Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima. The Catholic Church recognizes that from May through October, 1917, Mary appeared to three Portuguese children on the 13th day of the month and gave them important messages to deliver to the world.
Throughout his life, Blessed John Paul II had great devotion to the Blessed Mother. His would-be murderer had the misfortune to attempt assassination on May 13, 1981. As John Paul stated in his biography, “One hand fired and another guided the bullet.” The pope firmly believed that Mary had intervened to save his life. On his visit to Our Lady of Fatima’s shrine on May 13, 1982, John Paul II placed the bullet that had nearly killed him in the crown of Mary’s statue.
The Church does not require acceptance of apparitions, but it’s hard to deny their impact and influence. For believers, today is a celebration of a very significant supernatural event during the last century.
As Shakespeare might have remarked, “There are more things in heaven and earth…than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” To that, I can only respond with three Hail Marys and a big “Amen.”
Throughout his life, Blessed John Paul II had great devotion to the Blessed Mother. His would-be murderer had the misfortune to attempt assassination on May 13, 1981. As John Paul stated in his biography, “One hand fired and another guided the bullet.” The pope firmly believed that Mary had intervened to save his life. On his visit to Our Lady of Fatima’s shrine on May 13, 1982, John Paul II placed the bullet that had nearly killed him in the crown of Mary’s statue.
The Church does not require acceptance of apparitions, but it’s hard to deny their impact and influence. For believers, today is a celebration of a very significant supernatural event during the last century.
As Shakespeare might have remarked, “There are more things in heaven and earth…than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” To that, I can only respond with three Hail Marys and a big “Amen.”
