I posted this in another thread, but it is so astonishing that thought it deserves its own thread. Muslims will convert through Mary. Here is a novena prayer for their conversion: Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with a sincere love of this devotion, so that by meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in it, we may gather the fruits and obtain the conversion of Muslims to the Catholic Faith, which I ask of you in this novena, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor, and for the good of all people. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be three times each day.
Jarg, This will go down as one of my favorite conversion stories! Thank you so much! And I will pray this Novena! Often when I go the the Upstate Hospital's Interfaith chapel to place the Holy Eucharist in my pix, there will be a Muslim there praying. I will have to remember to stop and pray the above prayer. Who knows, maybe I will tell them of this Youtube clip! Safe Under Mary's Mantle!
This is a great encouragement and witness in these times. God always always open doors when others close. In a week when the institutional church makes you want to puke, I have also encountered (coincidentally ?) several stories of Muslims who have converted through direct revelation. A common factor seems to be the image of the Divine Mercy and images of Our Lady. Beautiful. Perhaps our church is going to be rebuilt in ways that we could not possibly have imagined.
Thank you, I had the same reaction, it is such an amazing story, so much beyond our imagination and our human capacity... clearly the Holy Spirit is at work ! I think conversions in muslim countries are on the rise, and the good thing is that the muslim converts have no tolerance for lukewarmness - I remember the open letter that a group of them wrote to Pope Francis earlier this year with very tough words. Somehow I find that Fatima connects to this in the most amazing way, and that maybe the Triumph of the Immaculate heart will bring forth a massive conversion of muslims through the Fatima advocacy, just like Guadalupe brought about a massive conversion of native americans. At the least, it is something worth praying for!
I believe many people know this already, but it is perhaps significant that Our Lady appeared at Fatima, and Fatima was the name of Mohamed's (the muslim prophet) daughter. According to wikipedia, on Fatima, Portugal - The name of the town and parish is a rendition of the Arabic given name Fátima (فاطمة Fāṭimah). (Fatimah is the namesake of Fatimah bint Muhammad, a daughter of the prophet of Islam Muhammad.) Fátima was said to be the name of a Moorish princess kidnapped by a knight, Gonçalo Hermigues, and his companions. Hermigues took her to a small village in the Serra de Aire hills, in the recently created Kingdom of Portugal. According to the Western Catholic narrative, Fatima fell in love with her kidnapper and decided to convert to Christianity in order to marry him. She was baptized and given a Christian name, Oureana. Arab sources, however, claim that Fátima was forced into Christianity,as were most Reconquista captives. There is no documentary evidence to support either scenario of such a conversion. Whatever version is true, the place name recalls the Princess' original Arab name rather than her Christian baptismal one.
