Miracles in May

Yesterday was a very hard day. Not just for me, for a friend also. She even told that she needed a miracle. It was funny, i do feel the same. I also am in need of a miracle, or better, several ones. But this month is the best to be awarded one of those special moments where wish and faith meet. May is the month of miracles in Portugal. You just come here, to any town or village, and you will know that. May is the month of Mary.

91 years ago, in the 13 of May 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared for the first time to three small children. During that year she would appear several more times, the last one in October. Portugal was a very close country at the time, and Cova da Iria was just a place far away as you could imagine from the world. The three children where charged with a mission. They had to tell the world to pray for the conversion of Russia and one other message, that was kept secret until a couple of years ago.

People here are devoted to this. The pilgrimage to Fatima is now, arguably, the biggest catholic pilgrimage. Millions go there every year, on foot or by car. I went there several times. I can't cross Portugal, pass there, and not stop. People go there to ask for miracles or to thank for one. Those who can't go, attend special events in church all over Portugal, usually at night, after dinner or just before. Every day, all month.

The 12 is my favorite day. After dinner, when it gets dark, the are processions in all villages and cities. Those who can walk grab a candle, those who can't just place candles in the windows and balconies and watch from there. There is silence, no one speaks. The only sounds are the steps over the beds of flowers in the streets and the sounds of praying.



In 1931, to fulfill the message of Fatima, Portugal was consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in 1942 Pius XII consecrated the world, with a special mention to Russia. In 13 of May 1981, Pope John Paul II survived an assassination attempt in the Vatican. One year later he came to Fatima on pilgrimage in thanksgiving for having escaped with his life and, on his knees, consecrated the Church, all peoples and nations, with a veiled mention of Russia, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In St. Peter´s Square in Rome, before the Statue from the Chapel of Apparitions, John Paul II made once more the consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Now the bullet that was taken from his body is placed in the crown of the statue of the Virgin Mary.

Today i have a nephew that will be one year old. His name is Diogo C. His story is a miracle, at least i think of it like that. You can check the details at these links Blog Criança e Rim and Forum Criança e Rim, they are in Portuguese. Diogo was born with a kidney obstruction, in both kidneys. Doctors gave up on him. They had to be forced, really forced, to make an operation on him. They said it was no good. Then they sent him to another hospital to die.

Today he has only one kidney, but hes has one year old also. After several operations he came home the day my daughter made 5 years. I have a friend that still keeps in his phone the messages we exchanged during those days. Now i don't question miracles anymore and, as a lot of Portuguese, i consider May the month of miracles.

Note: Images where downloaded from the Fatima Sanctuary web site