Today marks the 30th anniversary of the attempted assassination of Blessed John Paul II in Saint Peter's Square in Rome. It was during his usual Wednesday General Audience, as he was going through the crowd in the open air "Popemobile" that shots rang out...
Mehmet Ali Agca, a trained sniper from Turkey, shot four bullets into the Holy Father's body from point-blank range. One bullet missed the Pope's main abdominal artery by a fraction of an inch. The Holy Father credited Our Lady of Fatima for re-directing the bullets and saving his life. He would later say: "One hand fired, another guided the bullet."
Many people were surprised the Pope so easily and quickly forgave the man that wanted him dead. Just days after the shooting, he said, "I pray for that brother of ours who shot me, and whom I have sincerely pardoned. United with Christ, Priest and Victim, I offer my sufferings for the Church and for the world. To you, Mary, I repeat: 'Totus tuus ergo sum.'" (I am totally yours.)
For John Paul II, it was no coincidence that his life was saved on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Our Lady had appeared to three children in Fatima, Portugal on May 13, 1917. She warned the children about a world at war and asked them to: "Pray the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world!"
Mary continued to appear to the three children on the 13th of each month until October of that year when, at the final apparition, 70,000 people gathered for what had been promised to be the proof and sign of her message. As the people gathered in the rain, they witnessed what has been called the "Miracle of the Sun." This is an eyewitness account of the event, given by Dr. Jose Maria de Almeida Garrett, professor at the Faculty of Sciences of Coimbra, Portugal:
"It must have been 1:30 p.m when there arose, at the exact spot where the children were, a column of smoke, thin, fine and bluish, which extended up to perhaps two meters above their heads, and evaporated at that height. This phenomenon, perfectly visible to the naked eye, lasted for a few seconds. Not having noted how long it had lasted, I cannot say whether it was more or less than a minute. The smoke dissipated abruptly, and after some time, it came back to occur a second time, then a third time
"The sky, which had been overcast all day, suddenly cleared; the rain stopped and it looked as if the sun were about to fill with light the countryside that the wintery morning had made so gloomy. I was looking at the spot of the apparitions in a serene, if cold, expectation of something happening and with diminishing curiosity because a long time had passed without anything to excite my attention. The sun, a few moments before, had broken through the thick layer of clouds which hid it and now shone clearly and intensely.
"Suddenly I heard the uproar of thousands of voices, and I saw the whole multitude spread out in that vast space at my feet...turn their backs to that spot where, until then, all their expectations had been focused, and look at the sun on the other side. I turned around, too, toward the point commanding their gaze and I could see the sun, like a very clear disc, with its sharp edge, which gleamed without hurting the sight. It could not be confused with the sun seen through a fog (there was no fog at that moment), for it was neither veiled nor dim. At Fatima, it kept its light and heat, and stood out clearly in the sky, with a sharp edge, like a large gaming table. The most astonishing thing was to be able to stare at the solar disc for a long time, brilliant with light and heat, without hurting the eyes or damaging the retina. [During this time], the sun's disc did not remain immobile, it had a giddy motion, [but] not like the twinkling of a star in all its brilliance for it spun round upon itself in a mad whirl.
"During the solar phenomenon, which I have just described, there were also changes of color in the atmosphere. Looking at the sun, I noticed that everything was becoming darkened. I looked first at the nearest objects and then extended my glance further afield as far as the horizon. I saw everything had assumed an amethyst color. Objects around me, the sky and the atmosphere, were of the same color. Everything both near and far had changed, taking on the color of old yellow damask. People looked as if they were suffering from jaundice and I recall a sensation of amusement at seeing them look so ugly and unattractive. My own hand was the same color.
"Then, suddenly, one heard a clamor, a cry of anguish breaking from all the people. The sun, whirling wildly, seemed all at once to loosen itself from the firmament and, blood red, advance threateningly upon the earth as if to crush us with its huge and fiery weight. The sensation during those moments was truly terrible.
"All the phenomena which I have described were observed by me in a calm and serene state of mind without any emotional disturbance. It is for others to interpret and explain them. Finally, I must declare that never, before or after October 13 [1917], have I observed similar atmospheric or solar phenomena."
Today our world is scarred by abortion, war, terrorism, political unrest, and so much more.
Our Lady of Fatima's call to pray the Rosary for peace is as urgent today as it was 94 years ago! She thwarted the plans of John Paul II's assassin,. Surely she will come to our aid in redirecting the many bullets aimed at destroying peace in our world.
Several days ago, I asked, in a post, "I do. Do you?" One of you replied, "yes." I hope that, with me, you are praying the Rosary daily and, if possible today, praying it for peace in our world, peace in our nation, peace in our families, peace in our hearts.
Our Lady of Fatima, we are all yours! Pray for us!
mary our dearest mother..pray for us..!
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