"Jesus wants to establish devotion to My Immaculate Heart in the World," said Our Lady to the Shepherds in the second apparition on June 13, 1917. These words certainly served to bring many Christians closer to this special Marian devotion.
But perhaps no one took her as deeply as Maria das Candeias Martins Morgado, who in 1984 decided to create an ecclesial movement of lay people for the sole purpose of spreading devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary throughout the world.
The official name is the Apostolate Foundation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, but normally it is simply called the Immaculate Group.
In order to concretise the founding mission, its main initiative is the construction of small monuments with the image of Our Lady under this invocation in dozens of localities, in Portugal and throughout the world, promoting the consecration of these places, but also of the families and the faithful that dwell in them, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Over the years, it has been swelling its ranks with more and more people attracted by this Marian cause.
Almost two decades after its founding, on June 28, 2003, it received canonical approval by D. Serafim de Sousa Ferreira Silva, then Bishop of Leiria-Fatima.
It was also recognized by the Portuguese Episcopal Conference, on October 23, 2010, as the Ecclesial Movement of the Laity. It is currently in the stage of pontifical recognition.
A Monument in every heart
The Grupo da Imaculada accompanies the local commissions, who institute and maintain them, and annually participate in the renewal of their consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
But we can say that it is in every heart, beginning with each one of its members, that this monument begins to take shape. To take care of them, they have a monthly spirituality day, retreats, meetings of formation and prayer, pilgrimages and days of reparation to the Blessed Sacrament. In addition, they actively engage in their parishes, in the activities requested of them, both in Portugal and abroad.
The daily practice of devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is not limited to the recitation of the Rosary, but to the whole Message of Fatima, prayer, penance, change of life, modesty, the union of families and their experience in the light of the model of life of the Holy Family and the devotion of the first five Saturdays, which Our Lady asked Sister Lucy in Pontevedra on December 10, 1925.
Interview with Angelina Pinto Leite, co-founder and president of the Group of the Immaculate
"Our Lady will lead us to carry the devotion to her Immaculate Heart to any part of the world"
She was born in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Braga district, but currently lives in Fátima, at the headquarters of the Immaculate Group.
Angelina Pinto Leite was the spiritual companion of Maria das Candeias Martins Morgado and her right-hand man, since 1984, in the creation of the Apostolate Foundation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
She assumed the presidency as the natural successor, on the death of the founder, on August 20, 2003.
The Immaculate Group came into being in 1984 but was only canonically approved in 2003. How was this process of development and affirmation?
Like so many realities raised by the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church, the Immaculate Group was born and grew, first of all, thanks to the gifts of God and also to the correspondence of so many people, all over the world. Canonical approval came as a result of the confirmation and consolidation of this dynamism.
Who was Maria das Candeias Morgado?
Mrs. Maria das Candeias, from a young age, showed great love for Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She renounced distractions of his own age, to isolate himself and meditate on the wonders of the Lord. She spent all his time to pray, meditate, and prepare for his apostolic and missionary activities.
Always attentive to the voice of God, in her silence, she was inspired to spread devotion throughout the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a request made by Our Lady in the second apparition of Fatima. It was precisely in the expression quoted by Sister Lucy that she founded the charism of the Group of the Immaculate. She was so faithful that, throughout her life, she has always shown great enthusiasm and invincible courage, facing the greatest difficulties without ever being discouraged.
The Group was born, therefore, from the Message of Fatima. How do you summarise the charism and spirituality that supports it and how do you live it in practice?
The charism is essentially that of spreading devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary all over the world. We do this in the construction of a monument that is already the Group's image for the lands of Portugal and abroad. As an outward sign, it means that families and every person in that community wants to consecrate themselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In turn, each member of the Group seeks their sanctification in the experience of the Message of Fatima, in prayer, especially in the daily recitation of the Holy Rosary, in the experience of the restorative devotion of the Five First Saturdays, in participation in monthly spirituality days, international meetings , meetings of formation, pilgrimages, etc.
What kind of relationship do they have with the Sanctuary and their own pastoral plan?
Annually, the Group of the Immaculate seeks to know the pastoral plan, not only of the Sanctuary, but also of the diocese of Leiria-Fatima, and is present in the main events planned in this plan, such as anniversaries, diocesan events, etc. In addition, there is a relationship of great cordiality and closeness to the Sanctuary and its leaders, who are very present in our prayers.
Is your activity concentrated in the diocese of Leiria-Fatima, or is there branching elsewhere?
We are not only in the diocese of Leiria-Fatima, but in all the dioceses of Portugal and in four continents, since there are monuments in Africa, America and Asia, besides several European countries. Soon, the first monument in Russia will be consecrated.
The Immaculate Group has a core of 50 people, but an uncountable number of members in the Local Commissions where it is implemented.
Can we then speak in a group or in various "Groups of the Immaculate"?
The Group is one, based in Fatima, with a president and its direct collaborators, the Board of Directors, the General Council and the National Commission, who guide and accompany the Local and International Commissions in the activities entrusted to them. This is the principle of our unity.
Can anyone join the group?
All those who want to join his charism and can give testimony to the group can join. The application for membership is made in writing, committing to adhere to its rules and practices.
Where is it still necessary to take devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary? ...
To many places ... Our Lady will lead us to carry the devotion to her Immaculate Heart to any part of the world. The Group is always at the disposal of the bishops, to begin their apostolate where the Church finds it more convenient.
