Thirteen

Most buildings don't have a 13th floor.
"$700-$800 million dollars are lost every Friday the 13th because of people's refusal to travel, purchase major items or conduct business."
Although the Thirteenth Club was established to dispel number 13's superstition and includes five U.S. presidents, triskaidekaphobia still abounds.

Triskaidekaphobia.
Fear of the number 13.
In 1700 BC, Hammurabi had it because his code omits number 13.

On the 13th in the month of Adar, approximately 480 BC, the Jews were scheduled for execution by the scheming Haman. Esther, the beautiful (and unknown Jewess) queen, urged her people to pray and fast. She herself put away her royal garments and perfume, prayed, and fasted.

After three days, Esther put on her finest attire and approached the royal throne. No one was allowed to see King Xerxes without being invited. He was indignant but miraculously spared her life. She invited him and Haman to dinner that night.

"Now what is my queen's request?" King Xerxes asked.
"If it pleases you, let you and Haman come again to another banquet I will prepare tomorrow," Esther replied.

That night, the king could not sleep and ordered a history of his reign to be read to him. He discovered that Mordecai, Esther's uncle, had once saved his life and had not been rewarded. The next morning, King Xerxes commanded Haman to bestow orders on Mordecai.

"Again, what is your request? If you wish for half the kingdom, it is yours," King Xerxes asked again at the second banquet. At this point, Esther revealed Haman's hypocrisy and her nationality. In a rage, King Xerxes executed Haman on the gibbet that Haman wanted to kill Mordecai and revoked the decree of extermination against the Jewish nation. (Book of Esther)

In our own times, beginning on May 13, 1917, there was the beginning of six apparitions of Mary in Fatima, Portugal. Some say these are deceptions or hoaxes.
In the last apparition, October 13, 1917, more than 70,000 people including communists and atheists, saw the sun twirl in the sky, radiate colors, and descend to the earth. This event was reported in the New York Times and newspapers around the world.

Mary came with the message, "Repent, pray, and do penance so that there may be peace."
Many will view this message with the same joking condescension as triskaidekaphobia.
For how many of us have seen more world peace?

And how many of us have started to live Mary's message?

Photo credit: http://photos.igougo.com/pictures-photos-p291802-Our_Lady_of_Fatima.html
More on Our Lady of Fatima: http://www.fatima.org/
More on the history of the 13th:

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