Mary

Mary is the mother Jesus Christ. She is seen as the first Christian and therefore holds a special position in the Catholic Church. Many standard prayers (such as the Hail Mary and Hail Holy Queen, see rosary) and statues exist to honour her. Many different names exist for Mary, including 'Our Lady', 'Blessed Virgin', 'Madonna' and 'Queen of Heaven'.

 

It is believed that Mary has reappeared to people at various times in history, on numerous locations. One of these places is the town of Fátima in Portugal, where Mary appeared several times to three children in 1917. The first time was on May 13, which to this day is the date that the Church commemorates Mary's apparitions in Fátima. When an assassination attempt was made on Pope John Paul II on May 13, 1981, the pope ascribed his miraculous survival to the protection of Our Lady of Fátima.

 

Throughout the world, church buildings have been named after Mary's apparition in Fátima, including the church of the Portuguese-speaking parish in Amsterdam: a igreja de Nossa Senhora de Fátima (the church of Our Lady of Fátima).

 

The town of Fátima is now a popular destination for Roman Catholic pilgrims.