On October 19th, 1917, in Fátima, Portugal, a remarkable event known as the "Miracle of the Sun" occurred, witnessed by an estimated 70,000 people. This event was the culmination of a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary reported by three shepherd children - Lúcia Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto - over the preceding months.
According to the children, the Virgin Mary had promised a miracle on this date to prove the authenticity of their visions. As the anticipated time approached, a large crowd gathered near Fátima, despite the rainy weather. Suddenly, the clouds parted, and the sun appeared as an opaque, spinning disc in the sky. It was said to be significantly duller than normal, emitting multicolored lights across the landscape.
Witnesses reported that the sun began to "dance" or zig-zag in the sky, spin rapidly, and emit radiant colors. Some even claimed that the sun appeared to descend toward the earth, causing panic among those present who feared it might collide with them. Many reported that their previously wet clothes had dried rapidly during the event.
After approximately ten minutes, the sun returned to its normal position and appearance. The event was widely reported in the media, and while some skeptics attempted to explain it as a natural phenomenon, such as a sun dog or a mass hallucination, the "Miracle of the Sun" remains an unexplained and controversial event.
The Catholic Church later recognized the apparitions as "worthy of belief" and declared the three children as saints. The site of the apparitions, now known as the Sanctuary of Fátima, has become an important pilgrimage destination for Catholics worldwide, attracting millions of visitors each year.
Despite various theories and investigations, the "Miracle of the Sun" continues to be an enigmatic and fascinating event in the annals of unexplained phenomena.
2024-10-19T09:51:41.690Z