fatima 6th apparition

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SIXTH APPARITION of OUR LADY

During the night of 12-13 october it had rained throughout, soaking the ground and the pilgrims who make their way to fátima from all directions by the thousands..

During the night of 12-13 October it had rained throughout, soaking the ground and the pilgrims who make their way to Fátima from all directions by the thousands. By foot, by cart and even by car they came, entering the bowl of the Cova from the Fátima-Leiria road, which today still passes in front of the large square of the Basilica. From there they made their way down the gently slope to the place where a trestle had been erected over the little holm oak of the apparitions. Today on the site is the modern glass and steel Capelhina (little chapel), enclosing the first chapel built there and the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima where the holm oak had stood.

As for the children, they made their way to the Cova amid the adulation and skepticism which had followed them since May. When they arrived they found critics who questioned their veracity and the punctuality of the Lady, who had promised to arrive at noon. It was well passed noon by the official time of the country. However, when the sun arrived at its zenith the Lady appeared as she had said she would.

"What do you want of me?"

I want a chapel built here in my honor. I want you to continue saying the Rosary every day. The war will end soon, and the soldiers will return to their homes.

"Yes. Yes." "Will you tell me your name?"

I am the Lady of the Rosary.

"I have many petitions from many people. Will you grant them?"

Some I shall grant, and others I must deny. People must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. They must not offend our Lord any more, for He is already too much offended!

"And is that all you have to ask?"

There is nothing more.

As the Lady of the Rosary rises toward the east she turns the palms of her hands toward the dark sky. While the rain had stopped, dark clouds continued to obscure the sun, which suddenly bursts through them and is seen to be a soft spinning disk of silver.

"Look at the sun!"

From this point two distinct apparitions were seen, that of the phenomenon of the sun seen by the 70,000 or so spectators and that beheld by the children alone. Lucia describes the latter in her memoirs.

After our Lady had disappeared into the immense distance of the firmament, we beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus seemed to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands. When, a little later, this apparition disappeared, I saw Our Lord and Our lady; it seemed to me to that it was Our Lady of Sorrows (Dolors). Our Lord appeared to bless the world in the same manner as St. Joseph had done. This apparition also vanished, and I saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Carmel. [Only Lucia would see the later, presaging her entrance into Carmel some years later.]

This would be the last of the apparitions of Fátima for Jacinta and Francisco. However, for Lucia Our Lady would return a seventh time, in 1920, as she had promised the previous May. At that time Lucia would be praying in the Cova before leaving Fátima for a girls boarding school. The Lady would come to urge her to dedicate herself wholly to God.

As the children viewed the various apparitions of Jesus, Mary and Joseph the crowd witnessed a different prodigy, the now famous miracle of the sun. Among the witnesses there were the following:

Eye Witness Accounts

From the road, where the vehicles were parked and where hundreds of people who had not dared to brave the mud were congregated, one could see the immense multitude turn toward the sun, which appeared free from clouds and in its zenith. It looked like a plaque of dull silver, and it was possible to look at it without the least discomfort. It might have been an eclipse which was taking place. But at that moment a great shout went up, and one could hear the spectators nearest at hand shouting: "A miracle! A miracle!" Before the astonished eyes of the crowd, whose aspect was biblical as they stood bareheaded, eagerly searching the sky, the sun trembled, made sudden incredible movements outside all cosmic laws---the sun "danced" according to the typical expression of the people. Standing at the step of an omnibus was an old man. With his face turned to the sun, he recited the Credo in a loud voice. I asked who he was and was told Senhor Joao da Cunha Vasconcelos. I saw him afterwards going up to those around him who still had their hats on, and vehemently imploring them to uncover before such an extraordinary demonstration of the existence of God. Identical scenes were repeated elsewhere, and in one place a woman cried out: "How terrible! There are even men who do not uncover before such a stupendous miracle!" People then began to ask each other what they had seen. The great majority admitted to having seen the trembling and the dancing of the sun; others affirmed that they saw the face of the Blessed Virgin; others, again, swore that the sun whirled on itself like a giant Catherine wheel and that it lowered itself to the earth as if to burn it in its rays. Some said they saw it change colors successively.... O Seculo (a pro-government, anti-clerical, Lisbon paper)

"At one o'clock in the afternoon, midday by the sun, the rain stopped. The sky, pearly grey in colour, illuminated the vast arid landscape with a strange light. The sun had a transparent gauzy veil so that the eyes could easily be fixed upon it. The grey mother-of-pearl tone turned into a sheet of silver which broke up as the clouds were torn apart and the silver sun, enveloped in the same gauzy grey light, was seen to whirl and turn in the circle of broken clouds. A cry went up from every mouth and people fell on their knees on the muddy ground.... The light turned a beautiful blue, as if it had come through the stained-glass windows of a cathedral, and spread itself over the people who knelt with outstretched hands. The blue faded slowly, and then the light seemed to pass through yellow glass. Yellow stains fell against white handkerchiefs, against the dark skirts of the women. They were repeated on the trees, on the stones and on the serra. People wept and prayed with uncovered heads, in the presence of a miracle they had awaited. The seconds seemed like hours, so vivid were they. O Dia (another Lisbon daily, edition of 17 October 1917)

We looked easily at the sun, which for some reason did not blind us. It seemed to flicker on and off, first one way, then another. It cast its rays in many directions and painted everything in different colors--- the trees, the people, the air and the ground. But what was most extraordinary, I thought, was that the sun did not hurt our eyes. Everything was still and quiet, and everyone was looking up. Then at a certain moment, the sun appeared to stop spinning. It then began to move and to dance in the sky until it seemed to detach itself from its place and fall upon us. It was a terrible moment. Ti Marto (father of Jacinta and Francisco)

The sun turned everything to different colours---yellow, blue and white. Then it shook and trembled. It looked like a wheel of fire that was going to fall on the people. They began to cry out, "We shall all be killed!" Others called to our Lady to save them. They recited acts of contrition. One woman began to confess her sins aloud, advertising that she had done this and that.... When at last the sun stopped leaping and moving, we all breathed our relief. We were still alive, and the miracle which the children had foretold, had been seen by everyone. Maria de Capelinha (one of the earliest believers)

I was looking at the place of the apparitions, in a serene, if cold, expectation of something happening, and with diminishing curiosity, because a long time had passed without anything to excite my attention. Then I heard a shout from thousands of voices and saw the multitude suddenly turn its back and shoulders away from the point toward which up to now it had directed its attention, and turn to look at the sky on the opposite side. It must have been nearly two o'clock by the legal time, and about midday by the sun. The sun, a few moments before, had broken through the thick layer of clouds which hid it, and shone clearly and intensely. I veered to the magnet which seemed to be drawing all eyes, and saw it as a disc with a clean-cut rim, luminous and shining, but which did not hurt the eyes. I do not agree with the comparison which I have heard made in Fátima---that of a dull silver disc. It was a clearer, richer, brighter color, having something of the luster of a pearl. It did not in the least resemble the moon on a clear night because one saw it and felt it to be a living body. It was not spheric like the moon, nor did it have the same color, tone, or shading. It looked like a glazed wheel made of mother-of-pearl. It could not be confused, either, with the sun seen through fog (for there was no fog at the time), because it was not opaque, diffused or veiled. In Fátima it gave light and heat and appeared clear-cut with a well-defined rim. The sky was mottled with light cirrus clouds with the blue coming through here and there, but sometimes the sun stood out in patches of clear sky. The clouds passed from west to east and did not obscure the light of the sun, giving the impression of passing behind it, though sometimes these flecks of white took on tones of pink or diaphanous blue as they passed before the sun. It was a remarkable fact that one could fix one's eyes on this brazier of heat and light without any pain in the eyes or blinding of the retina. The phenomenon, except for two interruptions when the sun seemed to send out rays of refulgent heat which obliged us to look away, must have lasted about ten minutes. The sun's disc did not remain immobile. This was not the sparkling of a, heavenly body, for it spun round on itself in a mad whirl. Then, suddenly, one heard a clamor, a cry of anguish breaking from all the people. The sun, whirling wildly, seemed to loosen itself from the firmament and advance threateningly upon the earth as if to crush us with its huge and fiery weight. The sensation during those moments was terrible. During the solar phenomenon, which I have just described in detail, there were changes of color in the atmosphere. Looking at the sun, I noticed that everything around was becoming darkened. I looked first at the nearest objects and then extended my glance further afield as far as the horizon. I saw everything an amethyst color. Objects around me, the sky and the atmosphere, were of the same color. An oak tree nearby threw a shadow of this color on the ground. Fearing that I was suffering from an affection of the retina, an improbable explanation because in that case one could not see things purple-colored, I turned away and shut my eyes, keeping my hands before them to intercept the light. With my back still turned, I opened my eyes and saw that the landscape was the same purple color as before. The impression was not that of an eclipse, and while looking at the sun I noticed that the atmosphere had cleared. Soon after I heard a peasant who was near me shout out in tones of astonishment: "Look, that lady is all yellow!" And in fact everything, both near and far, had changed, taking on the color of old yellow damask. People looked as if they were suffering from jaundice, and I recall a sensation of amusement at seeing them look so ugly and unattractive. My own hand was the same color. All the phenomena which I have described were observed by me in a calm and serene state of mind, and without any emotional disturbance. It is for others to interpret and explain them. Dr. Almeida Garrett, PhD (Coimbra University)

The sun, at one moment surrounded with scarlet flame, at another aureoled in yellow and deep purple, seemed to be in an exceedingly fast and whirling movement, at times appearing to be loosened from the sky and to be approaching the earth, strongly radiating heat. Dr. Domingos Coelho (reported in the newspaper Ordem)

The sun appeared with its circumference well defined. It came down as if to the height of the clouds and began to whirl giddily upon itself like a captive ball of fire. With some interruptions, this lasted about eight minutes. The atmosphere darkened and the features of each became yellow. Everyone knelt even in the mud.... Fr. Manuel Pereira da Silva (in a letter to a friend)

We made our arrangements, and went in three motor cars on the early morning of the 13th. There was a thick mist, and the car which went in front mistook the way so that we were all lost for a time and only arrived at the Cova da Iria at midday by the sun. It was absolutely full of people, but for my part I felt devoid of any religious feeling. When Lucia called out: "Look at the sun!" the whole multitude repeated: "Attention to the sun!" It was a day of incessant drizzle but a few moments before the miracle it stopped raining. I can hardly find words to describe what followed. The sun began to move, and at a certain moment appeared to be detached from the sky and about to hurtle upon us like a wheel of flame. My wife---we had been married only a short time- -- fainted, and I was too upset to attend to her, and my brother-in- law, Joao Vassalo, supported her on his arm. I fell on my knees, oblivious of everything, and when I got up I don't know what I said. I think I began to cry out like the others. An old man with a white beard began to attack the atheists aloud and challenged them to say whether or not something supernatural had occurred. Senhor Alfredo da Silva Santos (Lisbon)

There may have been many former atheists in Fátima that day, but there were plenty in Portugal, nonetheless, to charge hallucination. For those the Lady provided witnesses who were not at the scene and could not have been subject to collective suggestion.

On that day of October 13, 1917, without remembering the predictions of the children, I was enchanted by a remarkable spectacle in the sky of a kind I had never seen before. I saw it from this veranda.... Alfonso Lopes Vieira (observed from a distance of nearly 25 miles away):

I was only nine years old at this time, and I went to the local village school. At about midday we were surprised by the shouts and cries of some men and women who were passing in the street in front of the school. The teacher, a good, pious woman, though nervous and impressionable, was the first to run into the road, with the children after her. Outside, the people were shouting and weeping and pointing to the sun, ignoring the agitated questions of the schoolmistress. It was the great Miracle, which one could see quite distinctly from the top of the hill where my village was situated---the Miracle of the sun, accompanied by all its extraordinary phenomena. I feel incapable of describing what I saw and felt. I looked fixedly at the sun, which seemed pale and did not hurt the eyes. Looking like a ball of snow revolving on itself, it suddenly seemed to come down in a zigzag, menacing the earth. Terrified, I ran and hid myself among the people, who were weeping and expecting the end of the world at any moment. Near us was an unbeliever who had spent the morning mocking at the simpletons who had gone off to Fátima just to see an ordinary girl. He now seemed to be paralyzed, his eyes fixed on the sun. Afterwards he trembled from head to foot and lifting up his arms fell on his knees in the mud, crying out to our Lady. Meanwhile the people continued to cry out and to weep, asking God to pardon their sins. We all ran to the two chapels in the village, which were soon filled to overflowing. During those long moments of the solar prodigy, objects around us turned all the colors of the rainbow. We saw ourselves blue, yellow, red, etc. All these strange phenomena increased the fears of the people. After about ten minutes the sun, now dull and pallid, returned to its place. When the people realized that the danger was over, there was an explosion of joy, and everyone joined in thanksgiving and praise to our Lady. Fr. Ignacio Lorenco (Alburitel, 11 miles away)

The 6 Apparitions of Fatima

​what were mary's messages in fátima, portugal.

​On May 13, Catholics around the world celebrate ​Our Lady of Fatima​. On this day in 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in Fátima, Portugal. It was the first of six total apparitions Blessed Mary would make to the children from May to October 1917. Throughout her apparitions, Mary makes predictions and warns that unless everyone prays, repents, and abandons sin, the world will suffer war, turmoil, and persecution of the Church. Let’s take a closer look at the six apparitions.

First Apparition:

​On May 13, 1917, Blessed Mary appears for the first time to the children as they were tending the sheep in Fatima, Portugal. The children -- Lucia dos Santos, age ten, Francisco Marto, age nine, and Jacinta Marto, age seven were cousins. Blessed Mary urged the children to " Pray the Rosary every day , in order to obtain peace for the world, and the end of the war (World War I)." She instructed the children to come to the same place at the same time every 13th day of the month for the next five months.

​Pray the Rosary every day, in order to obtain peace for the world

​Second Apparition:

​​As promised, on June 13, 1917, Blessed Mary appeared again instructing the children to continue to Fatima Say the Rosary every day and for Lucia to learn to read and write. Lucia was told she would live longer than the other two children and that she should spread the message of Mary throughout mankind. She told Lucia that God wants to “establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world.” Whoever embraces it is promised salvation.

Blessed Mary said "God wants to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world"

​Third Apparition:

​On July 13, 1917 in addition to urging the children to continue to say the Rosary for peace in the world, Blessed Mary told the children to pray for the conversion of sinners and all the sins committed against her Immaculate Heart. In this apparition, Mary revealed three secrets or prophetic visions.

The first secret was a glimpse of what hell looks like and told them that to save future souls God wants the world to become devoted to her Immaculate Heart. “If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.”

The second secret was the prediction that World War I would end, but Mary warned if people didn’t stop offending God, a worse one will break out during the pontificate of Pius Xl. To prevent this, she asked for the dedication of Russia to her Immaculate Heart to prevent the damage that Russia would do to humanity by embracing communism.

The third secret was not revealed until 2000. The children saw a vision of a bishop dressed in white (who they thought to be the pope) walking towards a mountain with other priests and religious figures. During their journey they go through a town that is in ruins and the pope prays for the souls of the corpses he passes along the way. As they reach the top of a mountain, the pope kneels before a cross and he and the others are killed by soldiers.

There’s been much debate on what the third secret means. Pope John Paul II believed this vision referred to his own assassination attempt.

​Fourth Apparition:

​On ​In August, the children were prevented by the disapproving civil authorities to go to their usual meeting place and missed Mary’s apparition on the 13th day. However, on August 19, Blessed Mary appeared to the children and urged them to continue to say the Rosary and to "Pray for the many souls that go the hell because there is none who pray for them.”

Pray for the many souls that go the hell because there is none who pray for them

​Fifth Apparition:

​By the fifth apparition on September 13, the children were joined by thousands of onlookers. People went to see Mary but only the children saw the apparitions of Mary and described them to the people. The Blessed Lady appeared to the children with the message: "Continue to pray the Rosary in order to obtain the end of the war. In October Our Lord will come, as well as our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Carmel, Saint Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus to bless the world. In October I will perform a miracle so that all may believe."

​Sixth Apparition:

​On October 13, 1917 the children surrounded by a crowd of 70,000 people stood under a torrential rain as Blessed Mary appeared and revealed her identity: “I am the Lady of the Rosary, I desire here a chapel in my honor to be built, that people continue to recite the Rosary every day. The war is going to end, and the soldiers will soon return to their homes. Do not offend the Lord our God anymore, because He is already so much offended.” Then the miracle she promised happened: the Miracle of the Sun.

Many described the miracle similarly: Mary opened her hands and launched a ray of light in the direction of the sun; the rain stopped suddenly and there appeared an exceptionally bright sun. The sun began to turn, projecting colorful bands of light. Then the sun appeared as if it was spinning out from the sky and towards the crowd, as people fell to their knees and begged for mercy. Meanwhile, as promised, the three children saw the Blessed Lady dressed in white with a blue cape, along with St. Joseph with the Child Jesus blessing the world. Then after this vision they saw The Lord bless the world, standing next to Our Lady of Sorrows. After this vision vanished, they saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Mount Carmel .

​Celebrating the 100 Years of Our Lady of Fatima

​Pope Francis visiting Fátima, Portugal in 2017 to celebrate the centenary of the apparition of Mary has brought the focus of the devotion back into Catholics' minds.  Given the message she brought to us this is not surprising and makes us concentrate on the message she sent.

For this reason there are a number of devotional statues celebrating her apparition.

​This statue (SA3113) is one of the most popular statues due to the sheer elegance and sophistication of the design.

​ Love it love it love love it..beautiful..because i love our Lady..today i was admitted in the hospital and while laying in the hospital bed and looking straight ahead of me i felt i saw an image of the statue that i purchased of our Lady of Fatima to my side view with her hands folded praying for me..and telling me to pray..I felt comforted..

​Lorna ​New York, NY

You may be interested in these:

Preparing for all saints’ day and all souls’ day: honoring the communion of saints, st. john paul ii: the pope of hope and love, unlocking the love: st. margaret mary alacoque and the sacred heart devotion, understanding the luminous mysteries of the rosary, why is st. faustina kowalska the messenger of divine mercy, meditating on the dolors of mary: a guide to the devotion of our lady of sorrows, unveiling the significance of the feast of the holy cross, st. augustine of hippo: the life and teachings of a renowned doctor of the church .

Wonderful to be able to read this.

I love this. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Thankful to have this hear to refer to. God bless you.

This is blasphemous false doctrine perpetrated by Lucifer, Satan, as so much of errant Catholic doctrine is. Catholicism contradicts the teachings of the Bible, of which things I will be glad to show the searching soul, anytime!

can you eplain categorically how blasphemous this doctrine otherwise your assertion is just fallacious

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The sixth and final apparition in Fatima

In the previous apparitions, Our Lady promised the children that the last time she would appear in Fatima, on Oct. 13, 1917, she would effect a miracle. She promised to do so because Lucía asked for a sign that everyone would see and believe.

This was one of the few revelations Lucía made regarding the content of the apparitions at that time. The children had repeated this promise so frequently that news of it had spread throughout Portugal. A miracle that all could see and experience was promised not years, decades or centuries later – it was imminent. People knew when and where to go because the three shepherd children announced it.

The anticipation of this momentous event, or lack of it, was weighing heavily on all. The miracle would confirm that the children spoke truthfully about the apparitions. The absence of the miracle would demonstrate that they had been deceived or, worse, that they had lied.

This was a time of joyful and hopeful eagerness for the children and those who believed them. They fully trusted Our Lady and had no worries or concerns.

For the Santos family and others who did not believe the visionaries, but were nonetheless concerned for the children’s safety, their apprehension grew as the day approached. Both the Santos and Marto families were threatened with severe penalties if this promise turned out to be a fraud.

For the unbelievers and the enemies of the Church, this was a time of celebration. They expected to be vindicated in their claims that this was a hoax fabricated by the Church, and their opportunity to discredit the Church with finality.

In the Santos home, Lucía’s siblings insisted that Lucía give up on what they called a “dream.” Her father scolded her repeatedly. Her mother told her there were bombs at the Cova da Iria in an attempt to frighten Lucía enough to not go there. Lucía’s mother was so panic-stricken by the thought of impending disaster that on the morning of Oct. 12, she insisted that Lucía go to confession, telling her it would be her one “before people kill us when the miracle doesn’t happen.” Very calmly and with great faith, Lucía replied, “If you want to go to confession, mother, I’ll go with you, but I’m not afraid. I am positive that the Lady will do what she promised.”

Some people in the town wanted to lock all three children in a room until they denied their story. Others wanted to take the children far away and leave them in a place no one could find them. The children were told that if they didn’t recant, their families would be attacked and killed.

Things were different in the Marto home. Nothing could shake the belief of Senhor Marto. He tells how the pastor of Porto de Mós came to their home a few days before Oct. 13. The priest wanted to make the children contradict themselves. “Listen, good girl,” the priest said to Lucía, “you are going to tell me that it is all an invention. Even if you don’t admit it, I’ll say it is, and I’ll have it spread everywhere, and you won’t escape either.” He made similar threats to Francisco and Jacinta. All three remained silent.

On the morning of Oct. 13, 1917, fear and panic prevailed in Fatima. A piercing cold rain was pouring from the heavens. Some people of wavering faith were pessimistic. They imagined that the glorious day promised by Our Lady and the children could not be miserable and dark. The weather, however, did not dampen the spirits of the tens of thousands of people who gathered in the Cova da Iria.

O Século, an anti-Catholic and Masonic-owned Lisbon newspaper, sent a reporter to observe the event. In the extensive article, he wrote, “At dawn, groups surged undauntedly and crossed through the villages, without stopping for a moment, breaking the early morning silence with their beautiful religious hymns. The delicate harmony of the women’s voices made violent contrast with their rustic appearance. The skies presaged a storm. Dark clouds loomed directly over Fatima. Nothing would stop the crowd converging from every road on towards the holy place. ... Sheets of rain, driven by a chilly autumn wind, whipped the faces of the pilgrims, drenched the roads, and chilled the people to the bone. While some sought shelter under the trees, against the walls or in scattered houses, others continued their march with impressive endurance.”

A professor from the University of Coimbra, Dr. Almeida Garrett, estimated the number of people at the Cova at over 100,000. Newspapers printed a more conservative estimate of 70,000. Paradoxically, the reporters provided historic, written accounts of an event they did not expect to happen.

Tí Marto accompanied the three children through the crowds and in the mud, keeping them safe and leading them to the Cova da Iria. “Make way for the children who have seen Our Lady,” shouted the faithful as the children came near.

Because of the Great War going on in the world, there existed a local time and a war time. Local time was determined by location. War time was synchronized to a different system to minimize the confusion that multiple time zones had caused. It was noon in Fatima, but, in war time, it was 1:30 p.m. Many people who came from other areas began to accuse the children of lying, saying that the Lady wasn’t coming as promised. As the crowd grew impatient, just then, Lucía glanced towards the east and said to Jacinta, “Kneel down; Our Lady is coming. I’ve seen the flash.” The hour of the apparition had arrived; the miracle that was promised had begun to take place, precisely at noon in Fatima.

“Silence, silence, Our Lady is coming,” Lucía cried out. The rain ceased, the sun began gradually to appear, and Our Lady came. Her feet, as always, rested upon the holm oak. The faces of the three children assumed their otherworldly expression and their eyes were fixed intent upon the Lady.

Lucía asked, “What do you want of me?”

“I want to tell you that they must build a chapel here in my honor; that I am the Lady of the Rosary; that they continue to say the rosary every day. The war will end and the soldiers will return to their homes soon,” Our Lady responded.

“I have many favors to ask. Do you wish to grant them or not?”

“Some I will! Others I will not! They must mend their lives, ask forgiveness for their sins. Offend not Our Lord anymore,” Our Lady continued, her face becoming very grave, “for He is already much offended.”

Lucía, knowing this was to be the last time she would speak to Our Lady, wanted to make sure that she received all the commands Mary wished to give her. She hoped to spend the rest of her life on earth fulfilling the desires of Our Lady. “Do you want anything else from me?” the girl asked.

“I desire nothing else.”

As Our Lady took leave of the children, She opened Her hands, which emitted a flood of light. While she was rising, she pointed towards the sun. The light gleaming from her hands brightened the sun itself.

“There she goes; there she goes!” Lucía shouted, not taking her eyes off the beautiful Queen of Heaven. Her words could barely be heard because there was a huge, immense cry of astonishment from the crowd. The sun was now pale as the moon. To the left of the sun, St. Joseph appeared, holding in his left arm the Child Jesus. St. Joseph emerged from the bright clouds only to his chest, sufficient to allow him to raise his right hand and make, together with the Child Jesus, the Sign of the Cross three times over the world. As St. Joseph did this, Our Lady stood in all her brilliancy to the right of the sun, dressed in the blue and white robes of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Meanwhile, Francisco and Jacinta were bathed in marvelous colors and signs of the sun, and Lucía was privileged to gaze upon Our Lord dressed in red as the Divine Redeemer, blessing the world, as Our Lady had foretold. Like St. Joseph, He was seen only from His chest up. Beside Him stood Our Lady, dressed now in the purple robes of Our Lady of Sorrows, but without the sword. Finally, Mary appeared again to Lucía in all Her ethereal brightness, but now clothed in the simple brown robes of Mount Carmel.

As the children stared enraptured by these heavenly visions, the crowd of thousands was amazed and overpowered by other miracles in the skies. The sun had taken on an extraordinary color. The words of eyewitnesses best describe these stupendous signs:

“We could look at the sun with ease,” Ti Marto testified; “it did not bother at all. It seemed to be continually fading and glowing in one fashion, then another. It threw shafts of light one way and another, painting everything in different colors, the people, the trees, the earth, even the air. But the greatest proof of the miracle was the fact that the sun did not bother the eyes.” He continued, “At a certain point, the sun stopped its play of light and then started dancing. It stopped once more and again started dancing until it seemed to loosen itself from the skies and fall upon the people. It was a moment of terrible suspense.”

“The sun cast different colors, yellow, blue and white. It trembled constantly. It looked like a revolving ball of fire falling upon the people,” Maria da Capelinha recounted later. “As the sun hurled itself towards the earth people cried out in terror, ‘We are all going to die here.’ Some begged for mercy, ‘Oh Jesus, save us! Our Lady save us!’ Many others made acts of contrition. At last the sun swerved back to its orbit and rested in the sky. ‘Everyone gave a sigh of relief.’”

Once this had finished, yet another miracle was manifested. The muddy ground, the wet clothes, and the drenched crowd were all perfectly dry – without any trace of the wet state they were in just moments earlier.

The miracle had come to pass at the hour and day designated by Our Lady.

Although this was the last apparition in the Cova, it also marked the beginning of the modern world. Satan began preparing for the great battle against Our Lady and the Church at that very moment.

The Russian Revolution that would quickly usher in Communism and cost millions of people’s lives had begun during the late summer of 1917. On Oct. 13, 1917, in Moscow, the very same day that Our Lady appeared for the last time in Fatima, there was an attack on a Catholic church. Maria Pavlovna, daughter of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich, often called “Maria the Younger,” was teaching religion to a group of approximately 200 children in the Church of the Iberian Virgin. Without warning, revolutionaries entered the church, destroyed the icons and the sanctuary, desecrated the altar, and murdered most of the children. Maria was able to escape with her aides and some of the children. She went to the Royal Military Headquarters to get help and report this horrific incident to a family friend. She ran to his office and told him what had happened. “I know,” Lenin said. “I sent them.”

Also at noon on Oct. 13, 1917, Our Lord responded in Rome with the papal ordination of a bishop who would one day become a great pope. In the Sistine Chapel, Pope Benedict XV consecrated Monsignor Eugenio Pacelli as a bishop and, at the same time, elevated him to archbishop. Archbishop Pacelli was assigned as the papal nuncio to Munich. Lenin’s Communist revolutionaries, who were highly organized in Munich, published a list of 325 men whom they intended to kill. One of them was Archbishop Pacelli. An attempt was made on his life, and he credited Our Lady for saving him. On March 2, 1939, now Cardinal Pacelli was elected pope. The pontiff had great devotion to Our Lady. In 1951, he published the encyclical “Ingruentium Malorum,” promoting the rosary. In 1953, he published the encyclical “Fulgens Corona,” proclaiming a Marian Year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Pope Pius IX’s apostolic constitution “Ineffabilis Deus” (which affirmed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception). And in 1954, he published his encyclical “Ad Caeli Reginam,” proclaiming the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven. Upon his election as pontiff, Cardinal Pacelli was the 12th pope to take the name Pius. Pope Pius XII stood strong as the vicar of Christ against the evils of Germany and Russia.

During this centennial anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal, the Catholic News Herald is publishing a series of commentaries examining each of her six visits to the children, the messages given to them and how Fatima’s past prepared the future to receive God’s divine plan for peace. Father James Ebright, priest in residence at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Gastonia, is among those writing this series on behalf of the Te Deum Foundation, online at www.tedeumfoundation.org .

DO NOT OFFEND THE LORD OUR GOD ANY MORE, BECAUSE HE IS ALREADY SO MUCH OFFENDED

October 13, 1917

Miracle of the Sun

We left home quite early, expecting that we would be delayed along the way. Masses of people thronged the roads. The rain fell in torrents. My mother, her heart torn with uncertainty as to what was going to happen, and fearing it would be the last day of my life, wanted to accompany me.

On the way, the scenes of the previous month, still more numerous and moving were repeated. Not even the muddy roads could prevent these people from kneeling in the most humble and suppliant of attitudes. We reached the holm oak in the Cova da Iria. Once there, moved by an interior impulse, I asked the people to shut their umbrella and say the Rosary.

A little later we saw the flash of light, and then Our Lady appeared on the holm oak.

“What do you want of me?”

“I want to tell you that a chapel is to be built here in my honor. I am the Lady of the Rosary. Continue always to pray the Rosary every day. The war is going to end, and the soldiers will soon return to their homes.”

“I have many things to ask you: the cure of some sick persons, the conversion of sinners, and other things…”

“Some yes, but not others, they must amend their lives and ask forgiveness for their sins.”

Looking very sad, Our Lady said:

“Do not offend the Lord our God any more, because He is already so much offended.”

Then opening her hands, she made them reflect on the sun, and as she ascended, the reflection of her own light continued to be projected on the sun itself.

Here, your Excellency is the reason why I cried out to the people to look at the sun. My aim was not to call their attention to the sun, because I was not even aware of their presence. I was moved to do so under the guidance of an interior impulse.

After Our Lady had disappeared into the immense distance of the firmament we beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands. When, a little later, this apparition disappeared, I saw Our Lord and Our Lady; it seemed to me that it was Our Lady of Dolors. Our Lord appeared to bless the world in the same manner as St. Joseph had done.

This apparition also vanished, and I saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Carmel.

Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima

First  • Second  • Third  • Fourth  • Fifth  • Sixth

The six apparitions of Our Lady - 1917 The little shepherds: Blessed Jacinta and Francisco Apparitions of the Angel - 1916 Interview with Sr. Lucia More on Our Lady of Fatima...  

First Apparition of the Virgin : Sunday, May 13th, 1917 Lucia narrated the following: While playing with Jacinta and Francisco on the hill, near Cova de Iria, we were building a wall with stones around a blooming plant, all of a sudden we saw a light like lightning. - “ It is flashing,” I said. “A storm can come. It is better to return home.” - “Oh, yes, alright,” my cousins responded. We started to come down from the hill taking the sheep down the path. In the middle of our way on the slope, near the evergreen oak which still exists today, we saw a flash of lightning and after we took some more steps over the slope, we saw a Lady dressed in white, more brilliant than the sun, scattering clear and intense light, more than a ray of sunlight through a glass of water. We were so close that we were in the light She irradiated. Our Lady said: - “Don’t be afraid. I will not harm you.” I asked her: “ Where are you from ?” - “I’m from Heaven.” - “What is that you want?” - “I have come to ask you to come here six consecutive months on the 13th at the same time.” Later I will say who I am and what I desire.” - “I will return a seventh time.” - I asked: “Will I go to Heaven?” - “Yes, you will go.” - “and Jacinta?” - “She will go too” - “and Francisco?” - “He will also go, but he has to pray many rosaries first.” Then I remembered two of my sister’s friends who died recently.” - “ s Maria de las Nieves in Heaven?” - “Yes she is.” - “and Amelia, whose between 18 - 20 years old?” - “She will be in purgatory until the end of the world.” And then She said: “Do you want to offer yourselves to God and accept all the sufferings that He desires to send you in reparation for the sins by which He is offended and to implore for the conversion of sinners?” - “Yes, we want to.” - “You will have to suffer much , but God’s grace will strengthen you.” Upon saying this the Virgin opened her arms for the first time, communicating a very intense light coming from her hands penetrating deep into our chest and our hearts, allowing us to see ourselves in God more clearly than seeing ourselves in a mirror. By an interior impulse also communicated to us, we fell to our knees, repeating humbly: "Holy Trinity, I adore you. My God, my God, I love you in the Blessed Sacrament." A few moments later Our Lady added: - “Pray the rosary every day to acquire world peace and the end of the war.” Immediately she started to elevate serenely as light surrounded her while opening her way. Second Apparition of the Virgin: Wednesday, June 13th After praying the rosary with people present (50) we saw again the reflection of light approaching. We called it lightning. Immediately Our Lady appeared on the oak tree, just like in the month of May. - “What is it that you desire?” I asked. - “I desire for you to come here on the 13th of next month, to pray the rosary every day and to learn how to read. Later, I will let you know what else I desire.” I requested the healing of a sick person. Our Lady responded: - “If she converts, she will be healed during the year.” - “I would like to ask you to take us to Heaven.” - “Yes, Jacinta and Francisco I will take soon, but you will stay some time longer. Jesus wants to use you to let others know and love me. He wants to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world . Who ever embraces it I promise salvation and their souls will be dear to God as flowers put by me to adorn his Throne. ” - “Will I stay here alone ?” I asked with sorrow. - “No, my daughter. Do you suffer much because of this ? Don’t be discouraged! I will never leave you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the path to lead you to God.” At that moment she opened her hands and communicated to us for the second time the rays of immense light that surrounded her. Jacinta and Francisco seemed to be in the area of the light elevating to heaven and me; I was in the area covering the earth. In front of the right palm of Our Lady’s hand was a heart surrounded by thorns seeming to pierce her heart. We understood it to be the Immaculate Heart of Mary, offended for the sins of humanity and desirous of reparation. Francisco, very impressed by the vision, asked me: “ Why was the Virgin holding a heart in her hand radiating over the world the great light of God? You, Lucia, were with Her in the light coming down on the earth and Jacinta was with me in the light going up to heaven.”

Third Apparition of the Virgin: Friday, July 13 th

Moments after arriving at Cova de Iria, next to the oak tree, among numerous people (4,000) praying the rosary, we saw a ray of light once more and, a few moments later, Our Blessed Mother appeared over the oak tree.

- "What do you want from me?" I asked.

- "I desire for you to come here the 13th of next month, and continue to pray the rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain the peace of the world and the end to the war, only She can obtain it."

- I said: "I would like to ask who you are, and for you to do a miracle so everyone can believe you appear to us."

- "Continue to come here every month. In October I will say who I am and what I desire, and I will perform a miracle all will see to believe."

- " Sacrifice for sinners and repeat many times, especially when you make a sacrifice: O my Jesus, this is out of love for you, for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary!"

When Mary said these words she opened her hands again. The reflection of light seemed to penetrate the earth and we saw something like an ocean of fire, and submerged in this fire were demons and souls like transparent flames, black or bronze in color, of human form, fluctuating in the fire and taken by the flames that came out from within themselves along with clouds of smoke falling on all sides, similar to the fall of ashes from vast fires, but weightless and unbalanced, amidst screams and lamentations of sorrow and desperation that horrified us and made us tremble with fear.

The demons were distinguished by their horrible and repulsive forms, like horrendous animals, but transparent as red-hot charcoal.

Frightened and asking for help we looked up to Our Lady, who with sorrow and gentleness said to us :

- "You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wants to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If you do what I tell you many souls will be saved and you will have peace. The war will end, but if you don’t cease offending God, one worst will start in the papacy of Pope Pius XI."

- "When you see a luminous night lit by an unknown light, know this is the great sign God will give as punishment to the world for its crimes by means of war, hunger, persecution of the Church and the Holy Father. To prevent this, I will ask the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart and communion of the first Saturdays of the month in reparation.

If my desires are obeyed, Russia will be converted and there will be peace; if not, its errors will spread all over the world, promoting wars, persecutions of the Church: the good will be martyred, the Holy Father will suffer much, several nations will be annihilated.

At the end, MY IMMACULATE HEART WILL TRIUMPH. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia, and it will be converted, the world will be granted a period of peace. In Portugal the dogma of Faith will be preserved always. . . . ( the third part of the secret starts here, written by Lucia between Dec. 22, 1943 and January 9th, 1944). Don’t say this to anyone. You can tell Francisco."

- "When you pray the rosary, say after each decade: " O, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy."

As usual, our Lady started to elevate towards the Orient (east) direction.

Fourth Apparition of the Virgin :

Sunday, August 19th

Our Lady appeared in the village of Los Valinhos . The apparition did not occur on August 13th in Cova de Iria because the Council Administrator captured and took the shepherd children to Vila Nova with the intention of forcing them to reveal the secret. They were imprisoned in the administration and in the municipal jail.

They were offered the most valued gifts if they would reveal the secret. The young visionaries responded:

- "We will not say it even if the whole world was given to us."

They were taken to jail. The prisoners advised: "Reveal the secret to the Administrator. Who cares if that Lady doesn’t want to ?"

- "O no, Jacinta responded with liveliness, I would rather die first!"

The three children prayed the rosary with the prisoners before a medal Jacinta hung on the wall. To intimidate them, the Administrator commanded that a pot of boiling oil be prepared, threatening the children that they would be fried in it if they did not obey him. Even though the children believed what was told to them, they were not revealing anything. On August 15th, Feast of the Assumption, they were taken out of jail and returned to Fatima.

Lucia narrates the events of this apparition

“We were with our sheep in a place called Los Valinhos, Francisco and his brother John accompanied me. We felt something supernatural approaching and embracing us; suspecting Our Lady was about to appear and fearing Jacinta would not be present to see her, we asked her brother John to bring her. Meanwhile, Francisco and I saw the reflection of the light we call lightning and at the moment Jacinta arrived we saw our Lady on the oak tree. - “What is it that you desire?” - “I desire for you to continue to go to Cova de Iria on the 13th, to continue praying the rosary every day. On the last month I will perform a miracle for all to believe." - “What should we do with the money the people leave at Cova de Iria?” - “Make two bags, one for you and Jacinta to carry along with two other girls dressed in white; Francisco will take another bag with three other boys.” The money collected in the bags is for the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary, what is left over will help for the construction of a chapel. - “ I would like to ask for the healing of some of the sick.” - “ Yes, some I will cure during the year.” With a very sorrowful look, the Virgin added: “Pray, pray very much and make a sacrifice for sinners, because many souls are going to hell because no one offers sacrifices for them.” The Virgin elevated towards the east as usual. Fifth Apparition: Thursday, September 13th As the time approached I started to go towards Cova de Iria with Jacinta and Francisco among numerous people (30,000), with difficulty we were able to go through. The path was crowded with people, everyone wanted to see and touch us. Many people of the village came to ask us to present their needs and intentions to Our Lady. Others not able to come near us cried out from far away. We heard . . . . . ask Our Lady to heal my invalid son . . . my blind son . . . my deaf daughter . . to bring back my husband from the war . . . for conversion of a sinner . . . for me sick of tuberculosis . . . etc. All human miseries became evident and some cried out from the trees. We finally arrived at Cova de Iria, upon reaching the oak tree we started to pray the rosary with the people. Soon afterwards we saw a reflection of light and immediately over the tree, Our Lady said: “Continue to pray the rosary to achieve the end of the war. In October Our Lord will also come, with Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Joseph and the Child Jesus to bless the world. God is pleased with your sacrifices, but He does not want you to sleep with the rope on, only wear it during the day.” ( The rope was worn around the waist. It was one of the most painful mortifications the children offered for the conversion of sinners. Also, they did not eat snacks and abstained from drinking water. But the greatest sacrifices were the sacrifices the mission of Our Lady demanded: the humiliations, curiosity, annoyance of the people, unending visits, questions, persecutions, ridicule, prison, etc.) - “I will cure some of the sick, but not all. In October I will perform a miracle for all to believe.” Sixth Apparition: Saturday, October 13th There was a multitude of people (70,000) under the torrential rain. The scene was similar to the previous apparitions. Neither the mud nor the rain stopped the people from kneeling and humbly pleading and supplicating. Upon arriving at Cova de Iria, next to the tree, I asked the people to close their umbrellas and to pray the rosary. Soon after we saw a reflection of light, and immediately Our Lady was on the oak tree. - I asked her, “What is it that you want?” - She replied, “I want to tell you to build a chapel here in my honor. I am Our Lady of the Rosary. Continue to pray the rosary every day. The war is ending and the soldiers will return home soon.” - I asked, “Will the sick be healed?” - “Some yes, others no; it is necessary for them to amend their lives, to ask forgiveness for their sins,” she replied. With a sorrowful look, Our Lady said: “May our God be offended no longer. He is already offended too much.” Her hands opened, and off of them reflected the light of the sun. As she rose into the sky, her own brilliance continued to be seen in the midst of the sun’s light. I cried out for all to look up towards the sun. The miracle of the sun was happening, as promised three months ago, as proof of the authenticity of the Fatima apparitions. The rain ceased and the sun rotated three times, launching variously colored rays of light all around. It seemed as if the sun was coming down from the sky toward the people. After 10 minutes of the miracle, the sun returned to its normal state. The three of us were favored with other visions as well. Next to the sun, we saw St. Joseph, the Child Jesus and Our Lady of Sorrows. The Child Jesus and St. Joseph were blessing the world. After this vision ceased, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel appeared. End of the 1917 apparitions

Francisco and Jacinta were born in Aljustrel, a small district located 800 meters from the small town of Fatima. They were son and daughter of Manuel Pedro Marto and Olimpia de Jesus Marto. Lucia, their cousin, was also born here (the oldest of the visionaries).

Francisco was born on June 11 th , 1908 and Jacinta two years later on March 11 th .

Since an early age, Jacinta and Francisco learned to avoid bad friendships, and therefore, they preferred to be in the company of Lucia, their cousin who spoke to them about Jesus. The three spent many days together, caring for the sheep, praying and playing.

Between the dates of May 13 - October 13, 1917, Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia were granted the great privilege of seeing the Virgin Mary in Cova de Iria. After the occurrence of this supernatural experience, the three children saw themselves as more aflame for the Love of God and the love of souls, and they had only one aspiration: to pray and suffer according to the petition of the Virgin Mary.

Not only was divine benevolence on them extraordinary, but their response to these divine graces was also something incredible.

The children did not consider themselves merely messengers of the announcement of penance and prayer, but they dedicated themselves to making their lives - with their works and words - an announcement in itself. During the apparitions they resisted, with unaltered spirit and admirable fortitude, the insults, misinterpretations, slander, persecutions and even days in prison.

During this time of anguish, Francisco was threatened with death by government authorities if he refused to declare the Fatima apparitions as false. However, he stood firm and did not betray the Virgin Mary, and he encouraged his cousin and sister to do the same. Although threatened with death many times, he responded, " If we are killed, it doesn’t matter; we will go to Heaven." When Jacinta was supposedly taken to be killed, with a martyr’s spirit she said to her companions, " Don’t worry, I won’t say a thing. I’d rather die first." Blessed Francisco (6-11-1908 / 4-4-1919) Francisco’s character was docile and compliant. He liked to spend time helping the needy. He was known by all to be a sincere, just, obedient and diligent person. The Angel’s words in the third apparition, “Console your God,” made a profound impression in the soul of the small shepherd boy. He desired only to think of ways to console Our Lord and the Virgin Mary who he had seen so sad. He said, “We were burning in that light that is God and we were not burnt. How is God? This we cannot say. But what grief. He is so sad; if only I can console Him!” In his illness, Francisco confided to his cousin: “ Our Lord, is He still sad? I’m so heartbroken that He is this way. I offer Him all the sacrifices I’m able to.” On the eve of his death, he confessed and received Holy Communion with the most pious sentiments. After five months of continuous suffering, on a First Friday at 10:00 am, the consoler of Jesus died a holy death. Blessed Jacinta (3-10-1910/ 2-20-1920) Jacinta was of clear intelligence, joyful, and agile. She was always running, jumping and dancing. She lived passionately for the conversion of sinners. The vision of hell had impressed her very much, and she did all she could to prevent sinners from going there. One time she exclaimed: “I grieve for sinners! . . .If I could show them hell!” She died a holy death on February 20th, 1920. Her body is buried next to Francisco in the Basilica of Fatima. Jacinta and Francisco continued their normal life after the apparitions. Lucia started to go to school as Our Lady requested her to do. Jacinta and Francisco also went to accompany her. Before arriving at school, they would first pass by the Church to greet Jesus. When class was ready to start, Francisco, aware he was not to live long on this earth, said to Lucia, “ You go to school, I will stay with Jesus who is hidden. What good is it for me to learn to read if soon I will go to heaven?” After saying this Francisco would go to the Church to be as close as possible to the Tabernacle. When Lucia and Jacinta returned in the afternoon, they found Francisco in the same place in profound prayer and adoration. Of the three children, Francisco was the most contemplative and perhaps the one to distinguish himself more for his love and reparation in the Eucharist. After receiving Holy Communion from the Angel, he said: “I knew God was in me, but did not know how He was.” In his life, he had real devotion to the angels, saints and the Virgin Mary. He was amazed by the beauty and gentleness of the angel and the Mother of God, and they led him to encounter Jesus. Francisco wanted above all else to console God, Who was greatly offended by the sins of humanity. This is what most impressed him during the apparitions. Francisco wanted to offer his life to console the Lord whom he saw so sad and offended. His desire to go to heaven was motivated only by the desire to better console God. With firm intention to do what pleased God, he avoided all sin and at 7 years old started to receive frequently the Sacrament of Penance. Lucia asked Francisco: “ Francisco, what do you prefer the most, to console the Lord or convert sinners?” He responded: “ I prefer to console the Lord. Did you not see how sad Our Lady was when she said to us that men should no longer offend the Lord, who is so much offended?” I would like to console the Lord and then convert sinners so they will no longer offend the Lord. Soon I will be in heaven, and when I get there I will console very much Our Lord and Our Lady.”

Through graces received and the help of the Virgin Mary, Jacinta was fervent in her love of God and her desire for souls. She was consumed with an unsatiable thirst to save the poor souls in danger of hell.

The glory of God, salvation of souls, the importance of the Holy Father and priests, the necessity and love for the sacraments - all this took first priority in her life. She lived the Fatima messages for the salvation of souls around the world, demonstrating a great missionary spirit.

Jacinta had a profound devotion that took her very near to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This love always led her in a profound way to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Jacinta attended daily Mass with a great desire of receiving Jesus in Holy Communion in reparation for poor sinners. Nothing was more attractive to her than to be in the Real Presence of the Eucharistic Jesus. She said frequently: " I love to be here so much. I have so much to say to Jesus."

With immense zeal, Jacinta separated herself from the things of the world to focus her attention on the things of heaven. She searched for silence and solitude to be in contemplation. " I love the Lord so much," she said to Lucia. "Sometimes I feel as if I had fire in the heart, but it does not burn me."

Since the first apparition, the children looked for ways to multiply their mortifications for the conversion of sinners. They mortified their will and character by depriving themselves of food to give to the poor children; by not drinking water for an entire day, especially in the heat; by fasting during the Lenten season; and by renouncing their most favored games to spend more time in prayer.

They did not tire of looking for new ways of offering sacrifices for sinners. One day a short time after the fourth apparition, Jacinta found a cord and thought of putting it around her waist and tightening it as a sacrifice. Agreeing, the children cut the cord in three pieces and put it around their waists over their skin. Lucia narrates that this was a sacrifice that made them suffer terribly - so much so, that Jacinta was unable to contain the tears: "If we tried to talk her out of it, she immediately responded that by no means it would be taken off because it was for the conversion of sinners." In the beginning she wore the cord during the day and night, but in one apparition, Our Lady said to Jacinta, "Our Lord is very pleased with your sacrifices but doesn’t desire for you to sleep with the cord. Wear it only during the day." They obeyed, and with greater fervor, they persevered in this difficult penance, knowing it pleased God and Our Lady. Francisco and Jacinta wore the cord until their final illness, in which it appeared stained with blood.

Jacinta also felt the need to offer sacrifices for the Holy Father. She received the grace of a vision showing the sufferings of the Holy Father. She narrates: "I saw him in a very big house, kneeling with his face in his hands crying. There were many people outside. Some were throwing stones, others speaking blasphemy and bad words."

On another occasion, while praying the prayer of the Angel in the mountain cave, Jacinta stood up quickly and called her cousin: "Look! Don’t you see many roads, paths and fields full of people crying of hunger, not having anything to eat? . . . And the Holy Father in a Church praying next to the Heart of Mary?" After the occurrence of these events, the children always carried the Holy Father in their hearts and prayed constantly for him. They had a custom of praying 3 Hail Mary’s after the rosary for the Holy Father.

In a nearby village, a family was going through the difficult situation of having their son in jail, accused, but in fact innocent. Afflicted by the situation, his parents sent Teresa, Lucia’s oldest sister, to ask and plea to the children to obtain from the Virgin Mary the liberation of their son. Lucia, on her way to school, told her cousins about what was happening. Francisco said:

"You go to school and I will stay here with Jesus to ask Him for this grace." In the afternoon Francisco said to Lucia, "You can tell Teresa to let them know that in a few days the young man will be in his house." Sure enough, on the 13 th of the following month, the young man came home.

On another occasion, a family had a son who disappeared without a trace. His mother implored Jacinta to pray to Our Lady for him. A few days later, the young man returned home, asked forgiveness to his parents, and told them of his tragic adventure. After spending all he had stolen, he was arrested and put in jail. He escaped into the woods, finding himself lost. Not knowing what to do, he kneeled and prayed. He saw Jacinta taking him by the hand and leading him to a path, which she indicated him to follow. This is how the young man reached his home. After interrogating Jacinta if she really went to find this young man, she said no. . . but she did pray to Our Lady very much for him.

All the miracles and events of which the children were a part made everyone go to them for help. But they maintained their simplicity and humility. The more people looked for them, the more they concealed themselves.

One day the children were walking peacefully on the road, and they saw a big car stop before them with a group of well dressed men and women. "Look, they are coming to visit us . . ." said Francisco. "Are we leaving?" Jacinta asked. "It is impossible for them not to notice," responded Lucia. "Lets continue walking and you will see they won’t recognize us." But the visitors stopped them. " Are you from Aljustrel?" they asked the children. "Yes, Sir," responded Lucia. "Do you know the three shepherd children the Virgin appeared to? If you know them, can you tell us where they live?" Lucia responded, "Take this road down towards the left..." and she continued to describe their houses. The visitors left, thanking them, and they happily ran to hide somewhere.

Francisco and Jacinta were very docile in obeying God’s will and also the words of Our Lady. They made significant progress in holiness in a very short time and quickly reached great and solid Christian perfection. Knowing from the Virgin Mary that their lives would be brief, they spent their days with ardent expectation of entering heaven. Their waiting was not long.

On December 23 rd , 1918, Francisco and Jacinta became seriously ill with a terrible epidemic of bronco-pneumonia. However, being ill did not diminish their fervor for doing sacrifices.

On April 2 nd his state worsened so much that the pastor was called. He had not received his First Communion and was afraid he would not be able to receive the Lord before death. He confessed in the afternoon and fasted to receive Holy Communion. The following day he received Holy Communion with piety and great lucidity of spirit. After the priest left he asked his mother if he could receive the Lord again. After this he asked forgiveness for all the problems he might have caused. To Lucia and Jacinta he added, "I’m going to Paradise, and from there I will ask Jesus and Mary to come get you too." The following day on April 4 th , with an angelical smile and without agony or lamentations, he expired gently. He was not yet 11 years old.

Jacinta suffered much because of her brother’s death. Shortly after she developed pleurisy because of the bronco-pneumonia and its complications. One day she said to Lucia, "The Virgin came to see me and asked me if I still want to save sinners. I responded ‘ yes’, and she (Mary) then told me that soon I will enter the hospital and suffer much. But she said to embrace all for love of Jesus, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the offenses committed against Her Heart and the Heart of Jesus. She said ‘mama’ will accompany me but later I will be alone." And this is precisely how it did happened.

During her illness she confided to her cousin, "I suffer much, but I offer everything for the conversion of sinners and to repair the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

In January, 1920, a specialist doctor insisted that Jacinta’s mother take her to the Hospital of Lisboa for better care. This departure was painful for Jacinta, especially because she was separated from Lucia.

At her departure she gave Lucia these recommendations: " Soon I will go to heaven. You stay here to tell people that God wants to establish devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the world. When you say it, don’t hide. Tell all the people that God grants all the graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Ask her for it because the Heart of Jesus desires, next to His Heart, the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be venerated. Ask the Immaculate Heart for peace, for God has confided this to Her. If only I could put in the hearts of people the light that I have inside my heart; this light embraces me and allows me to taste so much the of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary."

Three days before death she said to the nurse, "The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared, assuring me that soon she will come for me. Ever since then, I have had no pain." On February 20th at about six in the afternoon, she said she was feeling bad and requested the last Sacraments. That evening she had her last confession and requested the Viaticum to be given as soon as possible because she knew her death was near.

The priest did not see the urgency and promised to come the following day. But shortly after she died. She was 10 years old.

Before her death, Our Lady appeared to her several times.

The following is her dictation, given to her godmother, about sin:

- The sins of the flesh are the ones that lead souls to hell.

- If men knew what eternity is, they would do everything possible to change their lives. Souls are lost because they do not think abut death and do not do penance.

About the wars:

- Wars are the consequence of the sins of the world.

- It is necessary to do penance to stop the wars.

About Christian virtues :

- We should not be surrounded by luxury.

- Be friends of silence.

- Don’t speak wrong or bad about anyone and avoid those who talk bad.

- Have much patience, because patience takes us to heaven.

- Mortification and sacrifice please God very much.

The bodies Jacinta and Francisco were taken to the Fatima Sanctuary. The miracles that had manifested themselves during their lives continues to occur after their deaths. When Francisco’s tomb was opened, the rosary placed on his chest was found tangled up in his fingers. Fifteen years after her death, Jacinta’s body was found to be incorrupt.

On April 18th, 1989, the Holy Father John Paul II declared Francisco and Jacinta as Venerables. On May 13th, 2000 the Holy Father John Paul II beatified them.

The following is a narration of the angel’s apparitions according to Sister Lucia, the oldest of the visionaries. These apparitions occurred before the apparitions of the Blessed Mother in order to prepare the children for her coming. The narration has been summarized by SCTJM (Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary).

Apparition of the Angel of Peace

First apparition of the Angel :

We went with the flock up the mountain to find shade, and after having lunch and praying our prayers, we saw in the distance, above the peak of a tree, a light whiter than snow. It had the form of a young man, and it was transparent and more brilliant than a crystal pierced by the rays of the sun.

As it came nearer, we were able to discern and distinguish the features. We were surprised and amazed.

Arriving beside us he said, "Do not be afraid. I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me!"

Kneeling on the ground, he inclined his head to the ground. We imitated him, taken in by the supernatural moment, and we repeated the words we heard him say:

"My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love you. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, adore, hope and love you."

After repeating this three times he stood and said, " Pray like this. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications."

Then he disappeared . . .The awareness of God’s presence was so intense and profound that we did not attempt to speak with each other. We remained in the position in which the Angel had left us, repeating the prayer the angel had given us.

We did not mention anything about this apparition to others, but at the same time, we did not forbid one another to speak about it.

Second apparition of the Angel:

It happened in the middle of the summer at noon, when we were taking the flock to the house. We planned to return in the afternoon. We were in the shade of the trees surrounding the well of Arneiro’s Ranch when the angel appeared to us again.

- He said, "What are you doing? Pray! Pray very much! The Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of Mercy for you. Offer constant prayers and sacrifices to the Almighty!"

- "How are we to sacrifice?" I asked.

- He replied, "You can offer sacrifices as acts of reparation for sinners, by whom He is so much offended, and you can beg for the conversion of sinners. This will bring your country peace.

"Iam the Guardian Angel of Portugal. Above all, accept with submission the sufferings the Lord sends you." These words made a profound impression on us. They were like lights that allowed us to comprehend who God is, how much He loves us and desires to be loved, the value of sacrifice and how much it pleases Him, and how He grants the grace of conversion of sinners through sacrifice.

From that moment on, we started to offer the Lord all the sufferings possible and repeat the prayer the Angel taught us.

Third apparition of the Angel :

Around October or the end of September, we spent a day going from Pregueira to the Cave Loca de Cabeco, walking around the mountain next to Aljustrel and Casa Velha. There we prayed our rosary and the prayer the Angel taught us in the first apparition.

While we were there, he appeared the third time, holding a Chalice in his hands. A host was suspended over the Chalice, and drops of were falling from it into the Chalice.

Leaving the Chalice and the Host suspended in the air, he prostrated on the ground and repeated three times this prayer:

"Blessed Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore you profoundly and I offer the Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, present in all the Tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the offenses, sacrileges, and indifferences by which He is so offended. And by the infinite merits of your Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I ask for the conversion of poor sinners."

" As he stood up, the Angel took the Chalice and the Host. He gave me the Host, and the content of the Chalice he gave to Jacinta and Francisco, saying at the same time:

"Eat the Body and drink the Blood of Jesus Christ, horribly offended by ungrateful men. Make reparation for their crimes and console your God."

Again the Angel prostrated on the ground and repeated with us three times the same prayer: "Blessed Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore you profoundly and I offer the Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, present in all the Tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the offenses, sacrileges, indifferences by which He is so offended. And by the infinite merits of your Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I ask for the conversion of poor sinners." Then he disappeared.

During the following days our actions were driven by this supernatural power. We felt great inner peace and joy, which kept our souls completely immersed in God.

Lucia Dos Santos was born on March 22 nd , 1907, also in Ajustrel. At the age of nine, she was sent with her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Matos to shepherd the sheep as usual. It was then that they received the visit of the Virgin in Cova de Iria.

Lucia entered the Sisters of St. Dorothy in 1921. She was with them in Tui and Pontevedra, Spain. In both cities she had important visits from Jesus and Mary. She received the Promises of the First Saturdays, the Vision of the Blessed Trinity and the petition to consecrate Russia in 1929.

In 1946 she returned to Portugal, and two years later entered the Carmel of St. Teresa in Coimbra, where she professed her vows as a Carmelite in 1949.

The Virgin told Francisco and Jacinta that they would go to heaven soon, but Lucia was to stay on earth to propagate Her messages. This is precisely what happened. The Pope beatified Francisco and Jacinta Marto during the Jubilee Year 2000 in Cova de Iria, the sanctuary of the apparitions. Many people were present on one of the coldest days registered in Fatima. Next to Pope John Paul II stood Sister Lucia.

Sister Lucia wrote two volumes of her " Memoirs" and the " The Callings of the Fatima Messages."

She died on February 13 th , 2005 during the novena of Blessed Francisco and Jacinta, in her dear Carmel, where many believe that our Lady still visited her and where Pope John Paul II also visited.

Interview with Sister Lucia

March 8, 1998

The monthly Catholic Portugese magazine "Christus," published in Lisboa by an editorial group "Seminary," printed the first interview ever given by Sister Lucia on March 3 rd , 1998 . She was the only survivor of the three visionary children to whom our Lady appeared in Fatima, 1917.

Sister Lucia was almost 90 years old at the time of the interview. She was living in the Carmelite Convent of Coimbra for half a century and had conversed with Cardinals Anthony Padiyara of India and Ricardo Vidal of the Phillippines.

Conversion of Russia

In the interview granted by Sister Lucia, she was explicit in her allusions about the consecration and conversion of Russia. Sister Lucia did not exclude any important facts. When Our Blessed Mother asked the three children to pray for this intention, she did not know what Russia was. "We thought it was a very bad woman." With time Sister Lucia began to understand the cruelty and the dramatic history of the people of Russia.

She herself outlived communism and witnessed the dissolution of the Soviet block. Could this event be interpreted as a sign of Russia’s conversion? To this question, Sister Lucia refered to the man in Russia who "without knowing it, was God’s instrument for the conversion." - Gorbachov? - Yes.

The Third Secret

Many people associate the apparitions of the Virgin at Fatima with the enigma of the third secret. To the question if the secret had to do with Second Vatican Council, the religious limited her response: "I cannot respond." When she was asked where the third secret is apocalyptic she clarified: "Our Lady did not say it was in the Book of Revelation." But if she does not want the third secret of Fatima to be known, can the Pope make it known? The sister responded with simplicity that the Pope can reveal it if he wishes, "but I recommend for him not to reveal it. If he decides to, I recommend for him to be very prudent."

The interview asked is was still having apparitions of Our Lady. Sister Lucia responded, " How curious . . . . I cannot say." Hell

The Virgin also spoke about hell, a theme that had been popular before and was now absent. Sister Lucia’s words were very clear: "Hell is a reality. It is a supernatural fire and not physical. It cannot be compared to fire that burns wood or charcoal." She offered advice to priests on this topic: "Continue preaching about hell because Our Lord himself spoke about hell, and it is in Sacred Scripture. God does not condemn anyone to hell. God gave men the liberty to choose, and God respects this human liberty."

Atheism and materialism

Sister Lucia recognizes, "atheism is a greater instrument utilized by the devil in our days. It is a grave sin against God that rejects His own existence and allows the practice of a variety of diabolic acts like abortion." As well, she said, "Communism ended, but materialism continues...People should desire more the things of God instead of first desiring the material things." Final Message

The Cardinals asked her if she wanted to conclude with anything in particular, a message for the world today. She responded: "He who is not with the Pope is not with God; and he who wants to be with God has to be with the Pope."

Back to the Main Page on the Saints >>  

More on Our Lady of Fatima...

Link to the Third Part of the Secret of Fatima and its Commentaries >> Link to Official Page of Shrine in Fatima, Portugal >> JPII's homily in Fatima, 1982: "Mary's Maternal Love" >> Message of JPII for Sr. Lucia's funeral>> Consecration of the World to the Immaculate Heart of Mary - JPII >> Homily of Beatification of Bls. Jacinta and Francisco>>  

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This page is the work of the servants of the pierced hearts of jesus and mary copyright © 2006- sctjm.

The Sixth and Last Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima – October 13, 1917

This article originally appeared on  AMERICA NEEDS FATIMA  and is being used under Section 107 of the Copyright Act. It is for non-profit use to bring about the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart into the world. If you have any questions please contact  [email protected] .

As on the other occasions, the seers, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta, first saw a bright light, and then they saw Our Lady over the holm oak.

Lucia:  What does Your Grace wish of me?

Our Lady:  I wish to tell you that I want a chapel built here in my honor. I am the Lady of the Rosary. Continue to pray the rosary every day. The war is going to end, and the soldiers will soon return to their homes.

Lucia:  I have many things to ask you: if you would cure some sick persons, and if you would convert some sinners…

Our Lady:  Some yes, others no. They must amend their lives and ask forgiveness for their sins.

Becoming sadder, she added, “Let them offend Our Lord no more for He is already much offended.”

Then, opening her hands, Our Lady shone the light issuing from them onto the sun, and as she rose, her own radiance continued to be cast onto the sun.

At that moment, Lucia cried,  “Look at the sun!”   

Once Our Lady had disappeared in the expanse of the firmament, three scenes followed in succession, symbolizing first the joyful mysteries of the rosary, then the sorrowful mysteries, and, finally, the glorious mysteries. Lucia alone saw the three scenes; Francisco and Jacinta saw only the first.

The first scene:  Saint Joseph appeared beside the sun with the Child Jesus and Our Lady of the Rosary. It was the Holy Family. The Virgin was dressed in white with a blue mantle. Saint Joseph was also dressed in white, and the Child Jesus in light red. Saint Joseph blessed the crowd, making the Sign of the Cross three times. The Child Jesus did the same.

The second scene:  A vision of Our Lady of Sorrows, without the sword in her breast, and of Our Lord overwhelmed with sorrow on the way to Calvary.

Our Lord made the Sign of the Cross to bless the people.

Lucia could only see the upper part of Our Lord’s body.

The third scene:  Finally, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, crowned queen of heaven and earth, appeared in a glorious vision holding the Child Jesus near her heart.

While these scenes took place, the great throng of 70,000 spectators witnessed the miracle of the sun.

It had rained all during the apparition. At the end of the conversation between Our Lady and Lucia – when the Blessed Virgin rose and Lucia shouted, “Look at the sun!” – the clouds parted, revealing the sun as an immense silver disk shining with an intensity never before seen – though not blinding.

This lasted only an instant. Then the immense disk began to “dance.”

The sun spun rapidly like a gigantic circle of fire. Then it stopped momentarily, only to begin spinning vertiginously again. Its rim became scarlet; whirling, it scattered red flames across the sky.

Their light was reflected on the ground, on the trees, on the bushes, and on the faces and clothing of the people, which took on brilliant hues and changing colors.

After performing this bizarre pattern three times, the globe of fire seemed to tremble, shake, and then plunge in a zigzag toward the terrified crowd.

All this lasted about ten minutes. Finally, the sun zigzagged back to its original place and once again became still and brilliant, shining with its normal brightness. The cycle of the apparitions had ended.

Many people noticed that their clothes, soaking wet from the rain, had suddenly dried.

The miracle of the sun was also seen by numerous witnesses up to twenty-five miles away from the place of the apparition.

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