From the editor of CATHOLIC VOICE NEWSPAPER (OMAHA, NEBRASKA)
By CHARLIE WIESER |
The upcoming visit of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima has me reminiscing about my trip to one of the world's most famous Marian shrines. Many people remained skeptical about the apparitions, so the Blessed Virgin Mary told the three children that a miracle would occur on Oct. 13, 1917. On that date, the Miracle of the Sun was seen by a crowd of more than 70,000. http://catholicvoiceomaha.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=7484&SectionID=7&SubSectionID=7&S=1
Fifteen years ago I traveled to Portugal to visit the site where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three Portuguese children - Lucia Santos, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto - in 1917.
Tending sheep at the time of the first Marian apparition, the three youngsters were told to return to the site for five more months on the 13th of each month.
When asked to describe what they saw, Lucia said: "It was a lady, clothed in white, brighter than the sun, radiating a light more clear and intense than a crystal cup filled with sparkling water, lit by burning sunlight."
People doubted the children, which led to interrogations to determine if they were telling the truth. It was a difficult time for the three youngsters and their families.
Still, they returned to the site, where Mary continued to appear to them, identifying herself as the "Lady of the Rosary" and telling them to pray the rosary daily to bring peace to the world.
Mary also told the children that people must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. "People must not offend our Lord any more for he is already too much offended," she said.
Word of the miracle spread, with one eye witness reporting: "We looked easily at the sun, which did not blind us. It seemed to flicker on and off, first one way and then another. It shot rays in different directions and painted everything in different colors - the trees, the people, the air and the ground. What was most extraordinary was that the sun did not hurt my eyes at all. Everything was still and quiet; everyone was looking upwards. At a certain moment the sun seemed to stop and then began to move and to dance until it seemed that it was being detached from the sky and was falling on us."
It wasn't long before people began making pilgrimages to Fatima. The impressive Marian shrine now attracts people from throughout the world. Pope Paul VI visited the shrine on May 13, 1967, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady. Pope John Paul II, who was shot on May 13, 1981, at the Vatican, made two pilgrimages to Fatima - on the first and 10th anniversaries of the assassination attempt on his life.
Not everyone can travel to Portugal to pray at the Marian shrine, but they can take the time to see the traveling Fatima statue when it visits the Archdiocese of Omaha Oct. 1-21. See the schedule for rural and urban parishes as well as more information on page 12 of this issue.
The traveling statue is a reminder of Our Lady's message of peace and that Fatima is a holy place where people return to Christ through the mediation of the Virgin Mary.
