Every year I attend Our Lady of Fatima Festival in Thornton, California to give thanks and grace for all the blessings in my life. This festival is celebrated annually during the 3rd weekend of October. So to give thanks I walk barefoot in the main procession on Saturday night after the mass. I also go out there to visit and spend time with my 2nd family The Machados & Mirandas (so, of course--I eat, drink & am merry!). I kill 2 birds with 1 stone so to speak. I come away from the festival feeling and knowing I am loved and blessed for another year to see our beloved lady and spend time with my loved ones.
Yesterday on my way to Thornton, the Rosary hanging from my rearview mirror, broke. The dangling cross fell right into my hand. I freaked out. My superstition got the best of me for about a minute. My head kept telling me to go back home, for this was a bad sign (accidents, death, etc.); but my heart and body did otherwise, so I kept driving. I prayed while I was driving for safety and peace of mind. After half an hour on the road, I calmed down and kept my eyes on the road. I got there safely.
When I arrived in Thornton, I noticed this year that the RV lot was not as full as the years before, no matter because it's the Saturday night mass that draws people from all over California (and perhaps all over the world). Around 8ish, my family and I walked in during the middle of mass and waited for the mass to end so we could proceed onto the procession--the highlight of the night. We walked and recited the Rosary as usual, then out of nowhere--a woman shouts "Oh my God, There's Mama Mary--over there," she was pointing to the west and everyone looked, including me. When I looked up I saw what appeared to be a Marian Apparition. My head didn't want to believe it but my heart told me otherwise and I knew my heart would never betray me. But that wasn't what settled me, I was humbled by what I witnessed. I saw everyone including myself being drawn and walking towards this apparition. I was holding Andrew's (my nephew) hand and we walked towards it. He kept asking "where are we going?!" "What are we looking at?" I told him to look up and he didn't understand, neither did I. I love a child's innocence because of its purity. At that moment, I awakened my inner child, then I heard a voice say to me "look with your heart, Maria, I'm here; everything will be alright." Then, people all around me were dropping to their knees, praying and crying tears of joy, of relief. My eyes were steady on the image before me. My head kept telling me it's just a tree with backlighting--what a let down. I finally stopped arguing with myself shut out my head and listened to my heart due to the overwhelming energy surrounding me, energy carrying love, faith, HOPE, devotion and grace.
Others will tell you it was a figment of your imagination, or that it truly was a Marian Apparition. I know what I saw, what I believe and I know that my prayers have been answered. My faith has been strengthened. Who am I say or tell people otherwise. I wouldn't want that taken away from me, so who am I to take hope away from anyone. Till next week, I bid you all love, light & blessings.
Yesterday on my way to Thornton, the Rosary hanging from my rearview mirror, broke. The dangling cross fell right into my hand. I freaked out. My superstition got the best of me for about a minute. My head kept telling me to go back home, for this was a bad sign (accidents, death, etc.); but my heart and body did otherwise, so I kept driving. I prayed while I was driving for safety and peace of mind. After half an hour on the road, I calmed down and kept my eyes on the road. I got there safely.
When I arrived in Thornton, I noticed this year that the RV lot was not as full as the years before, no matter because it's the Saturday night mass that draws people from all over California (and perhaps all over the world). Around 8ish, my family and I walked in during the middle of mass and waited for the mass to end so we could proceed onto the procession--the highlight of the night. We walked and recited the Rosary as usual, then out of nowhere--a woman shouts "Oh my God, There's Mama Mary--over there," she was pointing to the west and everyone looked, including me. When I looked up I saw what appeared to be a Marian Apparition. My head didn't want to believe it but my heart told me otherwise and I knew my heart would never betray me. But that wasn't what settled me, I was humbled by what I witnessed. I saw everyone including myself being drawn and walking towards this apparition. I was holding Andrew's (my nephew) hand and we walked towards it. He kept asking "where are we going?!" "What are we looking at?" I told him to look up and he didn't understand, neither did I. I love a child's innocence because of its purity. At that moment, I awakened my inner child, then I heard a voice say to me "look with your heart, Maria, I'm here; everything will be alright." Then, people all around me were dropping to their knees, praying and crying tears of joy, of relief. My eyes were steady on the image before me. My head kept telling me it's just a tree with backlighting--what a let down. I finally stopped arguing with myself shut out my head and listened to my heart due to the overwhelming energy surrounding me, energy carrying love, faith, HOPE, devotion and grace.
Others will tell you it was a figment of your imagination, or that it truly was a Marian Apparition. I know what I saw, what I believe and I know that my prayers have been answered. My faith has been strengthened. Who am I say or tell people otherwise. I wouldn't want that taken away from me, so who am I to take hope away from anyone. Till next week, I bid you all love, light & blessings.
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