Gerard Condhesc's Blog - Posts Tagged "ufo-encounters-1900"
On April 8, 1665, the skies over Stralsund, a coastal town in Swedish Pomerania (now Germany), became the stage for one of the most extraordinary aerial phenomena of the 17th century. Fishermen working near the Baltic Sea reported seeing mysterious flying
The 1917 apparitions of Fátima remain one of the most significant religious events of the 20th century, drawing millions of believers who regard it as a divine encounter with the Virgin Mary. However, Portuguese researcher and historian Fina d’Armada offered a radically different interpretation, one that challenges the traditional Catholic narrative. In her work, she explored the possibility that the so-called Marian visions could be better understood as paranormal or even extraterrestrial phenomena.
D’Armada’s analysis, particularly in her book Heavenly Lights (co-written with Joaquim Fernandes), delves into eyewitness testimonies and historical records, revealing intriguing discrepancies. She highlighted that the descriptions given by the three shepherd children— Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta—differed significantly from the later accounts propagated by the Church. Initially, the “lady” they saw was described as a luminous being, lacking distinct Marian characteristics. The figure appeared to be short, with an unusual shape and wearing a tight- fitting outfit rather than flowing robes. Over time, religious authorities refined the narrative to align with Catholic doctrine.
One of the most compelling aspects of d’Armada’s research is her examination of the October 13, 1917, event, where thousands of people reported seeing the so-called “Miracle of the Sun.” She suggested that this phenomenon closely resembled modern UFO sightings—witnesses described a spinning, radiant object in the sky, emitting multi-colored lights and seemingly defying natural laws. Some testimonies even spoke of an opaque disk-like object hovering in the sky, resembling descriptions of spacecraft seen in contemporary UFO encounters. The sudden drying of rain-soaked ground and inexplicable temperature shifts also point to an anomalous event beyond mere atmospheric illusion.
D’Armada also questioned the psychological and cultural influences on the children’s visions. She argued that their religious upbringing and Portugal’s political climate at the time may have shaped their perceptions, leading them to interpret an unknown entity through the lens of Catholic symbolism. Furthermore, she suggested that the Church may have manipulated the accounts, suppressing elements that did not conform to the established Marian tradition.
Her work remains controversial but has gained traction in alternative research circles. By re- examining the Fátima event through a broader lens—one that includes paranormal studies, historical revisionism, and even ufology—Fina d’Armada invites us to reconsider whether the “heavenly lights” seen in 1917 were of divine origin or something far more mysterious and unexplained.
D’Armada’s analysis, particularly in her book Heavenly Lights (co-written with Joaquim Fernandes), delves into eyewitness testimonies and historical records, revealing intriguing discrepancies. She highlighted that the descriptions given by the three shepherd children— Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta—differed significantly from the later accounts propagated by the Church. Initially, the “lady” they saw was described as a luminous being, lacking distinct Marian characteristics. The figure appeared to be short, with an unusual shape and wearing a tight- fitting outfit rather than flowing robes. Over time, religious authorities refined the narrative to align with Catholic doctrine.
One of the most compelling aspects of d’Armada’s research is her examination of the October 13, 1917, event, where thousands of people reported seeing the so-called “Miracle of the Sun.” She suggested that this phenomenon closely resembled modern UFO sightings—witnesses described a spinning, radiant object in the sky, emitting multi-colored lights and seemingly defying natural laws. Some testimonies even spoke of an opaque disk-like object hovering in the sky, resembling descriptions of spacecraft seen in contemporary UFO encounters. The sudden drying of rain-soaked ground and inexplicable temperature shifts also point to an anomalous event beyond mere atmospheric illusion.
D’Armada also questioned the psychological and cultural influences on the children’s visions. She argued that their religious upbringing and Portugal’s political climate at the time may have shaped their perceptions, leading them to interpret an unknown entity through the lens of Catholic symbolism. Furthermore, she suggested that the Church may have manipulated the accounts, suppressing elements that did not conform to the established Marian tradition.
Her work remains controversial but has gained traction in alternative research circles. By re- examining the Fátima event through a broader lens—one that includes paranormal studies, historical revisionism, and even ufology—Fina d’Armada invites us to reconsider whether the “heavenly lights” seen in 1917 were of divine origin or something far more mysterious and unexplained.
