These days I’m in the throes of teaching religion to high-energy middle schoolers, most of whom are not Catholic but are very inquisitive. This week I will be introducing them to Our Lady of Fatima (and answering many questions about the Blessed Mother). Beyond classroom instruction we will be watching parts of Ian and Dominic Higgins’ “The 13th Day” as well as a short film by Beth Dunn, who submitted her film to one of Goodness Reigns’ film contests. My curiosity was piqued the first time I read her film’s title: “The Bomb and the Blessed Mom.” I’m betting it will intrigue my middle-school students, too.
Forty years after leaving her Catholic faith, Beth returned to her spiritual roots and decided to explore Mary and the Rosary. During this time she came upon the story of Our Lady of Fatima, who appeared to three children. She was “brighter than the sun,” we are told, and wore a mantle of white while holding a Rosary.
The story of Fatima has a personal significance for Beth, who was exposed to radiation therapy as a child. Take a few minutes to watch her film and learn about Our Lady of Fatima and the journey of this amazing filmmaker. “The Bomb and the Blessed Mom.”
