The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP) held its flagship rosary rally in New York City, one of 24,700 Public Square Rosary Rallies held nationwide to pray for the conversion of the United States to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.
These rallies are part of the American TFP’s America Needs Fatima campaign. The yearly event marks the 109th anniversary of the 1917 Miracle of the Sun, a monumental event which followed the six apparitions of Our Lady near Fatima, Portugal.
This year’s New York City rosary rally was different from past ones held in front of Rockefeller Center on Fifth Ave. The dominant note was one of triumph. The statue of Our Lady of Fatima seemed to take over the street as thousands of people streamed by.
The triumph of Her Immaculate Heart
This note of triumph began with the statue’s arrival in a procession, surrounded by an honor guard, to her place directly across from St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
The arrival of the statue of the Queen of Heaven and Earth was arranged with much distinction and prayerful attention as she was welcomed with the hymn “Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above” played by the St. Louis de Montfort Academy band.
She Conquered the Surroundings
Throughout the rally, this triumphal note was reflected by the countless people who stopped to take pictures and marvel at the impressive spectacle.
The little taxi bikes turned down their loud music and looked on in wonder at the prayerful gathering. One bike-taxi driver even turned around in a one-way street to see Our Lady a second time.
A taxi driver stopped in the middle of the street and got out to see the statue, unmindful of the irritated drivers behind him.
The loud and fast pace of city life seemed to slow down, overwhelmed by Our Lady’s maternal gaze.
Insignificant Opposition
One or two people tried to disrupt the event by jeering at the scene from across the street. However, their opposition only grew in insignificance with each passing “Hail Mary.”
Our Lord Open to His Mother
During the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary, the main doors of the Cathedral opened, as if to say Our Lord’s house is open to her. Our Lady, on her part, invited the public to come to Him through devotion to her Immaculate Heart.
The final triumphal touch happened at the end of the last hymn, “Ave Maria.” The sun, until then hidden from view, emerged in all its splendor and bathed the scene in golden light.
The uplifted rosaries glistened in the light, and the gold fleur-de-lis atop the red standards also shone, as did Our Lady’s golden crown. At that moment, the triumph was complete.
Our Lady’s exit was as glorious as her entrance. She owned the streets and all made way as she processed with her honor guard, the band, bagpipes blazing, across Fifth Avenue and to an awaiting van.
That day of triumph gave a taste of what is to come. Indeed, Our Lady prophesied at Fatima that, “Finally, my Immaculate Heart will triumph!”
Photo Credit: The American TFP Photo Archive