In the village of Fatima, Portugal, in 1917, on the 13th day of each month from May through October, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three peasant children. Their names were Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia. Our Lady requested prayers, sacrifices and reparation, for mankind’s offences against God and Her Immaculate Heart. Mary promised that God would grant peace to the entire world, provided mankind hear and obey this request. Our Lady also promised the children that there would be a sign, during her last appearance on October 13th, to convince the world of her apparitions and message.
With news of the apparitions spreading through the entire region, both the faithful and non-believers journeyed through the heavy rain and mud to witness the predicted sign. When all had gathered at the site, the rain suddenly stopped and the clouds dispersed. The wet and muddy ground quickly dried up and the people discovered that their previously drenched clothing had become completely dry.
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The sun then began to spin and twirl, emitting flashes of coloured light, and next appearing to veer toward the earth. At the last moment the it zipped, or zig zagged, back into place in the sky, and all was well. This phenomenon, witnessed by nearly 70,000 people, has become known as “The Miracle of the Sun”, and in 1940, Pope Pius XII approved this spectacular Miracle of Fatima. |
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