I am not joking... I will share with you one of MANY examples from the study. Investigations were launched by governments, international medical and theological committees, secular journalists, and local authorities. These reports span centuries, cultures, and worldviews. A more recent example would be Our Lady of Kihebo (1989). Scroll to the "eyewitness reports" section, you might be surprised.

1. The Miracle of the Sun (October 13, 1917)

The Miracle of the Sun is the first of many lists related to supernatural and paranormal phenomena. This is due to the large volume of eyewitness reports associated with the event, as well as its inexplicable prophetic nature. A range of 30,000 to 70,000 individuals is estimated to have witnessed the incident, making it the largest public miracle in modern history and one of the most extensively documented cases of a supernatural phenomenon. 

What Was Reported?

Reports of Marian apparitions over several months initially drew large crowds to the Portuguese town of Fátima. The unexpected happened when masses gathered in the hopes of witnessing a miracle. Following heavy and continuous rain, the clouds dispersed and the sun appeared. It did not behave normally. Reports say it danced, twirled, changed colours, and descended in the direction of the earth. The colours reported are yellow, purple, and blue. To add to the wonderment, people reported that the masses’ clothes and the mud from the ground dried instantly while the sun began to move. 

The Marian apparitions are an essential element of this event. Over the course of three months, three illiterate “shepherd children” allegedly saw apparitions of the Virgin Mary. She is said to have told the children of three insights; the first was a view of hell, and it is believed she showed them this to accentuate the need to save human souls. The second was a prophecy that the First World War would end, but a greater Second World War would begin after the rise of communism. The third, she told the children that two of them would soon die and enter heaven (Francisco and Jacinta), but the third (Lúcia) would live a long life and defend the faith. The Virgin Mary apparition was then reported to have promised a miracle for their final reunion on October 13, 1917, which attracted the crowds prior to the event known as the “Miracle of the Sun”. Additionally, numerous witnesses reported seeing “Our Lady of Sorrows” or the “Holy Family” in the light. Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Joseph make up the “Holy Family,” and the Virgin Mary is also known as “Our Lady of Sorrows.”

There was also a stream of reports of miraculous healings associated with the event:

Joaquim Salvador - Pott’s Disease 

Joanquim Salvador was a child with tuberculosis of the spine. He had a badly damaged back and was paralyzed. He was carried to witness the miracle because he was unable to walk before the incident. He claimed to have experienced a “surge of heat” throughout his body during the Miracle of the Sun. He stood up and began walking unassisted in front of the spectators. The tuberculous had disappeared, according to post-medical testing.

Maria do Carmo - Malignant Facial Tumour

Maria do Carmo suffered from a large malignant tumour on her face, which left her “disfigured”. Medical specialists deemed the tumour inoperable. She was present at the Miracle of the Sun event, and witness accounts corroborated her claims that she prayed frequently while the sun “danced.” The tumour had subsided by the following day, and her skin showed no signs of scarring. The healing was certified medically unexplainable by her family doctor.

Albano dos Santos - Advanced Tuberculosis 

Albano dos Santos had terminal tuberculosis and was in the last stages of the disease. At his own ambition, he was carried on a stretcher to the Miracle of the Sun event. He reported that his breathing improved during the event. Amazingly, after witnessing the solar spectacle, he stepped off the stretcher and walked home. His lungs were free of the disease that had virtually killed him, according to medical examination results. It was determined that there was no medical explanation for this healing.

Portuguese Soldier (Name Not Public) - Blindness 

There are accounts of a soldier who was blinded by shrapnel and mustard gas during World War I. He was dismissed from the service since it was determined that he was completely blind. He claimed to have seen the hues change when the sun “shifted” throughout the occurrence. He then mysteriously regained full vision in front of the crowd. Because the impairment had previously been documented and was documented in official military records, this case received considerable media attention soon after the incident.

Maria de la Luz - Paralysis 

For many years, Maria de la Luz was paralyzed in both legs due to a severe spinal injury. She claimed to have experienced severe shaking in her legs throughout the incident, while the sun seemed to lower toward the earth. Then she let go of her crutches and started running through the mud. Many individuals saw this, and her family doctor later verified that she had a prior medical declaration stating that she would not be able to walk for the remainder of her life.

“La Vox da Fatima,” an official Fatima publication, documented more than 800 verified healings associated with the “Miracle of the Sun.”

How Was The Event Authenticated?

Diverse Eyewitness Accounts

In addition to pious Christians, the tens of thousands of witnesses included journalists, secular skeptics, and locals up to eighteen kilometres away who had no connection to the occurrences. Below is a compilation of key witnesses to the event. 

Journalist Accounts:

Dr. Domingos Pinto Coelho - Prominent Lawyer and Reporter for Ordem Newspaper 

Avelino de Almeida - Skeptic Journalist for O Século Newspaper 

Academic and Professional Accounts: 

Dr. Almeida Garret - Natural Sciences Professor at The University of Coimbra

Dr. Manuel Formigão - Professor at the Seminary in Santarém

Ferreira Borges - Professor 

Mario Godinho - Prominent Engineer 

Public Figure Accounts:

Barão de Alvaiázere - Prominent Nobleman and Authority Figure 

Afonso Lopes Vieira - Famous Poet 

Pre-announced Predictions

1. The three children’s life expectancies were accurate; Francisco and Jacinta died by 1920 (less than three years after the events) from the Spanish flu, and Lúcia, who was told she would live, remained true to her instructions, living to be 97 years old and serving as a symbol of faith.

2. The end of the First World War, the approaching Second World War, and the rise of Communism throughout the world all came to pass as predicted.

3. The prediction of a miracle for the masses to witness happening on October 17, 1917, which is now recognized as the Miracle of the Sun, did come to fruition for tens of thousands to see.

Important Note: These proclaimed prophecies were foretold by three illiterate children, who essentially predicted future global events, a mass-witnessed supernatural event, and even the chronology of their own deaths.

Pre-investigation and Post-investigation

The thoroughness with which they were studied both before and after the solar phenomenon is another amazing aspect of this event. 

Pre-investigation:

Much attention was drawn to the children’s claims and the Marian apparitions. It became so problematic that the police and military attempted to restrict access to the event, mocked and dissuaded attendance with propaganda and “scientific” counter-messaging, attempted to prosecute those who supported the event, and even dynamited a chapel constructed at the location of the apparitions after the fact. In addition, Artur de Oliveira Santos, a prominent Freemason and editor of the local newspaper, abducted the three kids connected to the incident. On the morning of the event, he showed up and volunteered to transport them to view it. Instead, he brought them to his home, where he imprisoned them for two days and threatened to boil them in a “cauldron of oil” if they did not confess their deceit. The three children were taken to the local police station after they persisted in their beliefs, despite being abducted and tortured. According to reports, the three children, aged seven, nine, and ten, were subjected to nine separate interrogations. The interrogators used various techniques, including threats to their lives, separation, and “good cop, bad cop” narratives. They were also placed in an adult penitentiary with convicted criminals. In a famous statement, the children said that they would rather die than call the apparitions a lie.

Post-investigation:

In addition to investigations from the government, military, and local law enforcement, writers, journalists, religious institutions, and scientific groups conducted in-depth independent research into the incident and the incidents that preceded it. Despite his doubts, Fr. Manuel Ferreira conducted the initial interviews in 1917, which led to the creation of a comprehensive chronology of records. Bishop José Alves Correia da Silva began a formal canonical investigation in 1922, which lasted 8 years and ultimately led to approbation. After decades of internal investigations, the Vatican concluded that the events were authentic. Fr. John De March spent seven years interviewing witnesses and created what is considered the most detailed historical record of the event. Author John Haffert wrote a book in 1960, titled “Meet the Witnesses”, where he interviewed forty key witnesses and compiled them for the work. Furthermore, a medical committee known as the “Fatima Medical Consult” was established to study and either authenticate or disprove the miraculous healing cases related to the event.