On May 13th, 1917, three young Portuguese shepherds witnessed an apparition that they claimed was the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ. They were instructed by the apparition to return to the same spot on five successive months on the same day, the thirteenth of each month. Over the course of these heavenly visits, the children, Lucia (10 years old), and cousins Francisco (9) and Jacinta (7), were the recipients of three 'secrets' that were meant to be revealed to the world in order to bring humanity closer to salvation. These 'secrets' weren't immediately revealed, but over the course of many years via the writings of Lucia Santos. The first two involved a vision of Hell, the end of World War I, and the potential of a second World War as punishment for the sins of humanity, along with a request that Russia be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by the Pope in communion with the bishops of the world. The third secret was not unveiled until June 26th, 2000 by the Vatican, and spoke to the Twentieth Century persecutions of Christians and the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II on May 13th, 1981 (note the date May 13th, as it relates to the first sighting of Mary by the three shepherds).
This presentation is offered by way of a 'story within a story', with a film editor preparing a documentary on the events of Fatima and the aftermath of world events that appeared to uphold some of the secrets that were eventually revealed. I use the word 'secret' as opposed to 'prophesy', because the statements that Lucia Santos wrote out weren't meant to be predictions, but a warning to the people of the world to give up their sinful ways and live their lives closer in harmony to God's teachings. As such, succeeding world events allowed for a fluidity and not a rigid path toward salvation or destruction.
Upon a single viewing of the picture it wasn't clear to me what the entire meaning of the revelations were about, so I had to supplement the story with additional research of my own. There is no doubt that the youngsters at Fatima experienced a significant, perhaps miraculous vision, and that their message was heard and received by a multitude of people. By the time of the apparition's sixth visit on October 13, 1917, estimates of fifty to seventy thousand people arrived at Fatima to witness a 'Miracle of the Sun'. Obviously there is much controversy over the interpretations offered by the Catholic Church regarding the messages inspired by Our Lady of Fatima. The way this picture ends has the film editor working on the Fatima project coming to accept the miracle experienced by the children, and for those watching, perhaps an invitation to further explore the mysteries themselves as revealed by the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This presentation is offered by way of a 'story within a story', with a film editor preparing a documentary on the events of Fatima and the aftermath of world events that appeared to uphold some of the secrets that were eventually revealed. I use the word 'secret' as opposed to 'prophesy', because the statements that Lucia Santos wrote out weren't meant to be predictions, but a warning to the people of the world to give up their sinful ways and live their lives closer in harmony to God's teachings. As such, succeeding world events allowed for a fluidity and not a rigid path toward salvation or destruction.
Upon a single viewing of the picture it wasn't clear to me what the entire meaning of the revelations were about, so I had to supplement the story with additional research of my own. There is no doubt that the youngsters at Fatima experienced a significant, perhaps miraculous vision, and that their message was heard and received by a multitude of people. By the time of the apparition's sixth visit on October 13, 1917, estimates of fifty to seventy thousand people arrived at Fatima to witness a 'Miracle of the Sun'. Obviously there is much controversy over the interpretations offered by the Catholic Church regarding the messages inspired by Our Lady of Fatima. The way this picture ends has the film editor working on the Fatima project coming to accept the miracle experienced by the children, and for those watching, perhaps an invitation to further explore the mysteries themselves as revealed by the Blessed Virgin Mary.
