“O TERÇO DAS CRIANÇAS” — A NOVENA WITH OUR LADY OF FÁTIMA
ROSARY ON THE CAMINO TO SANTIAGO: THE WAY OF ST. JAMES1
DAY ONE: INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
AN INVITATION TO JOIN A NOVENA2
Fr. Nuno Rocha, pastor of two parishes on the Camino to Santiago in Portugal, encourages readers around the world to participate in this solemn, nine-consecutive-day Rosary novena for the Church with Our Lady of Fátima as we enter the special month of May that honours the Mother of God.3
This novena invites meditation upon:
scripture and the 20 Rosary Mysteries, including excerpts from the writings of St. Pope John Paul II, Pope Pius XII, and meditations curated by Fr. Nuno’s Diary of Prayer, which includes the ouvre of texts he has developed with “Terço das Crianças” over the last two years. (NOTE: A Terço refers to “Five decades of the Rosary”). 4
DAY ONE: MEDITATIONS ON SCRIPTURE & FÁTIMA WITH DÁRIO PEDROSO
Fr. Nuno invites you to lead a Rosary with your parish or your own families. See the following prayer cards for a sample meditation that one might recite with scriptural reflections for DAY ONE of this journey as you pray the JOYFUL MYSTERIES of the Rosary. CARD 1: PRAY THE ROSARY EVERY DAY
CARD 2: THE INTENTION FOR THIS 9-DAY ROSARY NOVENA
We invite you to repeat this prayer of Fr. Nuno’s for each of the 9 DAYS, from May 5 to May 13: “Rezemos a Jesus Sacramentado, invocando o Espírito Santo, para que ilumine os cardeais, participantes do Conclave, para a escolha de um novo líder.”
MARIAN HYMN FOR THIS NOVENA: “AVE MARIS STELLA” | STAR OF THE SEA
A powerful Marian Hymn in Latin for this novena was sung by St. Bridget of Sweden when she was about to be overwhelmed by a crowd that threatened her life. By the 3rd verse, the story goes, her life was no longer in danger. See the following PDF to learn the music and scroll to learn by rote memorization the entire melody with CHANT SCHOOL:
LEARN TO SING THE AVE MARIS STELLA
Screen shots of the plain song for your phone / photos to practice when time permits:
With this hymn, we ask that OUR LADY might GUIDE THE SHIP OF CHURCH in this hour of need and uncertainty — emulating the dream of St. John Bosco of the two pillars: Our Lady and the Eucharist with which the Church may overcome any storm.
DEVOTION OF 3 AVÉ MARIAS followed by the MIRACULOUS MEDAL PRAYER
In today’s video post, Fr. Nuno demonstrates the final three Ave Marias which end the Terço and which are followed by the Miraculous Medal prayer taught to St. Catherine Labouré in Paris, France:
“Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee”.
Today’s presentation includes footage from the archives captured by Travessa da Senra House Press, Porto, Portugal. We invite you to pray the Joyful Mysteries prior to retiring this evening.
Finally, sing THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS EVERY DAY from MAY 5 until MAY 13 TO BEG THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT: LISTEN BELOW
Reviewed by Karen Rocha and Izzy Nunziato, May 4, 2025 w/ Spiritual Direction from Fr. Nuno and Fr. Elias Mary Mills, FI who will discuss the concept of Consecration for a related post in this novena. Fr. Anthony teaches the Meu Deus in tomorrow’s post with Dr. Blythe Kaufman & Amelia in English.
READ THE ORIGINAL MESSAGE FROM POPE PIUS XII: odiario.substack.com
FOOTNOTES
FIRST EDITION ONLY | PREVIEW COPY FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY | SPIRITUAL DIRECTION for SEASON 3, FR. NUNO ROCHA (LEAD PODCAST DIRECTOR), FR. ELIAS MARY MILLS, FI (USA) & FOUNDING SPIRITUAL DIRECTION - FR. ANTHONY GRAMLICH, MIC (THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE DIVINE MERCY, USA. TERÇO DAS CRIANÇAS LIVE.
This novena will also — wherever possible in the Meditations — feature the wisdom of the Rosary Popes & Rosary Priests who have reflected upon the message of Fátima, Lourdes, etc. and on the Mysteries of the School of the Holy Rosary.
NOTE: It was Pope John Paul II whose book of Rosary meditations, “Rosary Hour” inspired the name of this podcast.
To second this call to prayer, we cite below Bishop Barron who has also asked all his subscribers also to pray the Rosary for the Church:
NARRATIVE OF THE APPARITIONS OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA published by the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal can be found here:
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