Miracle of the Sun Witnessed at Fatima Shrine in New Jersey

Prayers for Life and World Peace Acknowleged by Heaven

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

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The Remarkable Music of Tony Melendez

You Tube - The Remarkable Music of Tony Melendez

News Story and Video by Loci B. Lenar

On Sunday, October 18, 2009, Tony Melendez and his band played a selection of inspirational music of faith at The Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. The Catholic shrine held a televised event of One World Praying for Life and Peace. EWTN was broadcasting the prayer service with Tony's beautiful music.

Remarkably, Tony was born without arms, but is gifted with an ability to play a guitar with his amazing feet. I attended the event and 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.

The following excerpt is from Tony's website:

It was an unforgettable moment when, on September 15, 1987, he played his guitar for Pope John Paul II in Los Angeles. Born without arms, he performed a touching song entitled Never Be The Same. When the Pope approached him from the stage to kiss him in appreciation, it seemed to reflect the sentiments of the entire country.

Tony Melendez Ministries is dedicated to bringing compassion and hope to people throughout the world while inspiring and changing the hearts of all God's people.


Photograph and Video Copyright 2009 Loci B. Lenar

Miracle of the Sun Witnessed at Knock Shrine in Ireland

Thousands wait for Knock apparition - The Irish Times - Mon, Oct 12, 2009

The following excerpt is from an article published on IrishTimes.com:

THOUSANDS GATHERED at Knock Shrine, County Mayo, yesterday hoping to see an apparition of Our Lady.

There were ripples of applause from a crowd estimated at more than 5,000 as some people believed they could see the sun shimmering, changing colour and dancing in the sky.

John Tunney, from Islandeady, Castlebar, said: “I’m 53 years old and I never seen the sun go like that before. I witnessed the sun go all different colours, yellow, red and green. Then it completely darkened and began shimmering. Sometimes the sun emitted a clean, bright light, then it would darken again.”

Mr Tunney’s wife, Nina, said: “The sun was spinning in the sky. I experienced a feeling of total happiness. It is a feeling I would love to experience again. It was amazing. I felt marvellous.”

Yvonne Rabbitte, from Dunmore, Co Galway, showed other pilgrims a photograph she had taken on her digital camera which showed vivid rays radiating downwards from the sun at the time the image was taken.

Maggie Ahern, from Castlebar, had no doubt that the happenings in Knock were due to “heavenly intervention”.

Earlier in the week Dublin-based clairvoyant Joe Coleman predicted Our Lady would appear at the old parish church – scene of the 1879 apparition – at 3pm. Quite a number of those present were members of the Travelling community.

The crowds waited in the open air despite an invitation on loudspeaker at about 2.30pm from Knock parish priest Msgr Joseph Quinn that those in the grounds enter the adjacent Basilica to participate in ceremonies to mark the annual Dominican pilgrimage.

Msgr Quinn was not available for comment last night.

(For additional information, read Joe Coleman's Profile.

(For additional information about the story, please visit Spirit Daily.com)

The Anointing of the Holy Spirit (Poetry)

Photographed inside St. Mary's Church, Denville, NJ

The Holy Spirit

Wings of loving freedom—

soaring peacefully into harmony with hymns of faith

encircling earth in search of virtuous souls

encountering scores of compassionate hearts
in tunes of praise and glory—

the gospel music of salvation.

Our Heavenly Father

aggrieved by turbulent winds

and clouds of fury

that displace innocent lives,

humanity is gifted with prayer to mitigate ominous storms,

protecting God’s children from misfortune.

The outpouring of divine love

thawing humanity’s chilled heart,

shadowed in moments of indifference,

blessed and thoughtfully forgiven by grace.

Photographed inside Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Boonton, NJ

In unified prayer of mercy,

Jesus pardons our sins,

wipes away tears—

prepares our soul to embrace the Holy Spirit.

Behold the Light of Resurrection—

the Choir of Heaven in symphony with the Book of Life

recording all who believe in God’s providence!

By Loci B. Lenar

Photographs © 2009 Loci B. Lenar 

Poem © 2005 Loci B. Lenar

Registration Number TXU1-286-432

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Leprosy patients from Hawaii to see canonization of Fr. Damien

Leprosy patients from Hawaii to see canonization of Fr. Damien

The following story regarding Fr. Damien appeared on Catholic News Agency:

Honolulu, Hawaii, Sep 26, 2009 (CNA)

Eleven elderly leprosy patients from Hawaii will travel to the Vatican for the canonization ceremony of Fr. Damien de Veuster, the heroic priest who cared for leprosy patients in Hawaii and died of the disease. The patients’ attending doctor called Fr. Damien their “personal saint.”

The Belgian-born priest is a hero in Hawaii for caring for those victims banished to the isolated Kalaupapa peninsula. Native Hawaiians were devastated by leprosy, which appeared after the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778.

About 90 percent of the approximately 8,000 people exiled to the peninsula were native Hawaiians. The state of Hawaii stopped exiling leprosy victims in 1969, more than two decades after a reliable treatment was discovered.

Many patients chose to stay at the colony because the community had become their home.

Eleven of the about 20 patients still living at Kalaupapa will make the 12,000-mile trip to Rome for the priest’s canonization, according to the Associated Press.

Their physician, Dr. Kalani Brady, said the trip will be an “energy-laden” voyage for many patients.

"They're going to see their personal saint canonized,” Brady told the Associated Press. The event is “incredibly important, incredibly personal for them.”

Since 1936, Fr. Damien’s body has rested in his Belgian hometown of Tremelo. However, his grave at Kalaupapa contains a relic of his right hand.

The canonization of Fr. Damien was announced earlier this year after the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints ruled that there was no medical explanation for a woman’s recovery from terminal cancer. She had prayed to Fr. Damien to intercede for a cure.

Pope Benedict XVI will preside over the canonization on October 11. The priest was beatified in 1995 by Pope John Paul II.

Pope Benedict is expected to meet privately with the patients during their stay in Rome.

About 650 people from Hawaii are traveling to Rome for the canonization. Most are expected to be part of the delegation of the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu.

A Boy Scout group called the St. Damien Boy Scouts of Oahu will document the capstone event and their travels on the internet using a blog, YouTube and Facebook.

In an August interview, Scout Master John Fielding told CNA about his scouts’ planned journey and the place of Fr. Damien in Hawaii.

“Fr. Damien is not only a symbol of our Church, but he is a hero to the Hawaiian people for his sacrifice,” he explained. “Fr. Damien’s statue is in the front of the Hawaii State Capitol and the U.S. Congress. Damien Memorial High School, where one of our scouts attends, is named in his honor.”

“Even if you are not Catholic, you know of his sacrifice and love for the many Hawaiians left to die there [at Molokai].”

The scouts have set up a Facebook account under the name of Damien de Veuster and have set up a YouTube channel named “saintdmienscouts.”

They will also report on their journey at http://stdamienboyscouts.wordpress.com/

Tower of Remembrance

The Tower of Remembrance has steel from the North Tower Building of the World Trade Center. The steel is combined with bells from the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity's Seminary in Monroe, Virginia.

The bells are a reminder by calling all people to pray and strive for world peace. The names of each innocent victim who died at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in the field in Pennsylvania from Flight 93, are inscribed on the memorial walls.

The structure is located on the grounds of the Shrine of Saint Joseph, Stirling, NJ, USA.

The memorial site is a place of healing, prayer, and peace, honoring the innocent victims who died on September 11, 2001.

Photograph Copyright 2009 Loci B. Lenar

Signs, Wonders, and Miracles - The Memorare

The Memorare

Intercessory Prayer to the Blessed Mother

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me.

Amen

Photographed at St. Theodore Roman Catholic Church, located on 855 Route 57, Port Murray, New Jersey.

Photo Copyright 2009 Loci B. Lenar

Christian-Miracles.com

Cross Appears in Sky over Russian Home

Excerpt from YouTube:

According to news reports, Vladimir Rostovcev, a resident of Sharya, Russia, became a witness of a interesting phenomenon: In the sky right above his house he saw a glowing cross. Vladimir Rostovcev shot a video on his camera and the story subsequently appeared on Russian News.


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Photo Captures Image of an 'Angel' in Hospital Hallway

CharlotteObserver.com reported a story on December 23, 2008 regarding fourteen year old Chelsea Banton of recovering miraculously from recurrent bouts of pneumonia. According to the news report, she was on a respirator for nearly eight weeks. Several attempts were made to wean her off the respirator without any success. However, some are saying that reports of an Angel supposedly seen on the surveillance camera at the hospital is responsible for her miraculous recovery. Fox News (Fox and Friends) reported the story with an inspirational interview with Dr. Ophelia Garmon-Brown. The story can be viewed at the following link: Caught on Camera

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