The three doves of the Madonna

In 1946, the statue of Our Lady of Fatima was carried in procession from Bombarral to Lisbon, Portugal. Two friends who were among the crowd cheerfully greeting the passage of the Madonna remember seeing something unusual that day.

As they looked in the sky, they noticed three doves circling in the air, then diving to the foot of the statue, where they stayed, perching close to each other. Shouts of joy, celebratory gunfire and throws of flower petals, none of these perturbed the birds that cooed and snuggled closer to the statue, staying there for hours and days, settled, motionless, allowing themselves to be fed by the crowd, without leaving their places.

On December 6, 1946, during the solemn Mass, a dove went to perch on the crown of the Madonna, like a symbol of the Holy Spirit. During the distribution of Holy Communion to 4,000 faithful, it faced the altar with outspread wings, remaining in this attitude of worship until the end of the distribution.

The crowd watched, astonished and amazed.

Maria Siegt, issue #5 - 1976

1978 Collection of Marian Stories, Brother Albert Pfleger, Marist