Since the beginning of the apparitions in 1981, the time 6:40 pm has been called to our attention because it is repeatedly the designated time of the apparitions. The three visionaries who continue to see the Blessed Virgin Mary every day, see her at 6:40 (daylight savings time) each day. Does the time of 6:40 have any significance? We don’t really know, but we can certainly look at some interesting facts. Considering the duration of these apparitions, and the consistency in the time of the apparitions, one can only speculate that there must be a reason of importance that this particular time has been chosen. So what does the time 6:40pm represent to us biblically?

When we study the Jewish hours in the bible and the Jewish calendar at the time of Christ, we find that 6:40pm is the twelfth hour, or last hour,  of the day and is considered the time of transition from the end of the old day to the beginning of the new day.

The Jewish day

The Jewish day (yom) begins at sundown (based on Genesis “and the evening and the morning were the first day”). Traditionally a Jewish holiday begins on the night before the day. The twelfth hour, which occurs between 6 and 7, is considered the close of the day and the beginning of the new day; the time that goes into the night and precedes the next day. *

The hours of the Jewish day are as follows:

Day Hours

FIRST HOUR                         DAWN -8AM

SECOND HOUR                    8-9AM

THIRD HOUR                         9-10AM

FOURTH HOUR                     10-11AM

FIFTH HOUR              11-12PM

SIXTH HOUR                         NOON -1PM

SEVENTH HOUR                  1-2PM

EIGHTH HOUR                      2-3PM

NINTH HOUR                         3-4PM

TENTH HOUR                        4-5PM

ELEVENTH HOUR                5-6PM

**TWELVETH HOUR               6-7PM

Night Hours

FIRST HOUR                         7 -8 PM

SECOND HOUR                    8-9 PM

THIRD HOUR                         9-10 PM

FOURTH HOUR                     10-11 PM

FIFTH HOUR              11-12 PM

SIXTH HOUR                         Midnight -1 AM

SEVENTH HOUR                  1-2 AM

EIGHTH HOUR                      2-3 AM

NINTH HOUR                         3-4 AM

TENTH HOUR                        4-5 AM

ELEVENTH HOUR                5-6 AM

TWELVETH HOUR               6 AM- DayBreak

The number 40 is also known to have great significance throughout both Jewish and Christian teaching. The number 40 is mentioned throughout the Bible and often represents transition or change; the concept of renewal; a new beginning. The number 40 has the power to lift a spiritual state according to Jewish teaching. We know that in the days of Noah, the rain poured for 40 days and 40 nights cleansing the world– the world was purified from the corruption of the days of Noah. Moses was on Mt. Sinai for 40 days when he came down with the stone tablets. The Jews wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before reaching the promised land. Jesus fasted for 40 days before he began his redemptive work and He showed himself to His disciples for 40 days after the Resurrection.

While we have no direct information regarding the specific time of 6:40pm from the visionaries, we can only pray to understand the significance of this hour in our present generation.

** It has been noted that the Lourdes apparitions took place in the morning, the Fatima apparitions took place in the afternoon, and the Medjugorje apparitions in the evening.