San Francisco, Calif., Dec 1, 2009 / 08:15 am
“The 13th Day,” a movie based on the memoirs of Sister Maria Lucia de Jesus, is being released today on DVD by Ignatius Press. The movie is a “dramatic and artistic presentation with a powerful message about what Our Lady requested at Fatima," said Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR, a Fatima expert.
The film, which is the first major motion picture from directors Ian and Dominic Higgins, recounts the appearances of the Blessed Mother to three shepherd children at Fatima, Portugal during the year 1917.
The Blessed Mother first appeared to Lucia dos Santos and her two cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto on May 13, 1917. She asked the children to pray the Rosary every day and to return on the 13th of the month for the next five months. In her revelations to the children, Mary showed them a vision of Hell, foretold the role Russia would soon play in the world arena, and gave them a vision of the assassination of a Pope.
Though the government kidnapped the children, prevented them from going to meet the Blessed Mother on Aug 13, 1917, and threatened them with torture, they made up their minds to face death instead of betraying “the Beautiful Lady,” as they called Mary. On October 13, 1917, her last apparition, 60,000-70,000 people gathered and watched as the sun spun and danced in the sky, then dried the rain-soaked earth.