The Thirteenth Day

On this day, February 13th, five years ago, Sister Lucia, the last of the children to see Our Lady at Fatima in 1917 died at the age of 97 as a Carmelite nun. Mary began her apparitions on May 13th and promised to appear on the 13th day of the month for the next six months. The final apparition on October 13th concluded with the famous "Miracle of the Sun". 70,000 assembled people saw the sun spinning, and spiraling in a ray of color toward the earth, drying the rain-soaked crowd and convincing the most hardened skeptics that indeed this was a supernatural event. The real miracle is what happened in the hearts of these people and of those who also have believed since then. Mary came with a promise of peace, based on on fidelity to the Gospel, prayer and fasting. First Saturday devotions spring from this call, as well as the daily rosary. As we approach Lent, we might consider Mary's request, perhaps even look more deeply into the story of these apparitions.
I highly recommend a new film (DVD) on Fatima entitled THE THIRTEENTH DAY. Made on a small budget, it is nevertheless artistically pleasing as well as an accurate portrayal of the faith of the children as opposed to the incredulity of the adults and civil authorities who allegedly knew more than these "mere children." Is it odd that most of the times Mary appears to us, she chooses children as her mediators? Something about the innocence and sense of wonder that we all had as children come into play here. We might pray for a return to those gifts that were once part of ourselves, and find the peace promised by our Good Mother.
Bro. Rene