During President Donald Trump’s tenure, a statue of Our Lady of Fatima was placed in the White House. The statue was a gift from Fr. Andrew Mahana, a Maronite priest, who also exorcised the White House on January 20, 2017 (inauguration night), according to an article by uCatholic.1 A friend of mine who worked for President Trump said that they referred to the west wing of the White House as the “West Wing Chapel” due to the Marian statue and other religious items.
On May 13, 1981, Pope St. John Paul II survived an assassination attempt. That day was the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, and Pope St. John Paul II himself credited his survival to Our Lady of Fatima. The pope said, “The gunman fired the gun, but Mary guided the bullet;”2 another source stated the pope’s words as, “One hand shot, and other guided the bullet.”3 Exactly one year after being shot, the pope visited the apparition site of Fatima. He placed the bullet in Mary’s crown, saying, “You saved me, you saved me.”
Our Lady of Fatima appeared to three children, St. Jacinta, St. Francisco, and Ven. Sister Lucia, on the 13th of every month from May to October of 1917 in Fatima, Portugal—each time asking for prayer and penance.
Most significantly, however, on July 13, 1917, Our Lady of Fatima revealed the three secrets, including the vision of hell to the children—a most important apparition.
On Saturday, July 13, 2024, President Trump survived an assassination attempt in Butler, PA. This was the 107th anniversary of Our Lady’s appearance at Fatima.
This last July 13th fell on a Saturday—a day which Catholics honor Mary especially.
July 13th is also the feast day of Rosa Mystica, one of Mary’s titles and a recently approved Marian apparition.
Furthermore, one mile away from the grounds on which Trump’s rally was held sits a Catholic Church with a grotto to Our Lady of Fatima—a grotto that we think was facing President Trump at the time.
I believe Our Lady of Fatima saved President Donald Trump’s life. She guided the bullets away from him just as she did for Pope St. John Paul II.
Our Lady is God’s instrument. She plays a special intercessory role to Our Lord, and it was her intercession that helped spare President Trump’s life. Certainly, the prayers of Fr. Jason Charron, a Ukrainian Catholic pastor who gave the benediction before the rally, called down heavenly protection.
Interestingly, President Trump was shot at 6:11 pm EST, which, as someone pointed out to me, could refer to Ephesians 6:11: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
President Trump later credited God for saving his life after the attack: “It was God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.” Indeed, God’s armor was surrounding President Trump, especially that of His Mother.
Throughout Salvation History, we have heard stories of the Blessed Mother protecting souls. Souls have survived shipwrecks, fires, wars, and more because of their devotion to Mary. For instance, at the only approved Marian apparition site in the United States, at Our Lady of Champion in Wisconsin, there was one of the deadliest fires in U.S. history. Despite the damage of the fire, it never touched the six acres of land where Mary had appeared twelve years earlier. The visionary, Sr. Adele, and many families prayed the Rosary the entire night of the fire and carried a statue of Mary in procession during their prayer.4
My own grandfather, Albert Vidmar, a member of the 100th infantry, prayed to Our Lady that he would return safely from World War II. Shortly after his prayer, he was hit in his back with shrapnel but survived. He credits Our Lady for getting him home safely. He prayed his Rosary faithfully for the rest of his life.
Even one “Hail Mary” and one look of love at a statue of Our Lady has saved many in the past and can save many today. Our Lady, by virtue of Her Son, promises to shield souls from the greatest of attacks, especially spiritual ones.
On that sunny Saturday evening in Pennsylvania, Our Lady was protecting President Trump and many other souls who could have been killed.
Mary is the Mother of all people, Catholics and non-Catholics. Perhaps someday President Trump will visit the Shrine Our Lady of Fatima with bullets in hand. Perhaps his brush with death will guide him to an even greater conversion and, God willing, someday lead him to the Catholic Church.
For those who hate President Trump, may their hearts be softened by realizing that human life transcends political parties. Every life matters, especially the most vulnerable in the womb. We are all made in the image and likeness of God. This life is passing, and one day there will be no more wars, violence, or political parties. God will be all in all; Jesus Christ will be our King forever should we seek Him now, or Satan will be our slave master forever should we reject the King of Kings.
Let us pray for President Trump’s full recovery and for the bystander who was killed in this senseless tragedy. Let us also pray for God’s mercy to be upon the soul of the perpetrator.
Our Lady of Fatima, intercede for our nation, which is becoming more and more divided. May you help bring an end to abortion and convert the hearts of all sinners. Heal President Trump. Bring all people back to your Son. Restore our great nation so that “In God We Trust.” We ask this through the precious blood of your Son, Jesus, whom this month of July is dedicated to. Amen.
Author’s Note: Mary’s powerful intercession is one of the reasons I wrote a children’s book called, Our Lady of Sorrows: Devotion to Mary’s Seven Sorrows, published by Sophia Institute Press with a foreword and four original prayers for children by exorcist Fr. Chad Ripperger. One of the promises of Our Lady to St. Bridget of Sweden for those who pray seven Hail Mary’s in honor of her Sorrows is as follows: “I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy, and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.”
Photo by Robert McGowan on Unsplash
1George Ryan, Did You Know? Our Lady of Fatima is Represented at the White House? uCatholic, June 7, 2019, https://ucatholic.com/blog/did-you-know-our-lady-of-fatima-is-represented-at-the-white-house/
2“Eyewitness to May 13, 1981: John Paul II said” “Mary Guided the Bullet” and Then Forgave,” CNA/Ewtn News, https://www.ncregister.com/news/eyewitness-to-may-13-1981-john-paul-ii-said-mary-guided-the-bullet-and-then-forgave.
3Paul Kengor, May 13 Connects Fatima Apparitions, John Paul II Shooting, National Catholic Register, https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/may-13-connects-fatima-apparitions-john-paul-ii-shooting.
4More can be found about this apparition in my children’s book: Go and Fear Nothing: The story of Our Lady of Champion by OSV Kids.
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