Our Lady of Šiluva: The First Marian Apparition to Protestants

About this sermon

Discover the remarkable story of Our Lady of Šiluva—one of the earliest recognized Marian apparitions in Europe and traditionally regarded as the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary witnessed by Protestants. After Calvinism took hold in Šiluva, Lithuania, its Catholic church was destroyed and its sacred treasures were buried in an iron chest. Approximately eighty years later, shepherd children saw a beautiful woman holding a child and weeping upon the rock where the church had once stood. When a Calvinist minister questioned her, she answered: “Formerly my dearly beloved Son was worshiped on this very spot. Now this soil is given over to the plowman and the sower.” The apparition awakened Catholic faith throughout the region. A blind man miraculously recovered his sight, the buried chest and church documents were discovered, the property was legally restored, and thousands returned to the sacraments. This sermon also explores Lithuania’s consecration to the Blessed Virgin, persecution under the Russian Empire and Soviet communism, the message of Fatima, Russia’s conversion and Our Lady of Šiluva as patroness of conversions. May we answer Our Lady’s call through prayer, penance, the Rosary, the Brown Scapular, the Five First Saturdays and fidelity to the sacraments. 0:00 Opening Prayer 0:23 Nativity of Mary and the Feast of Šiluva 0:32 Origins of Our Lady of the Pines 1:04 An Apparition Witnessed by Protestants 1:09 Calvinism Spreads throughout Lithuania 1:53 The Catholic Church and Its Treasures Are Hidden 2:27 Destruction of the Church at Šiluva 2:50 Shepherd Children Witness the Apparition 3:31 Our Lady Appears to the Calvinist Minister 3:44 The Tears of the Blessed Virgin 4:07 “Formerly My Beloved Son Was Worshiped Here” 4:19 Our Lady’s Sorrow over Closed Churches 4:41 The Movement to Reclaim Catholic Property 5:15 The Blind Man Remembers the Buried Chest 5:28 Miraculous Restoration of His Sight 5:47 The Hidden Treasures and Documents Are Found 6:14 Catholic Ownership Restored in 1622 6:24 11,000 Catholics Receive Holy Communion 6:46 Poland and Lithuania under Attack 7:04 King John II Casimir Consecrates His Realm to Mary 7:28 Pope Alexander VII Confirms the Consecration 7:38 Peace with Sweden and Russia 7:45 Why National Consecration Matters 8:43 Fatima and the Conversion of Russia 9:06 Lithuania Is Absorbed into the Russian Empire 9:35 Soviet Persecution and the Gulags 9:47 Communists Attempt to Suppress Šiluva Pilgrimages 10:03 Lithuania Regains Its Independence 10:29 The Errors of Russia and Communism 10:55 Rosary, Scapular and Five First Saturdays 11:17 The Promised Conversion of Russia 11:26 Šiluva as a Foreshadowing of the Triumph 12:04 Prophecies of Worldwide Catholic Conversion 12:36 Our Lady of Šiluva, Patroness of Conversions 13:00 Closing Prayer #OurLadyOfŠiluva #CatholicFaith #MarianApparition #OurLadyOfThePines #CatholicHistory #TriumphOfTheImmaculateHeart #FatimaProphecy #CatholicConversion #CatholicSermon #BlessedVirginMary 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴