Some unsuspecting Jehovah Witnesses rang my door bell a few weeks back. I must say I admire these people to some extent. They always carry themselves so respectfully and take physical action on their faith. I mean, can you imagine someone knocking on your door then saying, " I would like to share the redemption and salvation that the Roman Catholic Church offers you?"Anyway, I eagerly await these encounters. As we started our conversation, I respectfully asked them if they could tell me the only miracle in the history of the world that was pre-announced in regard to the exact day, place and time it would take place? They looked completely puzzled at me and each other. I broke a smile and said, "Our Lady of Fatima. The Blessed Mother appeared to three shepherd children in Portugal and told them a significant miracle would happen at noon, on October 13, 1917, as a sign she was really appearing." I tried to plant the seed, you never know. I am hoping they will ring my doorbell one day and ask me if know the redemption and salvation that the Roman Catholic Church offers.
I believe the story of Fatima is the most tangible, concrete proof of the existence of God, and the legitimacy of the Roman Catholic Church, that can be presented to non-believers. You are not quoting proofs from St. Thomas Aquinas or St. Augustine that require intellectual aptitude to understand, you are citing a historical event that they can be easily understood and researched by non-believers. In addition, the Blessed Mother is always the best gateway to her Son.
The newspapers in Portugal mocked this prediction for many weeks prior, but none-the-less sent reporters and photographers to cover the event.
Most of the press sent to cover the event had strong ties to the Freemason government who had extreme hostility towards the Catholic Church and had it in their best interest to expose this as a complete hoax. Here is their actual coverage, printed in newspapers the day after, of the event:
- "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." ― Avelino de Almeida writing for O Século, Portugal's top newspaper.
- "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." ― Dr. Domingos Pinto Coelho, reporting for the newspaper Ordem.
- "…The silver sun, enveloped in the same gauzy grey light, was seen to whirl and turn in the circle of broken clouds… The light turned a beautiful blue, as if it had come through the stained-glass windows of a cathedral, and spread itself over the people who knelt with outstretched hands… people wept and prayed with uncovered heads, in the presence of a miracle they had awaited. The seconds seemed like hours, so vivid were they." ― O' Dia newspaper, Lisbon, Portugal.
October 13, 1917, was a conclusive day for the Roman Catholic Faith and for our dear Blessed Mother! It is hard to argue about a validity of a miracle when it was pre-announced, viewed by 70,000 people and begrudgingly validated by multiple, anti-cleric newspapers. I mean c'mon....it's all there in black and white!
