News Story by Loci B. Lenar
The World Apostolate of Fatima (USA) in cooperation with
EWTN, televised a worldwide prayer service on Sunday, October 18, 2009 for the sanctity of life and peace. It was estimated that millions of viewers would tune in and join with prayer on this special occasion.
Well over a thousand visitors came to celebrate by joining together in prayer at
The Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. The shrine is located on the grounds of the World Apostolate of Fatima in Washington, New Jersey.
What began as a cold and breezy day at the Catholic shrine, ended with peace, as some visitors saw the sun emit or change colors. I was fortunate to have my camera on hand and photographed the solar phenomena.
Without reservation, I believe on this special day,
Our Lady of Fatima acknowledged the prayers of the faithful by giving a sign to humanity through her divine son, Jesus Christ. Numerous visitors were blessed by Our Lord in order to witness the Miracle of the Sun. I believe the sign is a confirmation of God's love for humanity. I also believe the sign is intended to help evangelize the world through the gospels of Jesus Christ with the message of Our Lady of Fatima.
In
John 12:46-47, Jesus said,
"I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world."
Michael La Corte, Executive Director of the
World Apostlate of Fatima (USA), spoke about the
Fatima Message, and how the Miracle of the Sun was witnessed by over 70,000 people on October 13, 1917 in Fatima, Portugal. For additional information about Our Lady of Fatima and the heaven sent message of 1917, which was communicated to Sister Maria Lucia, I would suggest everyone to visit
the World Apostolate of Fatima.
Michael La Corte also highlighted the noteworthy changes taking place in Russia since the collapse of the former Soviet Union. Remarkably, in Kazan, Russia, all Muslims, Christians, and Catholics respect one another by living together in peace. For additional information about their societal way of life, please visit the following link:
Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims live peacefully together in Tatarstan
In Matthew 5:9, Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."
Guests included Diana von Glahn, she is the host for the new show
The Faithful Traveler, airing on
EWTN. The show will focus on churches and shrines throughout the USA.
Tony Melendez and his band were performing with inspirational songs of faith. Tony was born without arms, but is gifted in playing a guitar with his feet. He is a truly inspiring artist, especially when you listen to his outstanding vocals. I recorded some video with my Canon G7 digital camera. The video is of course not on the same scale as someone using professional equipment. However, it's presented for the purpose of exhibiting the artistic talent of Tony Melendez. Please visit the following link to view and hear the music:
The Remarkable Music of Tony Melendez
Visitors at the Blue Army Shrine during Holy Mass.
Holy Mass was celerbrated with Father Clement Machado (front), and Father Andrew Apostoli (right). The mass was a true blessing for anyone that attended ... very spiritual and uplifting.
Father Apostoli later spoke about the
Message of Fatima and reminded everyone that God sent the Blessed Mother to three shepherd children, Lucia dos Santos, and Jacinta and Francisco Marto to help eatablish devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in order to save souls from being lost.
Regarding secularism and the unborn, Father Apostoli said, "It's not a political battle, it's not a military battle, but a spiritual battle." He said it's important to change the hearts of people by going to Our Lady in prayer for her intercessory help. He also reminded everyone that through the power of prayer the Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph in victory. And, as Our Lady promised in Fatima, an era of peace will be granted to the world by God.
Regarding the sanctity of life, I must emphasize individual responsiblity before considering the termination of a pregnancy by reflecting first on Psalm 139:13-16, which says, "You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew; my bones were not hidden from you, When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth. Your eyes foresaw my actions; in your book all are written down; my days were shaped, before one came to be."
Please do not underestimate the power of prayer in changing circumstances into a favorable outcome.
In Mark 12:24-25, Jesus said, "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions."
Father Apostoli also said that when God is ready to move forward, great things will happen.
1Samuel 12:16 states,
Now then, stand ready to witness the great marvel the Lord is about to accomplish before your eyes.
I believe we are already at the stage where God is performing signs and wonders throughout the world in order to move forward with an era of peace.
Artist Joe DeVito spoke about his work in creating the beautiful sculpture of
Mary, Mother of the Life Within. His artwork is refreshing and resonates with God's love.
At the end of the service, the Holy Rosary was recited outdoors by Father Paul Ruge in the amphitheater, and cries of joy could be heard in the rear as visitors were blessed in seeing a solar phenomena. Numerous people were using cell phones or cameras to take pictures of the sun as it was emitting or changing colors
(Miracle of the Sun). I also overhead someone saying that they saw an image of a heart appear in the sun (sky). Perhaps the Sacred Heart of Jesus? However, one woman was on her knees with hands folded in prayer and looking at the sun. The Lord indeed provides a special grace in order to observe the phenomena without injuring the eyes. The images shown here were photographed with my Canon G7 camera.
As a follow-up to Sunday's beautiful prayer service, I contacted the World Apostolate of Fatima (USA) by email, requesting some updated information on the reported solar phenomena. Michael La Corte responded by saying,
"Some people claimed to have seen something but as you can guess I was not a witness as I was live on the air at the time."
(The above images photographed by Loci B. Lenar)
Photograph courtesy of Maureen Therese Pinho
Photograph Courtesy of Maureen Therese Pinho
Photograph Courtesy of Maureen Therese Pinho
Photograph courtesy of Maureen Therese Pinho
Maureen Therese Pinho, a visitor to the shrine, also attended the prayer service with her children and a friend on Sunday. She was kind enough to contact me through my website and supplied me with some images that were photographed by her at the shrine on October 18th. ( Please Note: Her digital camera was not formatted and set with the present date and time.)
Maureen said afterward,
"My children and friend and I all saw the same thing with the sun spinning, changing colors, and pulsating as soon as the Hail Holy Queen was finished being recited" (Holy Rosary Prayer).
Maureen is a parishioner of
The Church of St. Michael, located in Netcong, New Jersey.
The photos of the solar phenomena are posted here for your discernment.
In
John 8:12, the following is noted: When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
May God the Father through the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, and
Our Blessed Mother, usher in an era of peace by unifying all nations, religion, and people with the Lord's divine love.
(The information posted in the article has been shared with my spiritual advisor,
Father Richard Tartaglia of Saint Mary's Church, Denville, NJ, USA).
Copyright 2009 Loci B. Lenar
