Fr. Nicholas Sheehy: The Day the Sun Danced Over Fatima

Modern man can be so focused on the earth, that he forgets to look up to heaven. The miracle of Fatima on October 13, 1917 reminded man that he is heaven-bound.

This was going to be the telling day for the three shepherd children who had claimed to see the mysterious lady appear at Cova da Iria, near Fatima, Portugal. After coming to receive the message of the lady every month since May, their word was going to be put to the test when 70,000 pilgrims showed up looking for the promised miracle.

Since May, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta had faithfully made the trek to a field Lucia’s father owned where they were used to pasture their sheep and where Mary had appeared to them. Over the course of the three apparitions, Mary had shared three secrets that would end up being famous around the world.

Things had gotten critical with much anti-clericalism and even anti-Catholicism in Portugal, to the point that the children had missed their appointment in August, being detained by the authorities. Nevertheless, Mary appeared to them a few days later when they were able to return. ….