Eternal Father: "Many Rosaries must be said to lighten My heart."

[Our Blessed Mother had requested, by command of the Eternal Father, that a vigil be held on the sacred grounds of the Shrine from 4 p.m. to 12 midnight on April 7, 1971. Veronica had distributed special announcements inviting all to come, then later she urged those living more than three hours' drive away to remain at home and pray there. It seems that some catastrophic event had been planned by the Eternal Father for April 8, and prayers of atonement were urgently needed to hold it back. Veronica's copy of the vigil announcement showed a "W" near the bottom, with Veronica's note: "The Holy Spirit tried to warn me."]

MIRACLE OF THE SUN

[A tape recording was made that day, which begins with the excited exclamations of many people who were witnessing a spectacular display in the sky, interspersed with hymns and prayers of the Rosary, and ends with a brief message from Our Lady. Through all the exuberant voices, some words spoken by Veronica could be discerned now and then:]

Veronica: It doesn't even hurt your eyes to look at it! . . . Oh, did you see that? It's like watching a color spectacle. . . . Now it's bigger. . . . It's spinning, it's spinning, it's spinning again. There it goes; it's spinning. Oh, look at the colors! It's orange and. . . . Look at the colors! It's spinning again, the sun. Oh, look at that! Do you see what I see? I see yellow and red. . . . Does it do that normally?

Have you ever seen the sun spinning before? . . . Do you see the sun spinning? Look at it! Look at it! . . . Look at that! Look at that! . . . Red and orange and blue. . . . Oh, look at that!

Did you see all that? . . . I thought it was coming towards us. Did you see it coming out of the sky at us? [Joyful laughter.] Came out of the sky. . . . That's why She [Our Lady] said to look at the sunset. She said to watch the sun at sunset. . . . Did you see it? Did you see that? The sun came right out of the sky. . . . Fatima! . . .

[Pause]

Did you see that? Did you see the sun spinning? And it came out—did you see it, watch it coming out? Fatima! That was a special privilege for those who came from four o'clock on. It's easier to come late than to come early. That—I knew it was going to happen, because we were told to take pictures at sunrise [sunset]. Remember I kept saying Evelyn, take the sun, take the sun. . . . Sunset, I mean sunset.

What do you think of that? Did you see the sun spinning like that and come out of the sky? . . . Didn't even hurt your eyes. . . . Did you see it come right out like that? Didn't even hurt your eyes. . . . Did you see it come out of the sky? . . . It came right at us! It came right at us! . . . And all different colors, and it was jumping, you know, jumping up and down, up and down, and spinning around, and up and down.

[Pause]

[Our Lady appeared and spoke to Veronica:]

Our Lady: "My child, in My visit with you this afternoon I made you ready for the fact that there would be no message this evening, as My heart is heavy. Knowing of this moment that lies ahead, I chose to come to you with this short word of support for what lies ahead.

"Remember that We have not abandoned you at this moment, for all has been left to the will of the Father. Keep your Rosary with you and pray. There is nothing more I can say at this time.

"Please trust in Us. We will not abandon you. Gather your loved ones about you in prayer. I will not leave you. Please await My next word to you after the great pause."

Rose notes from Veronica:

Mail has been received testifying to the tremendous response of loving hearts who promoted all-night vigils in California, Florida, Canada, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, etc. The blue armies of Our Lady and the Padre Pio groups, I bless you all with my heart, and God will shower all graces upon you now and in the next world.