantly within our borders, and travels from one diocese to the next, as requested. And the favors along the path of this statue are as extraordinary as those on the path of the International Pilgrim Virgin statue.
Regarding the April visit of the National Pilgrim Virgin to Arlington, the Pilgrim Virgin Committee will, in addition to requests for parish visits, welcome any requests for visits to schools, convents, and nursing centers in the diocese. It is vital that all the laity, and especially children, be opened to hear about our heavenly mother and her Fatima message from the custodian of the statue, Keith Downs.
The visit to the diocese is being coordinated by Father Philip S. Majka, diocesan spiritual director of the World Apostolate of Fatima (The Blue Army); William L. MacMurdy, Jr., president of the Diocesan Division; and Edward F. Jurgielewicz, chairman of the Pilgrim Virgin Committee. For additional information on the upcoming visit, you are requested to call 703/591-5564 or 703/815-9217.