Light from the East - Miracles of Our Lady of Soufanieh
Publisher: Fatima Family Apostolate International
Published: 2002
Place of publication: Hanceville, AL
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 256
Subjects: Virgin Mary; Damascus
Genres: Catholic
Description: Light from the East - Miracles of Our Lady of Soufanieh by Fr. Robert J. Fox  Jan 2002 Our Lady Speaks from Muslim Land - Fr. Fox

I was traveling from Australia to Syria when the acts of terrorism broke out in the United States. I spent the next week in the home of Nicholas and Myrna Nazzour of Damascus. Sometimes their home is called the Virgin’s home of Soufanieh. I was going to an ideal community of Christian love formed by Our Lady of Soufanieh in the heart of a Muslim land. Arriving in Damascus I learned of the terrorists attacks in the USA.

The experience of Soufanieh, which is the call for UNITY in the family as a domestic church and UNITY in the universal Church, was indeed an experience never to be forgotten. I was to witness a miracle of Soufanieh my last evening there, just as I had completed the Sacrifice of the Mass at the very site where Our Lady appeared.

Time is needed for me to digest the great messages and heaven’s call coming out of Soufanieh in Damascus. It is happening in the very area where St. Paul was converted and Christianity began to take deep roots as it would spread to the nations. I went to Damascus to do research for a book on Soufanieh. The reception I received in my research from Patriarchs, both Catholic and Orthodox, the Papal Nuncio, the priests directly involved, an Orthodox Archbishop, as well as the Soufanieh Christian community, was beyond my expectations.

I want to present Soufanieh correctly. I ask your prayers in writing the book on Soufanieh. Such is my task during these winter months. I’ll keep you informed through the Immaculate Heart Messenger.

Learning more about Our Lady’s call at Soufanieh while I was in the heart of Muslim land, at the time of acts of terrorism by Islamic extremists, inspired me. I thought God is permitting this latest crisis in the world today to bring Muslims and Christians together. Pope John Paul II learning of the acts, after prayer, quickly wrote President Bush voicing his “unspeakable horror at this terrorist attack against innocent persons.”

I am convinced that Our Lady of Soufanieh, who is one with Our Lady of Fatima, will be introducing the Muslim people more and more to her incarnate Son and Savior, Jesus Christ. Hopefully, Soufanieh will bring Christians into Unity and to live authentic Christian lives in their homes as little churches and witness Jesus to the Muslims more fully. So see then why this book is important.

The answer to terrorism is not bombs but love, authentic Christian love. In the East they do not have the magnanimous image of the United States that we might like to have of ourselves. Here we are, a so called Christian Country, at least 90% claiming to be Christian. Yet, the United States exports violence and pornography, and artificial birth control throughout the world. Authentic Catholic Christians don’t do that but Muslim people hardly make those distinctions.

Muslims don’t believe in artificial birth control and they have large families. Thus, today, there are for the first time more Muslims than Catholics in the world. The future of civilization and Christianity depends upon the Catholic response. “Catholics” who believe in artificial birth control, among other unchristian practices and beliefs, are hardly authentic Catholic Christians. The lack of unity in the Church has contributed to the crisis of the modern world and the spread of the Islamic faith.

I discovered at Soufanieh that its basic message is the same call as that of Fatima. It is for the family. It is for love and unity of the total Church. Soufanieh has had high acceptance by both the Orthodox and Catholic Christians in Syria. I discussed with Myrna her meeting with the Carmelite Sisters of Coimbra, Portugal where Sister Lucia lives and her privilege of meeting Sister Lucia. Details will appear in the book when released sometime during the next year.

I am more convinced than ever from my flight around the world, time in Australia and Syria, that we must answer the Pope’s call for “families for families” associations. That is what the Fatima Family Apostolate (FFA) is about. Thus in this issue there is presented detailed articles on FFA. Many readers of this magazine may still not be aware of what this Apostolate is about. Therefore I beg you to read both “What do you want of me?” and “Meaning of Fatima in Light of the Third Secret & the Sanctification of family Life” and Mary’s White League.

I went to Australia again to give the Fatima Family Apostolate new and expanded impetus. Margaret Grace, who is the agent for FFA in Australia, tells me that interest in this Apostolate is growing. The acts of terrorism just after I departed served to bring home to people the urgency of the message for families which we delivered in Australia.

While you await the book which Father Robert J. Fox be be writing on: "OUR LADY OF SOUFANIEH" we suggest you order for your home the replica of the SOUFANIEH ICON. At least 200 replicas of Our Lady of Soufanieh Icon spread throughout the world have also shed oil like the Icon in the home of Myrna and Nicholas Nazzour in Damascus, Syria. Having this replica of the miraculous icon in your home - can remind you of the love and unity that should exist in your family which is to be like a little church, "domestic church" the Pope calls it, - and to pray for Christian Unity - "that all may be one" as called for by our Lord in the Bible and at Soufanieh in Damascus in our own day. This Icon honored in your home will bring Our Lady's intercession for love and unity in your family. It will remind you to pray for Church Unity.
Notes: Author Fr. Robert J. Fox's Website http://www.fatimafamily.org Fatima Family Apostolate International a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Today June 2009 - Fr. Fox is "retired" and offers daily Mass at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, which is part of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery Hanceville, Alabama. He continues to write books and is the editor of the Immaculate Heart Messenger Magazine and his programs can be seen on EWTN TV.