The United Nations International Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, Ambassador of Hope, will be displayed at the U.N. on May 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., those who serve as custodians for it have informed us.

Blessed in 1952 by the Bishop of Leira, Portugal [above], the statue, like other Fatima pilgrim statues, is making special rounds in commemoration of the apparition's hundredth anniversary, say Judy Studer, who takes the U.N. Madonna on tour, and Joan Tarca Alix, who also assists. It's one of only four carved under the direction of Fatima seer Lucia dos Santos. The statues are under the direction of the World Apostolate of Fatima.

Relics from the youngest Fatima seers, Jacinta and Francisco Marto -- who are expected to be canonized during one of the anniversary celebrations in Portugal -- and a piece of the holm oak tree over which Our Lady appeared also are displayed with the statue. They were presented to Judy by Father Luis Kondor, the famous Postulator for the Cause of the Beatification of Francisco and Jacinta.

On May 13, the day after its appearance at the U.N., the statue will be at St. Patrick's Cathedral from ten a.m. until four p.m. with Mass from noon to 2 p.m. During that time there will also be a procession and Holy Hour.

May 13 has taken on monumental importance in the Fatima history, with the Pope set to celebrate the anniversary on that day. Those interested in the U.N. event, which will be held in Conference Room 2, may reserve a place here (deadline for reservations, May 9).

The event at the U.N. bears special significance in that Our Lady of Fatima carried a powerful message of peace if there was enough prayer. The U.N. is often seen as a seat of humanism but here opens a portal to graces available through Jesus and Mary. Russia, much in the news of late, was a focus of Our Lady's global concerns.

Those interested in the events at St. Pat's can view and venerate the statue and relics before Mass from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and after the Holy Hour from 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. Registration is not required during these hours, though for the Mass priests and dignitaries should RSVP claudineholt@gmail.com.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to write their prayer intentions that will be delivered and placed in the repository of Our Lady's Apparition Chapel in Fatima, Portugal. Further information is available here.

The U.N. appearance is in conjunction with a conference, "Mary and the Dignity of Women,"  co-hosted there by the Vatican nuncio (Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See) and the ambassador from Portugal. It was previously there in 1952 when it was taken into the Meditation Room of the United Nations by Monsignor Harold Colgan, founder of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima. There he led the recitation of the Rosary.

Those interested in sponsoring a visit by the statue can contact Judy through this website.

Judy, a nurse and mother of three from Providence, Rhode Island, was cured after cancer after her mother inspired her to pray a daily Rosary and trust "that our heavenly mother will intercede with her Son."

That Judy -- who had been given six months to live -- did; and one day not long after, she received a call from her doctor telling her to come by the office. "You are totally cancer-free," he informed her. "The likes of which I have never seen before." She thought he was calling to tell her the end was near.

A grandchild was likewise healed of malignancy. This all led Judy to active membership in the Blue Army and World Apostolate of Fatima.

Stay tuned. This is going to be a powerful and revealing year, for those who pray....

[resources: The God of Healing] and The Final Hour]