Matt C. Abbott
Sr. Lucia, Fatima, and Islam
By Matt C. Abbott
Hearing the sad news of the death of Sister Lucia of Fatima, I wonder: What was the significance of the Blessed Virgin Mary (who presented herself as the Lady of the Rosary) appearing near Fatima, Portugal? After all, nothing from Heaven happens by accident, right?
For decades, communism was the biggest threat in the world, followed closely by Nazism. Now, it is militant Islam that poses the threat (in addition, of course, to legalized abortion, euthanasia, pornography, and the other aspects of what Pope John Paul II has called the "culture of death").
Is there a connection between Our Lady of Fatima and Islam? In short, yes.
Francis Johnston, in his 1979 book Fatima: The Great Sign, explains the connection:
"The Moslems, who have a certain devotion to Our Lady and recognise her Virgin birth and Immaculate Conception, were intrigued by the fact that Mary had appeared at Fatima, which was the name of Mohammed's favourite daughter and regarded by the prophet as the highest woman in Heaven after Our Lady. In Zanzibar, the Moslem sultan placed a wreath of flowers at the [Fatima] statue's feet, while the Moslem chief of the Ismaeli tribe in Mozambique placed a golden necklace about the statue's neck saying: 'Thank you, Our Lady of Fatima for the work of love you are accomplishing in Africa' " (p. 126).
Could Our Lady of Fatima play a role in the eventual elimination of militant Islam? I wouldn't be surprised.
One thing is all but certain: Sister Lucia will get to Heaven a heck of a lot faster than most of us.
May she rest in the peace of Christ.
© Matt C. Abbott
Hearing the sad news of the death of Sister Lucia of Fatima, I wonder: What was the significance of the Blessed Virgin Mary (who presented herself as the Lady of the Rosary) appearing near Fatima, Portugal? After all, nothing from Heaven happens by accident, right?
For decades, communism was the biggest threat in the world, followed closely by Nazism. Now, it is militant Islam that poses the threat (in addition, of course, to legalized abortion, euthanasia, pornography, and the other aspects of what Pope John Paul II has called the "culture of death").
Is there a connection between Our Lady of Fatima and Islam? In short, yes.
Francis Johnston, in his 1979 book Fatima: The Great Sign, explains the connection:
"The Moslems, who have a certain devotion to Our Lady and recognise her Virgin birth and Immaculate Conception, were intrigued by the fact that Mary had appeared at Fatima, which was the name of Mohammed's favourite daughter and regarded by the prophet as the highest woman in Heaven after Our Lady. In Zanzibar, the Moslem sultan placed a wreath of flowers at the [Fatima] statue's feet, while the Moslem chief of the Ismaeli tribe in Mozambique placed a golden necklace about the statue's neck saying: 'Thank you, Our Lady of Fatima for the work of love you are accomplishing in Africa' " (p. 126).
Could Our Lady of Fatima play a role in the eventual elimination of militant Islam? I wouldn't be surprised.
One thing is all but certain: Sister Lucia will get to Heaven a heck of a lot faster than most of us.
May she rest in the peace of Christ.
© Matt C. Abbott
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