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A World Divided
In 1917, the world was at war. “The war to end all wars” raged across all of Europe, dragging more and more nations into the conflict. At the same time, governments across Europe turned away from their Catholic roots, choosing instead to follow atheism. One such government was Portugal. Portugal’s deep Catholic faith was a problem for its atheistic government. But in one rural district in Portugal, the faith of three peasant children would provide an example to Portugal’s faithful - and the world - for all time. But it wasn’t the children’s doing; rather, it was the work of Our Lady of Fatima.
Far Away from War
As Portugal braced itself for the impact of World War I, the chaos the world was experiencing seemed far away from the rural town of Fatima. Young shepherds Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco lived a charmed life and cared little for their prayers. They would often shout their abridged rosaries as quickly as they could, spending the rest of their time chatting. One ordinary day, however, an angel appeared to them, urging them to pray and prepare for a divine mission. This angelic encounter set the children’s hearts afire and prepared them for the extraordinary apparitions that were to come. Inspired by the angel’s words, the children began praying their rosaries several times a day. But for an entire month, there were no more signs or messages. The children trusted and prayed.
On another seemingly ordinary afternoon, The Lady from Heaven made her first appearance to the awe-struck children. She was beautiful, shining brighter than the sun. She encouraged them to keep praying the rosary every day and return to the Cova where they saw her on the 13th day of each month. As news of the visions spread through Fatima, the children faced skepticism from some and outright persecution from others. Despite these challenges, they remained steadfast in their commitment to the Lady and to Heaven. On the next visit, a crowd was present to watch. The Lady revealed a vision of hell to the children, emphasizing the importance of prayer and repentance to save souls.
The Forces of Evil
The Governor of Fatima, determined to end what he saw as dangerous superstition, began to plot against the young visionaries. Visiting the children at home, he offered them a ride in his car to the Cova. Rather than taking them there, however, he kidnapped them, taking them back to have them interrogated. Using cruel threats and lies, the governor tried to get the children to contradict each other or to admit that they were lying. They refused, praying and encouraging one another. Their night in prison with hardened criminals only strengthened their resolve. By the next morning, the children had these inmates praying and singing hymns to Mary. The children were freed, but the governor continued to watch them carefully.
The Peace of Christ
On October 13th, 1917, a massive crowd gathered in the Cova da Iria, braving the pouring rain to witness the much-anticipated miracle promised by the Lady. As thousands of spectators looked on, the sun danced in the sky, changing colors and seemingly falling towards the earth. Believers and skeptics both were left in awe. The Lady revealed her identity as Our Lady of the Rosary and left a lasting legacy that echoed through history.
This week on The Saints: Adventures of Faith and Courage, journey with Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco to the Cova D’Iria in Fatima! Experience each of Our Lady’s breathtaking visions in the Cova. Follow along with the children’s detractors as they seek to prevent the children’s mission with scheming and lies. And listen to each moment of the Lady’s triumphant miracle of the sun, which continues to inspire conversions today! Listen first thing on Monday at thesaintspodcast.com.
Tune into Our Lady of Fatima on Monday, July 8! In the meantime, you can take a look at these behind-the-scenes photos from the recording of Our Lady of Fatima. You can check out this exclusive behind-the-scenes video which shows more of the production process!
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