Archbishop Fulton Sheen wrote that the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Fatima, will one day be instrumental in converting Muslims to Catholicism.
The 17th chapter of his book, The World's First Love, is titled "Mary and the Muslims." In this chapter, Abp. Sheen writes, "I believe that the Blessed Virgin chose to be known as Our Lady of Fatima as a pledge and a sign of hope to the Muslim people, and as an assurance that they, who show her so much respect, will one day accept her Divine Son, too."
The archbishop notes how devoted Muslims are "in Africa and India and elsewhere ... to the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima." He points out that this devotion is owing to the Marian passages in the Koran itself and Muslim devotion to the name of Fatima.
The Koran is seasoned with many references to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Included are passages related to Our Lady's Annunciation, Visitation and Nativity. These references uphold her perpetual virginity. One such verse, cited by Abp. Sheen, says, "Oh, Mary, God has chosen you and purified you and elected you above all the women of the earth."
The archbishop points out as well that the town in Portugal where the Blessed Mother appeared is named after a Muslim maiden who converted to Catholicism when she married a prince in the 13th century. What is more, the maiden was named after Mohammed's daughter.
Archbishop Sheen believed that Our Lady of Fatima is the most effective means of converting Muslims: "Missionaries in the future will, more and more, see that their apostolate among the Muslims will be successful in the measure that they preach Our Lady of Fatima."
Watch the panel discuss this crucial apparition in The Download—Our Lady of Fatima.
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