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DCF III-1, Doc. 261
Publ.: “Boletim Parochial”, Lisbon, 4 (191), 4 Nov. 1917, p. 2, cols. 1-2.
Publ.: “Boletim Parochial”, Lisboa, 4 (191), 4 Nov. 1917, p. 2, cols. 1-2.
THE FATIMA CASE
O CASO DE FATIMA
Public opinion has been keenly impressed by the account and interpretation of the Fatima case. Three little shepherds, a boy and two girls, say that a Lady of incomparable beauty appears to them. Since May the visions have occurred on the 13th of each month. Let us follow the account of these moving facts given by “A Ordem” through the authoritative pen of Dr. Domingos Pinto Coelho, who was an eyewitness on the 13th of last month.
A opinião publica tem sido vivamente impressionada com a narração e a interpretação do caso de Fatima. Tres pequenos pastores, um rapaz e duas raparigas, dizem que uma Senhora lhes apparece, de incomparavel belleza. A partir de maio, as visões teem occorrido nos dias 13 de cada mez. Acompanhemos a narração que a “Ordem” pela penna auctorisada do sr. dr. Domingos Pinto Coelho, testemunha ocular, no ultimo dia 13, faz dos factos emocionantes.
“The children are unschooled [...] radiate a strong heat”...
“São rudes as crianças [...] irradiar um forte calor”...
Dr. Domingos Pinto Coelho declares that he was strongly impressed by those phenomena, which he had never seen before; he mentions faith and the collective psychology that took hold at the time; but he affirms — and we cannot doubt his authoritative testimony — that on the following day he saw in the sun, half veiled by clouds, the same succession of colours and the same rotating movement. Since the fact concerning the sun is thus not extraordinary, we are left with the testimony of three children. It seems that detailed inquiries have revealed in it such restraint and truthfulness that it has impressed eminent minds. Nevertheless, despite all that has been said and written on this interesting subject we must remain in benevolent expectation, awaiting events and the study of the facts, with prudent reserve. We must neither deny the possibility of miracles, nor believe, without important proofs and without the judgement of the Church, everything that is said.
O sr. dr. Domingos Pinto Coelho declara que ficou fortemente impressionado com esses phenomenos que jámais havia visto; refere-se á fé, á psychologia colletiva que então se estabeleceu; mas affirma, e não podemos duvidar do seu auctorisado testemunho que no dia seguinte viu no sol, meio toldado de nuvens, as mesmas sucessões de côres e movimento rotativo. Não sendo extraordinario o facto relativo ao sol, fica-nos o testemunhos de tres creanças. Parece que de minuciosos inqueritos feitos resalta uma tal parcimonia e verdade que tem impressionado altos espiritos. Todavia, apesar de tudo o que se tem dito e escripto sobre o interessante assumpto devemos ficar n'uma expectativa benevola, esperando os acontecimentos e o estudo dos factos, com prudente reserva. Nem devemos negar a possibilidade de milagres, nem crer, sem provas importantes e sem o juizo da Egreja em tudo o que se diz.
It is the Church herself that in these cases commands us to be most cautious. Let us wait, then, and trust that if there is a divine work at Fátima, the Lord will confirm it in some way.
É a própria Egreja que nestes casos nos manda ser cautelosissimos. Esperemos, pois, e confiemos que se em Fátima ha obra divina, o Senhor a confirmará de qualquer forma.
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