Patsy Began of Butler Township began her devotion to Mary, mother of Jesus, when her own mother gave her a book about apparitions.

That devotion has taken her to New Jersey and Portugal - and she believes it will lead her to heaven.

She's the president of the local Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, a Roman Catholic society honoring the apparitions of Mary in the village of Fatima, Portugal.

Began joined the society more than 25 years ago to praise Mary as three shepherd children were instructed to do in 1917.

The visions given to Francisco and Jacinta Marto and Lucia dos Santos have since received the Vatican's approval, though they were first mistrusted.

Each morning dos Santos, 10, the elder cousin of the Martos, 9 and 7, combined their sheep and took them grazing outside Fatima.

When the children said they first saw Mary appear above a burning holm bush, giving them instructions to rid the world of sorrow on the 13th of each month between May and October,

even their parents disbelieved them. Briefly, they were even imprisoned by local authorities for insisting on their story.

"Their parents just would not believe them," Began said. "They thought they were making it up. It was just too unbelievable."

She said the authorities even threatened to boil them in oil.

The children asked Mary to give the village a sign they were telling the truth, and after the final vision, they received it.

"It had been raining and raining and raining. It was raining so hard people were just ankle deep in mud," she said. "Then the sun left the heavens and came down over top

of

people. They had the fear of the end of the world. But when the sun finally rolled back into the heavens, everything was dry."

Began said the practices of the Blue Army come straight from Mary's instructions to the children.

On the first Saturday of five consecutive months, members must receive the sacraments of absolution and Eucharist, pray five decades of the rosary, and meditate on the mysteries for 15 minutes.

The mysteries are events important to the faith, such as Jesus' baptism, crucifixion and resurrection.

The national Blue Army was founded in 1947 to draw more awareness to the apparitions and establish guidelines to follow the instructions from Mary.

The children said Mary foretold God would retaliate against offenses, including war, hunger, persecution of the church and the spread of Communism.

Began and Ken Rhodes, a Blue Army member from Butler, believe the series of prayer, penance and sacrifice - which takes about an hour after 8 a.m. Mass - will convert Russia

ns

from communism and atheism, save souls and bring Mary to them at the time of their death.

"I know it will make a wonderful death," Began said.

Both take their devotion further than required.

Began leads the recitation of the rosary at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church every day after the 8 a.m. Mass.

Rhodes, who joined the Blue Army in 1981, prays the rosary, a rotation of prayers using a string of beads to keep count, at least three times each day.

Rhodes suffered a stroke 24 years ago, and after returning home, looked for a church that regularly prayed the rosary. He found St. Paul Roman Catholic Church and the Blue Army.

He said by honoring Mary, he's had prayers answered and hopes the same for others.

"I feel the downfall of communism (in Russia) has been brought about through prayer," he said.

Began made a pilgrimage to Fatima in 1983, flying to Lisbon and then boarding a bus for the 60-mile trip to the once-rural village, which is now populated by a large church and other pilgrims from around the world.

When she returned to the country, a feeling of calmness and peacefulness remained with her, she said.

"You feel like you are not in the same world," she said.

She's also made a few shorter pilgrimages to the church at the national Blue Army in Washington, N.J., to hear guest speakers.

The chapel there is shaped like Mary's home and one stone is even from the original home. Outside the church, Began said life-size Stations of the Cross impressed her.

She's continued being active in the Blue Army, though the glory days of the society have passed as members aged. This is her third year as president.

As president, she holds organizational meetings and begins the Hail Mary prayers.

She also looks for new members. The local chapter has had a difficult time recruiting younger people, she said, and a group in New Castle disbanded for want of interest.

Now only about 10 people are active. During the best of times, 25 people were Blue Army members at the church.

Anyone who wants to join the Blue Army is invited to attend a ceremony at 7:30 p.m. June 13 in front of the church, in honor of the second vision at Fatima.

For information about becoming a member, contact Began at 724-283-2553.