C
Caesar
Guest
From Our Lady of the Rosary Library:
October 13, 2007 marks the 90th Anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun. This occasion provides us with a special opportunity to refresh our memory regarding the circumstances and events connected with the fulfillment of the promise made by Our Lady of Fatima to the three peasant children. She promised that she would grant a great miracle on October 13, 1917, removing any doubt about their appointed role as trustworthy messengers of her apparitions and of her messages to the world.
The three peasant children, Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia were constantly badgered, challenged and accused of hallucinations or fraud, even threatened by various civil authorities. The ecclesiastical authorities - the parish priest and the bishop - were reserved and repeatedly pressed them with questions and cautioned them about the gravity of their claims. It was a painful sadness for them that their spiritual fathers withheld their judgment and support. But the children remained undaunted and tenaciously protested their humble obedience to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the truth of the revelations they related regarding apparitions and messages of Our Lady. Their confidence remained unshaken because of Our Lady’s promise of the special miracle on October 13th that she would perform to support them in the sight of all. They repeatedly told the doubters, cynics, and accusers that there would be a great miracle on October 13th at 12 noon. One that all would be able to see. Of course, word spread throughout the country about this prediction.
Fatima had been inundated by heavy rains for several days, and right up to October 13th. The ground at the Cova da Iria was a sea of mud. But at noon the rain became a fine mist. Thousands of people had gathered out of hope and expectation, out of anxious wonder, or curiosity, or to witness to the mindless naivete of the masses. It is estimated that 70,000 people had assembled. Many still holding their umbrellas. Suddenly, at 12 noon, Lucia was heard to cry out, “Look the sun!” Her cry was relayed through the great multitude. People looked up. There were great shouts and exclamations as the people beheld a stupendous phenomenon. The sun burst through the clouds. It immediately began to radiate a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors. It trembled. It began spinning. Then zigzagging. People were falling to their knees in the mud. Then a terrible cry went up, because the sun suddenly began to plummet to the earth. There were cries for mercy. There were people confessing their sins unabashedly, others were reciting an act of contrition. They feared that they would be crushed to death. Then, the sun stopped and slowly returned to its place in the sky. The whole experience lasted about 8 minutes. The air was clear. The ground was dry. Even the clothes of those who knelt in the mud were dry. As could be expected, this momentous event was reported in the prominent newspapers of Portugal and around the world. Even in the New York Times.
Simultaneously, there were other events which were visible to the seers alone. The children saw a series of special visions. First, St. Joseph with the Holy Child and Our Lady - the Holy Family. Then, St. Joseph robed in white, seeming to lean from the clouds, half hidden, holding the Holy Child who was wholly visible and dressed in red. Then, Our Lady on the right of the sun wearing a blue mantle which covered her head and fell loosely around her. St. Joseph tracing the sign of the cross three times over the vast kneeling crowd. Then this vision faded and vanished to give place to another of Jesus Christ, vested in red and His Mother under the symbolism of Our Lady of Dolours (without the sword piercing the heart). The Redeemer also gives His blessing to the people. As this vision faded, it was succeeded by still another seen by Lucia alone, a vision of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with something falling from her hand. These special visions seen only by the children ceased as the sun returned to its place in the sky.
Our Lady made the sun dance, a stupendous wake-up call, to persuade us of the truth and the urgency of her messages given through the seers. Her messages include the need for prayer for world peace, for the conversion of Russia, and in reparation for sin. She gives us a call to pray the Rosary every day. To faithfully to go to Confession, to Mass, to receive Holy Communion and to meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary, on five consecutive first Saturdays. What more can we ask for to convince us of the grave importance of the Messages of Our Lady of Fatima.
October 13, 2007 marks the 90th Anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun. This occasion provides us with a special opportunity to refresh our memory regarding the circumstances and events connected with the fulfillment of the promise made by Our Lady of Fatima to the three peasant children. She promised that she would grant a great miracle on October 13, 1917, removing any doubt about their appointed role as trustworthy messengers of her apparitions and of her messages to the world.
The three peasant children, Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia were constantly badgered, challenged and accused of hallucinations or fraud, even threatened by various civil authorities. The ecclesiastical authorities - the parish priest and the bishop - were reserved and repeatedly pressed them with questions and cautioned them about the gravity of their claims. It was a painful sadness for them that their spiritual fathers withheld their judgment and support. But the children remained undaunted and tenaciously protested their humble obedience to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the truth of the revelations they related regarding apparitions and messages of Our Lady. Their confidence remained unshaken because of Our Lady’s promise of the special miracle on October 13th that she would perform to support them in the sight of all. They repeatedly told the doubters, cynics, and accusers that there would be a great miracle on October 13th at 12 noon. One that all would be able to see. Of course, word spread throughout the country about this prediction.
Fatima had been inundated by heavy rains for several days, and right up to October 13th. The ground at the Cova da Iria was a sea of mud. But at noon the rain became a fine mist. Thousands of people had gathered out of hope and expectation, out of anxious wonder, or curiosity, or to witness to the mindless naivete of the masses. It is estimated that 70,000 people had assembled. Many still holding their umbrellas. Suddenly, at 12 noon, Lucia was heard to cry out, “Look the sun!” Her cry was relayed through the great multitude. People looked up. There were great shouts and exclamations as the people beheld a stupendous phenomenon. The sun burst through the clouds. It immediately began to radiate a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors. It trembled. It began spinning. Then zigzagging. People were falling to their knees in the mud. Then a terrible cry went up, because the sun suddenly began to plummet to the earth. There were cries for mercy. There were people confessing their sins unabashedly, others were reciting an act of contrition. They feared that they would be crushed to death. Then, the sun stopped and slowly returned to its place in the sky. The whole experience lasted about 8 minutes. The air was clear. The ground was dry. Even the clothes of those who knelt in the mud were dry. As could be expected, this momentous event was reported in the prominent newspapers of Portugal and around the world. Even in the New York Times.
Simultaneously, there were other events which were visible to the seers alone. The children saw a series of special visions. First, St. Joseph with the Holy Child and Our Lady - the Holy Family. Then, St. Joseph robed in white, seeming to lean from the clouds, half hidden, holding the Holy Child who was wholly visible and dressed in red. Then, Our Lady on the right of the sun wearing a blue mantle which covered her head and fell loosely around her. St. Joseph tracing the sign of the cross three times over the vast kneeling crowd. Then this vision faded and vanished to give place to another of Jesus Christ, vested in red and His Mother under the symbolism of Our Lady of Dolours (without the sword piercing the heart). The Redeemer also gives His blessing to the people. As this vision faded, it was succeeded by still another seen by Lucia alone, a vision of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with something falling from her hand. These special visions seen only by the children ceased as the sun returned to its place in the sky.
Our Lady made the sun dance, a stupendous wake-up call, to persuade us of the truth and the urgency of her messages given through the seers. Her messages include the need for prayer for world peace, for the conversion of Russia, and in reparation for sin. She gives us a call to pray the Rosary every day. To faithfully to go to Confession, to Mass, to receive Holy Communion and to meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary, on five consecutive first Saturdays. What more can we ask for to convince us of the grave importance of the Messages of Our Lady of Fatima.
