Mailbag:
The Holy Eucharist, Fatima & Little Nellie
By Kate Barry-Murphy
Jesus, “You have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes…..” (Matt. 11:25)
Nellie Organ, a very sickly child, was born in Waterford City in 1903 and died in Cork City in 1908. Amazingly, she was only four years and three months in 1907, when she had met all the criteria necessary to make her First Confession and Holy Communion. Not only had she, the knowledge of the faith, but an ardent love and constant hunger for God in the Eucharist. When Nellie was told that she would be making her First Holy Communion, the four-year old kept repeating ““…..I want Holy God in my heart. Oh I am longing for Him”. Then, as soon as the tiny Irish mystic first received her Eucharistic Lord, her features shone. As if the presence of the light of Jesus in her heart, reflected upon her face illuminated with radiance.
St. Pope Pius X, inspired by the little toddler, lowered the age of Holy Communion, 2 years and 9 months after her death. After putting the Papal seal on ‘Quam Singulari’ in 1910, Pope Pius X wrote, “May God enrich with every blessing…all who recommend frequent Communion to little boys and girls, proposing Nellie as their model.” The Holy Father also predicted, “Now there will be saints among the children.” When St. Pope John-Paul the Great, observed this prophecy of St. Pope Pius X declared, “Now there will be apostles among the children”.
In 2017, the Church canonized the Portuguese visionaries Francisco and Jacinta Marto of Fatima. The youngest children so far to be declared saints, who were not martyrs. May the Church glorify Nellie Organ at the earliest opportunity too, so we can call upon her publically to intercede for every child to be effectively catechized, to understand the wonderful favour granted to them, in receiving the Eucharistic Jesus into their hearts.
The Fatima Children & the Cork Children
Three months after St. Pope Pius X decreed in 1910, to lower the age to receive Holy Communion, from the typical age of twelve, to the age of seven. The children from St. Finbar’s Industrial school in Cork wrote to the Holy Father to thank him, as their twelve month (nearly completed) nightly novena to little Nellie was answered. As they had yearned themselves and for all children over the world, to be able to receive Holy Communion nearer to the age that little Nellie was!
In 1913, Lucia (the other seer of Fatima, who died in old age), knowing her Catechism, made her First Holy Communion, which was still rare then at 6 years old. Subsequently, Lucia began instructing her younger cousins Francisco and Jacinta in the faith. The Angel of Fatima appeared first in 1915 to the three children and then on two further occasions. On the third visit in 1916, the Angel was seen holding a Chalice with the Precious Blood of Christ and the Sacred Host being suspended into the air. The Angel prostrated himself in adoration before the Host and Chalice, and catechised the young seers to do the same. We ask, was this particular apparition of Fatima, a heavenly sign confirming ‘Quam Singulari’, which is so closely connected to Little Nellie’s love for the Eucharist? Since the Angel then, administered the Sacred Host to Lucia age 9 and the most Precious Blood, to both Francisco aged 8 and Jacinta aged 6, telling them to receive it in reparation, for the sins of others and to console God.
The Little Nellie and the two Saints of Fatima
When we contemplate upon St. Francisco who wanted to keep the Eucharistic Jesus’ company in the Holy Tabernacle! We are reminded of the first time that Nellie entered the Chapel during Eucharistic Adoration, pointing to the Monstrance she whispered, “There He is! There is Holy God now!” The little babe began talking with Holy God and became unaware to anything else. When Eucharistic Adoration ended, she began to cry of deep joy of being with God, but was sad that He was not loved, thanked and longed for.
With St. Jacinta making reparation for sinners, we are reminded of Nellie once again. Since, both little girls had a deep faith, humility, devotion to the Pope and craving for the Eucharistic Jesus. They also had an unpleasant odour from their mouths, which miraculously ceased at the moment when they both individually received their First Holy Communions. Both Jacinta and Nellie suffered from consumption, died from tuberculosis and its complications, after long months being bed-ridden. When their graves were opened, each of their tiny bodies attired in First Holy Communion dresses, were found to be incorrupt and fresh, as when they had departed this life. When we ponder upon little Jacinta and Nellie’s short lives, it is if the Eucharistic Jesus took possession of each of their tiny bodies and souls, which led them at different times at tender ages, down their own paths of Calvary in reparation for sinners.
The Enemy Seeks our Children Souls.
It seems sin is likened today, often only with real violent and sexual crimes and so forth… But sin is any turning away from God and His will, which is occurring at an increasing rate at a younger age. Even in Jesus time His opponents, (the chief priests and teachers of the law), hated to hear the children at the top of their voices praising Him, “Hosanna to the son of David” (Matt 21:14-17). Since the prayers of children, leave the enemies of God silent (Psalm 8: 1-4).
When our Blessed Mother first came to Fatima on 13th May 1917, to combat atheism and to catechise the world through the three children; at the same time in Moscow, a substantial number of children were brutally murdered by Lenin’s soldiers, as they were being catechised in a Catholic Church. Five months later, the local Portuguese Anti-Catholic Civil Authorities, threaten to boil alive the young Fatima’s seers, if they did not recant their visions of Our Lady.
Our Lady, showed the children at Fatima, a terrible vision of hell, the just punishment for all those in mortal sin, (often caused by sins of the flesh). Even small children today, are being brainwashed by the State and their souls are diabolically profaned with absolute filth, by our secular society. Thus blocking any real potential for them of having a living relationship with the Eucharistic Jesus! For example in the UK, a mother was absolutely stunned, when her four-year old son came home from school this year, (same age as Nellie was, when she made her First Holy Communion) and started babbling about people who are transgender or lesbians. It is mostly adults who damage children and when we profane them, (Matt. 25:40, 45), we are actually profaning Jesus Himself (Matt. 25: 63-64). (See also Matt.18:6).
Small children have not committed mortal sin under the age of reason. Jesus is merciful to these most precious little ones of His and asks us to, ‘Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matt. 19:14). We the faithful are called today to be courageous, in catechising children, in a world, which is venomously trying to silence the proclamation of the Word of God. Eucharistic Adoration is the highest form of praise, children can give to God. Small children, have a natural love and yearning for the Eucharistic Jesus, when they are truly effectively catechised. They have a maturity to understand what is taken place and are quickly able to trust God. As their young hearts are unrestrained and are alive with love, faith and hope from the fruits of baptism
Nellie Organ is our Saint for These Times!
St. Pope Pius X said about Nellie Organ of Holy God, “She was a little angel. Her patience was admirable, her resignation in suffering perfect…..” We need more than ever for the little Violet of the most Blessed Sacrament to be glorified, as a model for children being prepared to receive the Eucharistic Jesus. Prayers have already been answered through Nellie’s intercession, with dramatic cures of very ill infants, requests granted, for the conversion of souls and so on.
Part of the ‘Triumph of Mary’s Immaculate Heart’ must be for the world starting from the Church, to be transformed to receive Him, who is our Eucharistic Lord and King. In a society which is increasingly anti-God, where many parents are un-catechized in truth and schools are losing their faith ethos. There is a small uprising of love for the Eucharistic Jesus is taking place (See Eph 4:20), to try and combat these heinous revolts. There is springing up throughout Ireland and the world, Catechists and Eucharistic Adoration Holy Hours for young children, as well as Faith- Camps, to also help authentically catechise these most precious little ones of God.
Jesus reminds us, from the lips of children and infants, the Lord, have called forth His praise, (Matt. 21:16). We pray, may all children throughout the world, have the opportunity to encounter the living presence of the Eucharistic Jesus in the same intimate way, as did little Nellie and the children of Fatima! Shall they too receive the grace to become saints, in these most perilous times!
Eucharistic Prayer
O Jesus, Divine Friend of little children, we thank Thee for the signal graces Thou didst confer upon Thy holy servant little Nellie, by inspiring her with such great devotion to thy Sacred Passion and such ardent love of Thy Blessed Eucharist. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the fulfilment of Thy designs regarding Thy loving little servant, for Thy greater glory and for the sanctification of souls.
We adore Thee, O Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament; we pray that Thy Sacred Presence may be honoured daily more and more; that the little ones, whom Thou desirest to come to Thee, may frequently approach Thy Holy Table.
O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine,
all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine. Amen.
Imprimatur + T.A. O’Callaghan, O.P. Bishop of Cork
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