This Day in History: May 13
🕊️ 1917 – The Apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima Begin
On May 13, 1917, three shepherd children in Fátima, Portugal—Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto—reported seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary. According to their account, “Our Lady” appeared in a glowing light and urged them to pray for peace and the conversion of sinners, predicting events such as the end of World War I and a greater future conflict (World War II). This event sparked a religious phenomenon that attracted global attention and eventually led to Fátima becoming a major pilgrimage site.
Significance:
The visions helped shape modern Catholic devotion and were seen by believers as confirmation of divine intervention in turbulent times. The Church formally recognized the apparitions in 1930.
Interesting Fact:
Pope John Paul II credited Our Lady of Fátima with saving his life during an assassination attempt on May 13, 1981—the very anniversary of the first apparition.
🚀 1973 – Skylab, America’s First Space Station, Is Launched
NASA launched Skylab on May 13, 1973, from Kennedy Space Center aboard a Saturn V rocket. The goal was to study the effects of extended space living on the human body and conduct solar and Earth observations. Though the launch damaged the station’s sunshield and one solar panel, astronauts repaired it during their missions, proving humans could adapt and work in space for long periods.
Significance:
Skylab paved the way for future long-duration missions and the construction of the International Space Station (ISS). It also provided invaluable data on space medicine.
Interesting Fact:
After six years in orbit, Skylab’s descent was uncontrolled, and in 1979, debris scattered across Western Australia—prompting a fine issued to NASA for littering!
🎓 1950 – Diner’s Club Introduces the First Credit Card
On May 13, 1950, Frank McNamara and Ralph Schneider launched the first universal credit card through the Diner’s Club in New York. Initially accepted by 27 restaurants, the card allowed customers to pay a single monthly bill instead of carrying cash.
Significance:
This innovation marked the beginning of the modern credit economy, setting the foundation for how consumers would shop and manage finances in the decades to come.
Interesting Fact:
The original card was made of cardboard and only available to 200 people—but its popularity soared so fast that by the next year, 20,000 people were members.
✊🏿 1969 – Race Riot Erupts in Washington, D.C. Over Police Brutality
In response to the killing of a Black teenager by a white police officer, major unrest broke out in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C., on May 13, 1969. Riots lasted for several days as communities protested racial injustice and systemic police violence.
Significance:
This was one of many explosive incidents during the Civil Rights era that highlighted deep racial tensions in America. The unrest led to discussions on community-police relations that continue today.
Interesting Fact:
This event influenced policy discussions in D.C. and spurred the local government to create community control initiatives, which later inspired other cities.
1985 – Nelson Mandela’s Daughter Zindzi Reads His Refusal Letter
Though imprisoned, Nelson Mandela made a powerful public statement on May 13, 1985. Through his daughter Zindzi Mandela, he rejected the South African government’s offer to release him in exchange for renouncing armed struggle. At a Soweto rally, Zindzi read his words aloud, sparking a wave of support from the anti-apartheid movement.
Significance:
This defiant act cemented Mandela’s role as the moral leader of the resistance against apartheid. It also revealed the South African government’s desperation to break the movement’s unity.
Interesting Fact:
The speech was secretly coordinated with Mandela from his cell on Robben Island and read to a cheering crowd of thousands.
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