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Is it true that over 1,000 people at the time witnessed what they thought was the Sun, moving in, above their heads, looking like a huge UFO? And that had a lot to do with the Church accepting the miracle?

Very much true. It was widely reported in newspapers of the time, and several eye-witnesses who were miles away from Fatima reported the same sighting, which puts a crimp in the "mass hysteria" theory. Also, though it had been raining heavily, the folks who dropped to their knees in the mud found their pants dry when they stood up again. A rather minor miracle compared to the sun hurtling toward the earth, but very impressive for the folks who were there.

Here a few pertinent facts about Sr. Lucia and Fatima: Between 40,000 to 70,000 people (accounts vary) traveled in the pouring rain over two days to Fatima to witness the ONLY major, visible miracle in ALL history as correctly predicted ahead of time -- by three children under twelve years old as they said at the request of the Virgin Mary. Remember, there were not portable johns back then. People really went through a lot to get there. The lowest estimate was 40,000 persons. The miracle occured precisely at the time predicted by the children: at 12 p.m on May 13th, 1917 at the site the Virgin said it would happen. No one knew what it would be. At noon the drenching downpour stopped. The two day rains even stopped the World War I fighting in Europe in the trenches - the rains were continuous and heavy. The people who came from all over expected something major and they got it besides being soaked to the skin. Sr. Lucia saw the vision of the Virgin Mary point to where the sun should be as the apparition began. The storm clouds then split wide open to reveal a spinning sun throwing off all colors of the rainbow. All Portugese newspaper accounts said the sun spun in the sky as people stared into it without damage to their eyes as there was a silver spinning disc on front of the sun, not a UFO or U-2 or Speilberg special effects etc. but a flat, protective spinning disc overlaying exactly over the sun. The sun then plunged toward earth as people screammed thinking it was now the end of the world for them. They fell to their knees crying out.The newspapers later published the crowds reactions in pictures to his huge miracle. The sun stopped and then retreated back to it's original place and shown brightly so as none could looked at it with out hurting their eyes. Then all the crowd - not some - saw the ground was dusty beneath their formerly soggy shoes, bone dry. Their cloths were no longer drenched with water. All the witnesses and grounds were perfectly dry in a matter of minutes. The effect on the crowd and the media was staggering and electric. The basillica built there is a testiment to their eye witness acccounts written and published which can be read today. The the message of Fatima as written by Sr. Lucia are simple. The Virgin Mary said WW I would soon end and Russia would spread errors throughout the world. She also warned that nations would be annialated unless people stopped committing terrible crimes and sins. With Sr. Lucia's death at 97, I believe the future will hold a major "correction" by God for humanity. We'll see soon. We haven't learned much since 1917 about the sacredness of human life or Christian dignity and conduct. Rest in peace Sr. Lucia. Your work is done.

(Is it true that over 1,000 people at the time witnessed what they thought was the Sun, moving in, above their heads, looking like a huge UFO? And that had a lot to do with the Church accepting the miracle?)

Let me add a little bit from memory. A miracle was prophesied at least a month in advance to the exact minute. As it turned out it was the miracle of the sun. 60,000 people showed up on a completely overcast horrible rainy day. They were all soaked. Some were atheist, there to debunk, to include a NY times reporter.

Breakes in the cloud cover occurred and then the sun display lasted for several minutes. It was described as it danced and cavorted across the skies to radiate showers of brightly colored offshoots much like a 4 July spin wheel. (some one help with the name.)The final scene was the sun plunging to earth. The crowd thought they were goners. When it was all over the skies cleared. All were dry.

The NY Time atheist reporter submitted a major story accurately. It was given front page coverage at the time. I am certain that there is a talented freeper that could find that report.

Godspeed, The Dilg