Remembering the experience of Fatima and Aljustrel

This was one of the most meaningful pictures I have ever taken. I was standing in the Coca Da Iria at Fatima looking up at the Sun in the sky at about the time of day as the famous miracle. In other words, I was looking from the very same vantage point as the the 3 shepherd children did.

That was on October 13th, 1917.

May 13th commemorates the 109th anniversary of the 1st apparition. It also commemorates the day of the assasination attempt on the life of Pope John Paul II. That occurred in 1981.

The first crown made for the statue of Fatima, had a gap inside it of exactly 9mm. In that gap, was placed one of the bullets from that attempt. John Paul II credited Mary's intercession with saving his life. You can see the bullet inside the crown.

The experience of Fatima was unforgettable. Now, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are converged on that town in Portugal. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.