Today, October 13, marks the 97th anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun which occurred in Cova da Iria near Fátima, Portugal in 1917, as promised by Our Lady of the Rosary to Blessed Jacinta and Blessed Francisco Marto, and Sister Lúcia de Jesus dos Santos. The event lasted about ten minutes, and was witnessed by 100,000 people.
One of my favorite dramatizations about the apparitions in Fátima is The 13th Day, a movie that was based on the accounts of Sister Lucia. I've seen it several times, and the story of the three seers still moves me; and I get a different inspiration and realization every time I watch it.
The first time I heard about the miracle, I prayed to be able to one day visit the pilgrimage site. And God did not disappoint. In His perfect time, He allowed me to visit Fátima.
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| The procession of the image of Our Lady of Fátima before the Eucharistic Celebration (08.13.2011) |
Below is a reflection I wrote three years ago, after that blessed visit to that sacred place:
A Visit to Our Lady of the Rosary
What draws man to
run to God? What makes him walk on his knees to plead for His mercy and
goodness? What makes him surrender his entire life, hopes and dreams to Someone
whom he has never seen? These questions suddenly flood my head as I arrive at Fátima , Portugal , seeing people both young and old, walking on their knees,
deep in prayer.
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| We arrived on a chilly Saturday morning in Fatima |
You get that feeling of a warm welcome once you reach the square in front of the imposing Basilica, in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary. Being a Saturday, and the 13th of the month as well, I knew that more people were coming that day. It was summer and yet it was unexpectedly cold when we arrived; and though we were all shivering, I felt soothing warmth deep within me. It was almost like coming home into the arms of a loved one I have not seen in years.
At first I found
myself carried away by what the senses beheld. People from all walks of life
were in a prayerful disposition. Conversations were almost in whispers. And the
sights?! The camera could only but catch a particular frame, but it cannot
really show the whole picture. I would have to rely on the gift of sharp memory
to be able to always remember all that I saw and heard there. . I can still
hear the echo of the bells ringing, signaling that the Eucharistic celebration
was about to start. All the sounds were like music to my ears… That too,
brought a sense of tranquility I cannot explain in words.
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| Instead of walking, pilgrims approach the Chapel of the Apparitions on their knees |
I did say my
prayers of course. There were many people to pray for – family, loved ones,
friends, relatives, acquaintances, people who need prayers the most, people who
have no one to pray for them… and yes, even those people who wish me ill-will…
who are jealous and envious of me … My enemies, if I may use that term. There
were many intentions to pray about too -- mine and others’-- that needed to be
brought to the foot of the Cross of Jesus through Mother Mary’s powerful intercession.
It seemed that praying would never cease.
In the midst of
the unavoidable little inconveniences, the language barrier, and the scorching midday heat, I asked myself those
questions again. What draws man to call upon a Supreme Holy Being whom he has
never seen? What moves him to tearful surrender to the Will of an omnipotent
God? We all might initially answer that one prays to be relieved of the
sufferings we all go through in our borrowed life here on earth. But is that what really makes us fall on our knees in supplication and trusting abandonment
and surrender?
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| Blessed Jacinta and Blessed Francisco's final resting place inside the Basilica |
The Fatima message
is about repentance… about choosing to walk on the straight path of
righteousness… about being obedient to the precepts of the Lord Almighty… about
having child-like faith in our Almighty Triune God... and about the
importance and power of prayer. But being there to witness the throngs of
people with eyes lifted to heaven, I realized that there is a stronger power
that draws us all to call upon the Holy Name of God, through the intercession
of our Virgin Queen and Lady, Mother Mary. I struggled for a little while to
get satisfying answers, but even before I finished my prayers, God reminded my
heart. It may sound cliché, but my one answer to my own questions is Love. God
made me remember, that the one answer to all the questions I’d ever ask will
always have to be Love -- holy, agape Love.
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| Procession towards the altar for the Eucharistic celebration |
Saint Thèrése of
Lisieux said it best; “Jesus needs
neither books nor Doctors of Divinity in order to instruct souls; He, the Doctor
of Doctors, He teaches without noise of words.” So all I had to do
was look deep within my heart, remember how Jesus took all my sin and shame and
died for Love of me. Saint Paul ’s letter to the Romans states this: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
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| The throngs of pilgrims from all over the world who came for the Mass |
Serenity
enveloped my whole being. I wanted to cry. I wanted so much for God and Mother
Mary to be there physically to embrace me in their arms. I wanted to sit on God
the Father’s lap and whisper into His ears all my joys and pains, my dreams, my
deepest longings… He alone knows what I have been through… about the things I
had to sacrifice in order to stay firm in my Catholic Faith. He alone knows me,
understands me, and never ever abandons me. God alone remains faithful and
true. What my physical existence cannot achieve, I knew, with His grace and
love, my soul was able to transcend into. And also, I only had to look at the
people all around me and remember how deeply and wonderfully loved I am – and
all of us, by a merciful and generous God. We are all therefore drawn to fall
into our knees in prayer not only because we need to bring our supplications to God. We are all
drawn to Him because we were all created in Love. “We love, because He first
loved us.” (1Saint John 4:19)
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| Inside the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima |
His Word
remains true: “Seek the Kingdom of God
above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you
need.” (Saint Matthew 6:33) And
so I prayed while I was there in Fatima , inside the basilica that Mother Mary
asked to be built. Above all the other things necessary for my existence that concern me, I
prayed for spiritual gifts and nourishment… I prayed to be able to know Him
more… to love Him deeply and intimately… to be strong and firm in the Faith…
and to be a living witness to this hurting world.
What happens
after that? Prayer draws us all closer to God, the giver of all good gifts. But
most importantly, prayer allows us to know more about His will for us… His
grand plans for each of us… and allows us to abandon in total surrender all
that concerns our earthly existence.
I still have temporal needs of course. I
still have urgent requests that I need miracles to. And I definitely still have
these deep longings in my heart that I am begging God to grant to me. The
amazing thing about my visit to Fátima is achieving a deeper knowledge and love
of God. And attaining that peace which He promised and He alone can give. From
a human vantage point, the future may seem bleak. But seen with eyes of faith…
eyes fixed on Jesus -- I am assured of a beautiful future full of only His best
gifts and overflowing with His Love!
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| Some of the people who watched the solar miracle |
Victor Hugo said that “Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees." I left Fátima feeling that way; and with renewed strength and a deeper faith, I pray to be able to live the Fátima message and share them with others. Share them in ‘actions’, and use words only when necessary. I cannot take credit for anything, for all things are God’s gifts to me. I pray for His grace to be at His bidding always… and to model my life in Mother Mary’s fiat: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Saint Luke 1:38)
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| Santuário de Fátima |
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