Catholic Saints Podcast (Augustine Institute)

Episode: Our Lady of Fatima

Date: October 13, 2025
Host: Dr. Tim Gray
Guest: Sister Marie Stella (Sisters of Life)

Episode Overview

On the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun (October 13th, 1917), Dr. Tim Gray and Sister Marie Stella dive into the story, meaning, and ongoing relevance of Our Lady of Fatima. Exploring the profound spiritual messages delivered by Mary to three peasant children amidst the turmoil of World War I, they discuss themes of conversion, prayer (especially the Rosary), sacrifice, and hope. The episode highlights the events, the response from religious and secular worlds, the impact on modern Catholic spirituality, and the prophetic significance of Fatima across decades.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historical and Spiritual Context of Fatima

• Setting: Fatima, a small Portuguese village, during the devastation of World War I.
• Initial Preparation: An angel (believed to be St. Michael, guardian of Portugal) appeared in 1916 to Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco, teaching them a prayer and instructing them in adoration and penance.
  • “The angel of Portugal teaches them really to, first of all, to worship God. And then the angel teaches them a prayer..." — Sister Marie Stella (02:58)
• Mary’s Apparitions: Began May 13, 1917, occurring monthly on the 13th for six months.

2. Major Themes of the Fatima Message

• Conversion: A universal invitation to turn hearts back to God.
  • “Conversion is going to be one of the main themes...an invitation for the world to conversion.” — Dr. Tim Gray (03:52)
• The Power of the Humble: God chose illiterate children, not religious or political leaders, as messengers.
  • “How is God going to reverse and solve this problem...he chooses three peasant children who aren’t literate.” — Dr. Tim Gray (05:11)
• Prayer and the Rosary as Spiritual Weapons:
  • “She asked them to pray the rosary and to pray for sinners...we can draw them into God by praying for them." — Sister Marie Stella (08:31)
  • Mary gives what the world “really needs: the rosary as a spiritual weapon, not the weapons of war.” — Dr. Tim Gray (08:56)
• Penance and Sacrifice: Small acts of sacrifice (mortification) have redemptive value for the world.
  • “They give their lunches away to other children.” — Sister Marie Stella (22:10)

3. Miracle of the Sun (October 13, 1917) [15:09–18:17]

• Up to 100,000 people, including skeptical journalists, witnessed the sun spinning, changing colors, and appearing to fall from the sky—the “Miracle of the Sun.”
• Eyewitness accounts (dramatic quotes):
  • “It looked like a plaque of dull silver...the sun started spinning and shooting streams of light...it started getting bigger and bigger...as though it were falling on the earth.” — Eyewitness (16:22–16:36)
  • “We all thought it was the end of the world.” — Eyewitness (16:52)
  • “I noticed that both the ground and my clothes were bone dry.” — Eyewitness (17:13)
• Even atheistic journalists were stunned and some converted.

4. The Immaculate Heart & Prophecies

• Mary’s Promises:
  • “Her immaculate heart would triumph in the end...pray for the conversion of Russia, Lest Russia spread her errors throughout the world.” — Dr. Tim Gray (18:17)
• The children’s innocent misunderstanding (“they thought Russia was a woman”) highlights both their simplicity and God’s use of the humble to shape history (19:09).
• Power of Prayer: Even children’s prayers can “bend history.” — Sister Marie Stella (19:34)

5. Sacrifice, Suffering, and Prophetic Fulfillment

• Vision of Hell: Mary showed the children a vision of hell, compelling them to deeper prayer, penance, and sacrifices for souls (22:10–22:32).
• Pandemics and Prophecy:
  • The Spanish flu, predicted by Our Lady, took Jacinta and Francisco’s lives soon after the apparitions—fulfilling her words and underscoring the message of heaven and conversion (24:36).
• Spiritual Weaponry for Today: The message remains urgent in light of modern crises (COVID-19). Prayer and sacrifice are still vital.

6. Canonization & Modern Impact [27:39–28:48]

• St. John Paul II canonized Jacinta and Francisco, deeply moved by Fatima due to his survival of an assassination attempt on May 13 (Fatima’s feast).
  • “John Paul said that one hand shot the bullet while the other hand guided it. He knew he had been saved by Our Lady.” — Sister Marie Stella (28:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s Choice:
  “God chooses the weak things of the world and his love for the weak and the little ones...that’s a sign of hope for all of us.” — Sister Marie Stella (04:47)

• On Spiritual Warfare:
  “If we have spiritual eyes to see, this is the devil and the demons who are bringing about this conflict with humanity, turning humanity in on itself.” — Dr. Tim Gray (09:45)

• On the Children’s Sacrifice:
  “Francisco used to sit in front of the tabernacle for hours just to console Jesus. Jacinta would make many, many sacrifices. They give their lunches away to other children.” — Sister Marie Stella (22:10)

• On the Efficacy of Little Prayers:
  “The little offerings we make to God, he can use them to bend history. It’s actually stunning when you consider it.” — Sister Marie Stella (19:34)

• On Enduring Witness:
  “Lucia...lives till 2005. She becomes a religious sister, a witness [for] her whole life, dedicated to fasting and prayer.” — Dr. Tim Gray (26:42)

• On Modern Application:
  “We feel so powerless...but the lesson of Fatima is this is a spiritual warfare going on. If we can pray and fast and make sacrifices, God will bring a solution.” — Dr. Tim Gray (24:36)

• On Hope:
  “The message of Fatima is important because it shows through the prophecies being fulfilled, the signs being fulfilled, that God is real. And...the way we are to fight this right now, my friends, is through prayer.” — Dr. Tim Gray (29:17)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment Description | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–02:58| Introduction to the Fatima events and World War I context | | 02:58–05:11| The angel’s catechesis and preparation of the children | | 05:11–06:47| The selection of the children and Pope Benedict XV’s role | | 06:47–08:31| The message of conversion and daily Rosary | | 08:56–11:19| The “spiritual weapons” vs. the weapons of war; roots of conflict | | 11:56–12:10| The children’s trials and steadfast testimony | | 15:09–18:17| Eyewitness accounts of the Miracle of the Sun | | 18:17–19:34| Prophecy of Russia and the children’s misunderstanding | | 22:10–22:32| Children’s sacrifices and vision of hell | | 24:08–26:42| Pandemics, prophecy fulfillment, martyrdom of Jacinta and Francisco | | 27:39–28:48| Canonization and St. John Paul II’s connection to Fatima | | 29:17 | Call to respond with prayer, penance, and hope today |

Key Takeaways for Listeners

• God works through the humble and powerless; the innocent play a vital role in salvation history.
• Messages of Fatima—conversion, prayer (especially the rosary), penance—are powerfully relevant in times of crisis, including pandemics and wars.
• Miracles witnessed at Fatima (especially the sun) were attested by believers and skeptics alike, challenging every generation to honestly consider God’s intervention in history.
• Prophetic elements (Russia, suffering of the Pope, martyrdom of the innocent) demonstrate the enduring relevance and urgent call to spiritual arms.
• Saints Jacinta and Francisco, together with Lucia, remain models of faith, sacrifice, and hope, especially for children and laity today.
• The episode ends with a call to pick up the spiritual weapons of Our Lady: pray the rosary, embrace penance, and work for personal and global conversion.

Recommended Resource:
Divine Mercy: The Second Greatest Story Ever Told (Episode 8, available on Formed) for a dramatic retelling of the Fatima miracle with original eyewitness testimonies.

Closing Blessing:
Seek Our Lady of Fatima’s intercession and trust in God’s providence, especially in turbulent times.