History of the Apparition at Fatima
Where did the apparitions occur?
In Cova da Iria – a quarter in the city and civil parish of Fátima, a central west city that is located approximately 130 kms from the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. Cova da Iria was originally a field belonging to António dos Santos and Maria Rosa Ferreira, the parents of Lúcia – one of the three children.
The city is home to the Sanctuary of Fátima as well as the Capelinha das Aparições which marks the spot where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1917. The city has become an important international destination for religious tourists, receiving between 6 and 8 million pilgrims yearly.
When did the apparitions take place?
Between 13 May 1917 & 13 October 1917; each apparition occurring on the 13th of each month – with the exception of August 1917. Prior to these 6 apparitions, an angel appears 3 times in 1916 (in Valinhos, on the outskirts of Fátima), to help the three children prepare for the Marian apparitions.
Who are the three children that Our Lady appeared to?
Lúcia de Jesus Rosa dos Santos (28 March 1907 – 13 February 2005) was born in Aljustrel, Fátima. Oldest of the 3 children, Lúcia was aged 10 when the 1st of 6 Marian apparitions occurred. In 1925, she entered the Institute of the Sisters of St. Dorothy as a postulant and professed her perpetual vows on 3 October 1934, receiving the name Sister Maria das Dores (Mary of the Sorrows). After receiving special papal permission in March 1948 – to be relieved of her perpetual vows, Sr. Maria das Dores entered the Carmelite convent of Santa Teresa in Coimbra, where she made her profession as a Discalced Carmelite on 31 May 1949, taking the religious name Sister Maria Lúcia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart. She resided in Coimbra until her death on 13 February, 2005.
Francisco de Jesus Marto (11 June 1908 – April 4, 1919) was born in Aljustrel, Fátima. A cousin of Lucia, Francisco was aged 9 when the 1st of 6 Marian apparitions occurred. When a wave of influenza ravaged the globe, both Francisco & his sibling Jacinta became seriously ill with bronco-pneumonia. Having declined hospital treatment the day before, Francisco passed away on April 4, 1919 in his family home in Aljustrel, Fátima. He was not yet 11.
Jacinta de Jesus Marto (11 March 1910 – 20 February 1920) was born in Aljustrel, Fátima. The youngest child of Manuel and Olimpia Marto and sibling of Francisco, Jacinta was aged 7 when the 1st of 6 Marian apparitions occurred. The same influenza pandemic of 1918 – 1920 took its toll on Jacinta, developing pleurisy and having to endure an operation in which two of her ribs were removed. Because of the condition of her heart, she could not be fully anesthetised, and suffered terrible pain, which she said would help convert many sinners. Jacinta passed on in Hospital de Dona Estefânia, Lisbon on February 20, 1920. She was almost 11.
What happened during these Marian apparitions?
The Blessed Virgin Mary imparted messages to the children that world peace would only occur if they spread the godly message of prayer. She asks them to pray for the conversion of Russia, the violent trials that would afflict the world by means of war, starvation, and the persecution of the Church and the Holy Father in the twentieth century if the world did not make reparation for sins to do penance and that God wanted the world to have a devotion to Her Immaculate Heart.
First Apparition – 13 May 1917:
The Blessed Virgin Mary tells the children that she will be visiting on the 13th of each month for 6 months. She tells them that they will need to commit sacrifices and suffer, but that they will end up in heaven. She tells the children to say the rosary prayer every day to bring about peace and to devote themselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Second Apparition – 13 June 1917:
The Blessed Virgin Mary asks the children to add the Fatima prayer to the end of the Rosary. The children ask her to take them to heaven, but she says that it’s too soon. She says she will soon take Jacinta and Francisco, but Lucia will stay on earth for longer.
Third Apparition – 13 July 1917:
The Blessed Virgin Mary reveals the Three secrets. She shows the children that Hell is a horrible place. She also predicts the Second World War and the persecution of Christians in Russia. She goes on to warn that there will be further persecution of Christians.
Fourth Apparition – 19 August 1917:
This apparition doesn’t happen as planned as the children are imprisoned by the police. The police believed they were making up these apparitions and wanted the children to state that it was all a hoax. The children stood their ground and were later on released. Six days after the 13th of the month, The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared again and told the children to pray for sinners.
Fifth Apparition – 13 September 1917:
On this day, people gathered to see if The Blessed Virgin Mary would appear; instead white rose petals fell from the sky. As the witnesses touched them, they disappeared. Lucia asked The Blessed Virgin Mary to cure the sick but she responded that God could not cure those who were not healed nor repentant.
Sixth Apparition – 13 October 1917 – Miracle of the Sun:
There are reports of over 70,000 people being in attendance; in response to the prophecy made by the three children. According to various witness accounts, the rainy sky cleared up, and the ground that was wet from the rain became dry. The sun appeared “dancing around” and “zig-zagging” in the sky within broken clouds, giving it the name of the Miracle of the Sun. Some say that the dancing sun even appeared to fly closer to the earth and then jump back into its place quickly. Others also mentioned multi-coloured light and radiant colours all over the sky. They said the Miracle of the Sun lasted for at least 10 minutes & was seen over an area of 32 by 20 miles (an area of over 600 square miles).
Why did our Blessed Mother appear to the children?
On May 13, 1917, the children did not know the confused condition of the world. They had not heard the voice of Pope Benedict XV, who had addressed himself to the Mother of Mankind, asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to look upon the world that was in tears, to sympathise with the wailing of innocent children, the anguished cries of mothers and wives due to the ravages of WWI & with Russia being engulfed in internal strife & revolution – culminating in what was to be a Communist seizure of power in November 1917.
This was the day on which the Queen of Heaven had decided to answer the Holy Father’s plea.