Dear St. Martin’s Parishioners,
The talk of the town this past week was the eclipse of 2024. If you missed it, the next one is coming to North America in about 20 years, and, better yet, our area will be in the line for a full eclipse in about 400 years. Sr. Maria Belen said it made her think of the miracle of the sun in Fatima, Portugal that occurred in 1917. In May of that year our Blessed Mother began to appear to three poor children, asking for the praying of the rosary for the conversion of sinners. In her final apparition on October 13, about 50,000 people gathered in the town of Cova de Iria as Mary promised to give a sign to attest to the validity of the apparitions. Although it had been a rainy day, the skies suddenly cleared and thousands of people claimed that the sun started to do some miraculous things. Many non-believers who had gathered to prove that the apparitions were a hoax also experienced this marvelous event. One scientist who was present describes the scene in this way:
The sun’s disc did not remain immobile. This was not the sparkling of a heavenly body, for it spun round on itself in a mad whirl, when suddenly a clamor was heard from all the people. The sun, whirling, seemed to loosen itself from the firmament and advance threateningly upon the earth as if to crush us with its huge fiery weight. The sensation during those moments was terrible.
Speaking of this place of miraculous signs, I will be leading a pilgrimage to Fatima and Spain this September. There is certainly much more to the revelations of our Lady at Fatima, and I encourage you to sign up for it to deepen your devotion to Mary and Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
Please continue to keep in mind the needs of our parish pantry. Reserves are at the lowest point now in its long history. To see the items we are most in need of, please see Chuck Smith’s detailed weekly bulletin blurb.
In Christ,
Fr. Dave
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