At Fátima: A Bullet in Our Lady's Crown

My column at Patheos this week explores the link between Blessed John Paul II and the message of Fatima. Here's a sampling...

A curious and dramatic artifact from the pontificate of Blessed John Paul II is found in Fátima, Portugal… a would-be assassin’s bullet poignantly sits under the peak of Our Lady of Fátima’s bejeweled crown. The bullet was found in the Pope’s jeep after the 1981 attack on Pope John Paul II’s life. Sometime later, a grateful pope presented the bullet to the Bishop of Leira-Fátima. The Bishop promptly enshrined it in the crown, transforming a lethal image into a beautiful sign of faithful maternal protection and a son’s humble gratitude.

John Paul II attributed his survival of the shooting to the direct intervention of the Blessed Mother, to whom he had an ardent and lifelong devotion. 

The rest of the story, including quotes from Benedict XVI on the subject, is found here.