May 13 is the Feast of Our Lady
of Fatima. In a world growing more skeptical of God and cynical of religion,
there is Fatima. It is where our Blessed Mother appeared to three shepherd
children and where a public miracle was witnessed before tens of thousands.
of Fatima. In a world growing more skeptical of God and cynical of religion,
there is Fatima. It is where our Blessed Mother appeared to three shepherd
children and where a public miracle was witnessed before tens of thousands.
In Fatima, two anti-Catholic
socialist newspapers sent reporters to witness how foolish it was that so many
people came out believing there would be a miracle. Instead, the papers carried
reports of an amazing miracle witnessed by all who were there.
socialist newspapers sent reporters to witness how foolish it was that so many
people came out believing there would be a miracle. Instead, the papers carried
reports of an amazing miracle witnessed by all who were there.
The Fatima Story
It was the event on May 13, 1917 that first brought Fatima to the
attention of the world. At that time, the people lived primarily a peasant
life, much like they still do today.
World War I was taking place. On this day, three young children, Lucia,
10, Francisco, 9, and his sister Jacinta, 7,were tending a flock of sheep in a
field in the outskirts of Fatima.
attention of the world. At that time, the people lived primarily a peasant
life, much like they still do today.
World War I was taking place. On this day, three young children, Lucia,
10, Francisco, 9, and his sister Jacinta, 7,were tending a flock of sheep in a
field in the outskirts of Fatima.
Around
midday, they prayed the Rosary, as was their habit after lunch. Suddenly, a flash of light in the sky made
them think lightening was warning of an impending storm. There was another flash and then a beautiful
Lady, brighter than the sun and holding a rosary, stood over the top of a small
Holm Oak tree. She explained: “I am the
Lady of the Rosary” and told them to pray, do penance and to make sacrifices to
save sinners. She invited the children to return to the Cove of Iria during the next five consecutive months on the 13th
at the very same hour.
midday, they prayed the Rosary, as was their habit after lunch. Suddenly, a flash of light in the sky made
them think lightening was warning of an impending storm. There was another flash and then a beautiful
Lady, brighter than the sun and holding a rosary, stood over the top of a small
Holm Oak tree. She explained: “I am the
Lady of the Rosary” and told them to pray, do penance and to make sacrifices to
save sinners. She invited the children to return to the Cove of Iria during the next five consecutive months on the 13th
at the very same hour.
They did as she asked. During June, July, September and October, the
Lady returned in the Cova da Irai. In
August, the apparition took place in a small farm on the 15th
because government officials on the 13th of that month had taken the children
away. They were deceived, jailed and
then threatened with being boiled in oil if they did not recant their story of
the vision. The children stood by their
story even in the face of death.
Lady returned in the Cova da Irai. In
August, the apparition took place in a small farm on the 15th
because government officials on the 13th of that month had taken the children
away. They were deceived, jailed and
then threatened with being boiled in oil if they did not recant their story of
the vision. The children stood by their
story even in the face of death.
What took place on
October 13 became known as “Miracle of the Sun.” Eyewitness reports estimate the
crowd that gathered that day to be anywhere from 75,000 or 100,000. Some who
had gathered were skeptics; anxious to show the Catholics to be fools for
believing the Blessed Mother was appearing.
Regardless of preconceived beliefs, everyone saw the same thing.
October 13 became known as “Miracle of the Sun.” Eyewitness reports estimate the
crowd that gathered that day to be anywhere from 75,000 or 100,000. Some who
had gathered were skeptics; anxious to show the Catholics to be fools for
believing the Blessed Mother was appearing.
Regardless of preconceived beliefs, everyone saw the same thing.
At noon, the driving rain stopped and the
clouds parted. Many thousands of
witnesses corroborated that during the next 12 minutes, the sun seemed to leave
its orbit and spin, throwing off colors of light. Everything on the ground reflected its
radiance. Then it spun on its axis and
the rim became scarlet and bursts of flames scattered across the sky. Amazement turned to terror as the sun
appeared to plummet to earth. People cried out and prayed, fearing it was the
end of the world. Then, it stopped and a strange breeze swept through and
instantly dried clothing, ground and puddles everywhere. People within a twenty-mile radius saw the
event.
clouds parted. Many thousands of
witnesses corroborated that during the next 12 minutes, the sun seemed to leave
its orbit and spin, throwing off colors of light. Everything on the ground reflected its
radiance. Then it spun on its axis and
the rim became scarlet and bursts of flames scattered across the sky. Amazement turned to terror as the sun
appeared to plummet to earth. People cried out and prayed, fearing it was the
end of the world. Then, it stopped and a strange breeze swept through and
instantly dried clothing, ground and puddles everywhere. People within a twenty-mile radius saw the
event.
Government officials from the
anti-Catholic socialist regime, police officers, and journalists, who were
there not out of faith but to investigate, reported seeing the miraculous
event. The two major newspapers carried
the same reports of a miracle.
anti-Catholic socialist regime, police officers, and journalists, who were
there not out of faith but to investigate, reported seeing the miraculous
event. The two major newspapers carried
the same reports of a miracle.
At this same time, the children of Fatima saw
the following vision as described by Sr. Lucia in Letter from Sr. Lucia to her Bishop, December 8, 1941, Tuy, Spain.: “When our Lady disappeared in the immense
distance of the sky, next to the sun, we saw St. Joseph holding the child Jesus
and Our Lady dressed in white with a blue mantle. St. Joseph and the child seemed to be
blessing the world, making the sign of the cross.”
Columnist Avelino de Almeida of O
Século (Portugal’s most influential newspaper, which was pro-government and
anti-religious) reported the following: “Before the astonished eyes of the
crowd, whose aspect was Biblical as they stood bare-headed, eagerly searching
the sky, the sun trembled, made sudden incredible movements outside all cosmic
laws – the sun ‘danced’ according to the typical expression of the
people.”
During the apparitions, the
children were asked to pray and offer sacrifices as acts of reparation for
souls. “Pray the Rosary every day to obtain peace in
the world and the end of war,” Lucia reported her saying.
children were asked to pray and offer sacrifices as acts of reparation for
souls. “Pray the Rosary every day to obtain peace in
the world and the end of war,” Lucia reported her saying.
St. John Paul II
and Our Lady of Fatima
and Our Lady of Fatima
Pope John Paul II credited Our Lady
of Fatima with saving his life on May 13, 1981—the same day and at the same hour
of the first apparition at Fatima. Before a crowd of 20,000 in St. Peter’s
Square at the Vatican, a Turkish citizen, Mehmet Ali Agca, fired four bullets
at the pope from about 15 feet away. The
one that hit him narrowly missed his vital organs.
of Fatima with saving his life on May 13, 1981—the same day and at the same hour
of the first apparition at Fatima. Before a crowd of 20,000 in St. Peter’s
Square at the Vatican, a Turkish citizen, Mehmet Ali Agca, fired four bullets
at the pope from about 15 feet away. The
one that hit him narrowly missed his vital organs.
John Paul II reflected: “Agca
knew how to shoot, and he certainly shot to kill. Yet it was as if someone was
guiding and deflecting that bullet.” That “someone,” John Paul
believed, was the Woman of Fatima. “Could I forget that the event in St.
Peter’s Square took place on the day and at the hour when the first appearance
of the Mother of Christ … has been remembered … at Fatima in Portugal? For
in everything that happened to me on that very day, I felt that extraordinary
motherly protection and care, which turned out to be stronger than the deadly
bullet” (Memory and Identity pp. 159, 163).
knew how to shoot, and he certainly shot to kill. Yet it was as if someone was
guiding and deflecting that bullet.” That “someone,” John Paul
believed, was the Woman of Fatima. “Could I forget that the event in St.
Peter’s Square took place on the day and at the hour when the first appearance
of the Mother of Christ … has been remembered … at Fatima in Portugal? For
in everything that happened to me on that very day, I felt that extraordinary
motherly protection and care, which turned out to be stronger than the deadly
bullet” (Memory and Identity pp. 159, 163).
On December 27, 1983 JP II went to
the prison and forgave his would-be assassin.
The pope held the hand of the gunman who shot to kill him and said,
“Brother I forgive you.” They talked quietly for 21 minutes. It was reported
that the gunman who, revealed he was a hired professional, could not understand
how he failed in his attempt.
the prison and forgave his would-be assassin.
The pope held the hand of the gunman who shot to kill him and said,
“Brother I forgive you.” They talked quietly for 21 minutes. It was reported
that the gunman who, revealed he was a hired professional, could not understand
how he failed in his attempt.
Our Lady of Fatima’s “Peace Plan”
Every time Our Lady appeared to the three shepherd
children she asked the children to pray
the rosary. And
if we do what she asks, then she will fulfill her promise that: “In the end my
Immaculate Heart would triumph.”
children she asked the children to pray
the rosary. And
if we do what she asks, then she will fulfill her promise that: “In the end my
Immaculate Heart would triumph.”
Pope John Paul II said: “The Rosary is by nature a prayer for
peace…focusing our eyes on Christ. The Rosary also makes us peacemakers in the
world. Pray the Rosary daily! The Rosary
can end wars! The Rosary can bring world peace.”
peace…focusing our eyes on Christ. The Rosary also makes us peacemakers in the
world. Pray the Rosary daily! The Rosary
can end wars! The Rosary can bring world peace.”
First Five Saturdays
The First Five Saturdays devotion has some powerful promises attached for all who participate. Our Lady told Sr. Lucia that she promised to assist at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for salvation all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to Confession and received Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary and keep her company for a quarter of an hour while mediating on the mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation for sins.” Everything is to be offered to make reparation for sin.
The First Five Saturdays devotion has some powerful promises attached for all who participate. Our Lady told Sr. Lucia that she promised to assist at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for salvation all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to Confession and received Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary and keep her company for a quarter of an hour while mediating on the mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation for sins.” Everything is to be offered to make reparation for sin.
Fulfilling Our Lady’s requests for the five First Saturdays includes:
1. Receive our Lord in Holy Communion while in the state of grace.
2. Recite five decades of the Rosary.
3. Keep Mary company for at least 15 minutes while mediating on the mysteries of the Rosary.
4. Go to Confession within the month.
In the Church, Saturday has traditionally been a special day to honor Mary, the Mother of God.
____________________________________________________________
For more inspiration, check out Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families uplifting stories on love and life. Children’s books, Dear God, I Don’t Get It and Dear God, You Can’t Be Serious are fiction that present faith through fun and adventuresome stories. Follow Patti at Twitter and like her Facebook pages at Dear God Books, Big Hearted Families
