Our Lady of Fatima

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. In 1917 Our Lady appeared to three children in Fatima, Portugal. Our Lady told the children,

"The war is going to end: but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the Pontificate of Pius XI."

This was a prediction of World War II.

On October 13, 1917, a crowd of more than 40,000 people, including newspaper reporters and photographers, witnessed what is called "The Miracle of the Sun."

Portugal's most influential newspaper O Século, reported at the time,

"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."

The newspaper Ordem reported

"The sun, at one moment surrounded with scarlet flame, at another aureoled in yellow and deep purple, seemed to be in an exceeding fast and whirling movement, at times appearing to be loosened from the sky and to be approaching the earth, strongly radiating heat".

Two of the children died young, as Our Lady predicted. The third, Lucia, lived until February 13, 2006.

On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot in an assasination attempt in St. Peter's Square. The pontiff later attributed his survival to Our Lady's protection.

On May 14, 2000, the Vatican disclosed the "Third Secret of Fatima", which is said to predicted the 1981 assasination attempt on the pope.