The World Apostolate of Fatima is a public international association of the faithful, approved by the Holy See, whose decree of erection was signed on October, 7, 2005, Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
On February, 3, 2006, the World Apostolate of Fatima held, in Rome, at the Pontifical Council for the Laity, an official ceremony for the consignment of the decree and the approval of its statutes.
The World Apostolate of Fatima has, as its general purpose, the promotion of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church and the strict adherence to the tenets of the Gospel; the personal sanctification of adherents through faithful adherence to the message of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima - Portugal, in 1917, to three little shepherds, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta Marto and the promotion of the common good by the spreading of this same message.
Our international association was created, as late as 1947, in the United States of America, by the hand of Father Harold Colgan and Mr. John Haffert. The name given to the movement was initially Blue Army but, as it spread quickly around the world, it became an international apostolate with millions of members and national centres in various countries, adopting the worldwide recognised name World Apostolate of Fatima.
The international headquarters of the World Apostolate of Fatima are in Fatima, Portugal, in the beautiful pilgrim guest’s house, Domus Pacis (“House of Peace”).
What is a Public Association of the Faithful?
A Public International Association of the Christian faithful is an association of people erected by the Holy See. Only a public association can receive a mission to teach Christian doctrine in the name of the Church, promote public worship or pursue a purpose which by nature is reserved to ecclesiastical authority (canon 301 §1). Public associations are able on their own initiative to undertake endeavours in keeping with their own character. These endeavours are governed according to the norm of the statutes, though under the higher direction of the competent ecclesiastical authority. As a public association, the members act in the name of the Church when fulfilling the purpose of the association.
Decree of Erection
The World Apostolate of Fatima is an association of the faithful that has as its general purpose “the promotion of the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church and the strict adherence to the tenets of the Gospel; the personal sanctification of adherents through faithful adherence to the message of Fatima and the promotion of the common good by the spreading of the message of Fatima” (Statutes, art. II, 1-3).
In the apparitions of 1917, the Blessed Virgin reaffirmed to the three little shepherds – Lucia dos Santos and the blessed brothers Francisco and Jacinta Marto – the perennial Christian message of conversion, prayer and penance in reparation for sins and for the conversion of sinners, together with a more genuine devotion to the Eucharist, the devotion to the Rosary and the consecration to her Immaculate Heart.
At the same time, “the World Apostolate has the specific purpose of promoting the Pledge given by each member of the World Apostolate of Fatima” (Statutes, art. II, 4).
The members of the World Apostolate of Fatima, spread throughout numerous countries of the world, commit themselves to become faithful witnesses of the Catholic faith in their families, at work, in the parishes and communities, participating in this way in the “New Evangelisation”.
The Second Vatican Council, together with the post-conciliar teaching, has given special attention to the new forms of aggregation of the Christian faithful and their participation in the life of the Church. Deep esteem and consideration has been shown to them (cf. Decree on Apostolate of the Laity Apostolicam actuositatem, 18, 19 and 21; John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laicis, 29).
In his Apostolic letter, Novo millennio inuente, His Holiness John Paul II wrote about the great importance of “the promotion of forms of associations, whether of the more traditional kind or the newer ecclesial movements which continue to give the Church a vitality that is God’s gift and a true “Springtime of the Spirit” (46).
Consequently:
Having examined attentively the request presented to this Dicastery, by Prof. Américo Pablo López Ortiz, President of the World Apostolate of Fatima, that this association be erected as a public international association of the faithful and that its Statutes be approved;
Considering that the World Apostolate of Fatima is a suitable instrument for the formation of the lay people through the message of Fatima in view of the new evangelisation proposed by the Holy Fathers John Paul II and Benedict XVI;
Valuing the commendatory letters received from many Dioceses around the world, which reflect the positive appreciation of the Bishops for the activities developed for the members of the World Apostolate of Fatima to benefit the Church;
In light of articles 131-134 of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus for the Roman Curia and according to canon 312; §1, 1º of the Code of Canon Law, the Pontifical Council for the Laity decrees:
1º. The erection of the World Apostolate of Fatima as a public international association of te faithful, according to canons 298-320 and 327-329 of the Code of Canon Law.
2º. The approval of the Statutes of this association, duly authenticated by this Dicastery and deposited in our Archives, for a period of five years ad experimentum.
Vatican City, 7 October 2005, Memory of the Blessed Mary Virgin of the Rosary.