Our Lady of Fatima
Eighth window on the right side of the Church
This window memorializes Our Lady's famous apparition to three young children in a field near Fatima, Portugal, on May 13, 1917 - during World War I. In each apparition, Our Lady urged the recitation of the Rosary, works of mortification, and prayers for sinners. Seven hundred thousand people assembled in a downpour of rain at the last apparition in which was seen the well- known "Miracle of the Sun".
Mary appeared to the three cousins, ten year-old Lucy, nine year-old Francisco, and Jacinta, aged seven. She stood as a lady of incomparable beauty on a bright cloud over a small oak tree. This is the scene in the lower medallion of our window, with the words "Pray the Rosary". Mary's garment was pure white and her mantle was edged with gold, ending in a tassel around her neck. Her hands were joined in prayer, and from them hung a white rosary. In the main section, "Our Lady of Fatima", the background is composed of medium-shaded blue glass from light and gradual darkening of blue tones, heightening the illusion of the terrible specter of the falling sun.
The top medallion is of that bright sun which appeared on Oct. 13, 1917. The words to describe it are "The great miracle - then suddenly, the sun broke through the clouds, the orb began to shake and tremble and spin wildly, like a fierce wheel or a gigantic magic lantern, casting in every direction beams of light, green, red, blue, violet, and many colors, painting the clouds, the earth, and huge crowd in the most fantastic fashion. Then leaving its place, it came zigzagging to the earth. The terrified people thought it was the end of the world."
On Oct. 31, 1942, Pope Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which was Mary's request to the children. The bottom shield of the window carries an image of the Rosary which Mary suggested to be the key to peace.
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us |
