Fatima

In the spring of 1916, on a quiet day, a strong wind blew and a bright light appeared. A young male aged 14-15 descended from heaven appearing to Lucia and her two cousins, Franco and Jacinta Marto.

As the male came closer to them, his appearance became brighter than snow, and he said to them:

                       “Don’t be afraid. I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me.”

He then knelt down, till his forehead touched the ground. He than started praying these words:

      “My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You! I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You!”

He repeated this prayer three times and then told the children:

        “Pray thus. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications.”

The Angel then left them. But the children felt so enveloped by the presence of God that they continued to pray like this for a longer period of time.

 The Angels Second Appearance

Some time later, in the months of summer of 1916, while the children were playing, the Angel appeared for the second time. He said:

          “What are you doing? Pray! Pray very much! The Hearts of Jesus and  Mary have merciful designs for you. Offer prayers and sacrifices constantly to the most High.”

Lucia asked what to sacrifice. The Angel answered:

           “Make everything you do a sacrifice, and offer it as an act of reparation for the sinners by which God is offended, and of supplication for the conversion of sinners. You thus draw down peace upon your country. I am its Guardian Angel, the Angel of Portugal. Above all, accept and bear with submission the suffering which the Lord will send you.”

He then vanished.

The three children fell to the ground, praying the prayer the Angel had taught them. The words spoken by the angel had such a strong effect on them, that they began to understand God, how much He loves everyone, how much He wants to be loved, how much sacrifices mean to Him, and how thankful He is through the sacrifices which He then converts sinners.

  The Angels Third Appearance

Praying the prayer the Angel taught them, the Angel appeared to the three children for the third and final time in autumn 1916. He was holding a chalice in His left hand and a Host in His right, from which blood was dropping off into the chalice. The Angel then left the chalice and Host in mid-air and kneeled to the ground to pray with them. The following prayer was said three times:

      “Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly, and offer You the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges, and indifference by which He Himself is offended. And, through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart, and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of You the conversion of the poor sinners.” 

He arose, took the chalice and Host, gave the Host to Lucia and gave the chalice to Franco and Jacinta whilst saying:

       “Take and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by ungrateful men. Make reparation for their crimes and console your God.”

The children then prayed this pray many times until it got dark and then they went home.

  The Appearances of Our Lady

            The First appearance of Our Lady - May 13 1917

The children were playing on Cova da Iria, where they saw two flashes of light and then Mary, Mother of Jesus, appeared and stood over a small tree. She was dressed in a white dress and her appearance was brighter than that of the sun. Then the following conversation took place:

            Do not be afraid, I will not harm you

Where are you from?

           I am from heaven

What do you want from me?

I have come to ask you to come here for six months in succession, on the 13^th day, at this hour. Later on, I will tell you who I am and what I want. Afterwards, I will return yet a seventh time.

Shall I go to heaven too?

           Yes, you will

And Jacinta?

            She will go also

And Francisco?

            He will go there too, but he must say many Rosaries

LUCIA HAD FRIENDS THAT DIED RECENTLY   

Is Maria das Neves in heaven?

       Yes, she is

And Amelia?

           She will be in purgatory until the end of the world

Are you willing to offer yourselves to God and bear all the sacrificing. He wills to send you, as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and of supplication for the Conversion of sinners?

Yes, we are willing.

       Then you are going to have much to suffer, but the grace of God will be your comfort. Pray the Rosary every day, in order to obtain peace for the world, and the ends of the war.

She then began to rise, moving to the east, until She disappeared.

The Second appearance of Our Lady - June 13 1917

Once again lightning flashed, Our Lady stood over the same small tree. The following conversation took place:

What do you want from me?

I wish you to come here on the 13^th of next month, to pray the Rosary every day, and to learn to read. Later, I will tell you what I want.

Lucia then asked for the cure of a sick person.

            If he is converted, he will be cured during the year.

I would like to ask you to take us to heaven.

Yes. I will take Jacinta and Francisco soon. But you are to stay here some time longer. Jesus wishes to make use of you to make me known and loved. He wants to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. The people that cherish this divine service will be saved and will be loved by God, just the like flowers that decorate His throne.

Am I to stay here alone?

No, my daughter. Are you suffering a great deal? Don’t lose heart I will never forsake you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.

As Our Lady spoke these last words, says Lucia, She opened her hands and for the second time, She communicated to us the rays of that same intense light. We saw ourselves in this light, immersed in God. Jacinta and Francisco seemed to be that part of the light, which rose towards heaven, and I in that which was poured out on the earth. In front of the palm of Our Lady’s right hand was a heart encircled by thorns, which pierced it. We understood that this was the Immaculate Heart of Mary outraged by the sins of humanity, and seeking reparation.

She then began to rise, moving to the east, until She disappeared.

The Third appearance of Our Lady – 13 July 1917

Again, Our Lady appeared to the children standing above the same tree.

What do you want of me?

I want you to come here on the 13^th of next month, to continue to pray the Rosary every day in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war, because only she can help you.

I would like to ask you to tell us who you are, and to work a miracle so that everybody will believe that you are appearing to us.

Continue to come here every month. In October, I will tell who I am and what I want, and I will perform a miracle for see and believe. Sacrifice yourselves for sinners, and say many times especially whenever you make some sacrifice: O Jesus, it is love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

First part of the secret

Lucia describes: As Our lady spoke these last words, she opened her hands once again as she had done during the two previous months. The rays of light seemed to penetrate the earth, we saw as it were a sea of fire. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames that issued from within themselves together with great clouds of smoke, now falling back on every side like sparks in huge fires, without weight or equilibrium, amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fear. The demons could be distinguished by their terrifying and repellent likeness to frightful and unknown animals, black and transparent like burning coals.

Lucia later admitted that if it were not for the presence of Mary, then they would have died from fear.

Second part of the secret

Terrified and as if to plead for help, the children looked up at Our Lady, who answered so kindly and so sadly:

You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many will be saved and there will be peace. The war is going to end; but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the pontification of Pius XI. When you see a night illuminated by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given you by God that he is about to punish the world for its crimes, by means of war, famine, and persecution of the Church and of the Holy Father. To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturday of each month. If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she will be converted and a period of peace will be granted to the world. In Portugal, the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved. Do not tell this to anybody. Francisco, yes, you may tell him.

When you pray the Rosary, say after each mystery: ‘O my Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fire of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are most in need.’

Is there anything more that you want of me?

           No, I do not want anything more of you today

She then began to rise, moving to the east, until She disappeared.

The Fourth appearance of Our Lady – 15 August 1917

This time around, the children were not able make it to Cova da Iria on the 13^th of that month, as they were locked up by administrator Ourem, who wanted to know the secrets.

They were released soon after. Then in a place called Valinhos, Lucia, Francisco and another cousin walked, they began to see signs that Our Lady will be appearing to them, they called for Jacinta who made it just on time.

What do you want from me?

I want you to continue going to Cova da Iria on the 13^th, and to continue praying the Rosary every day. In the last month, I will perform a miracle so that all may believe.

What do you want done with the money that the people leave behind in the Cova da Iria?

Have two litters made. One is to be carried by you and Jacinta and the two other girls dressed in white: the other to be carried by Francisco and three other boys. The money from the litters is for the fiesta of Our Lady of the Rosary, what is left over will help towards the construction of a chapel to be built here.

I would like to ask you to cure some sick persons.

            Yes, I will cure some of them during the year.

Then looking very sad, Our Lady said:

Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to hell, because there are none to sacrifice themselves and pray for them.

And as usual She then began to rise, moving to the east, until She disappeared.

Fifth appearance of Our Lady – 13 September 1917

Praying the Rosary in front of the small tree, many people gathered to pray with them. Then there was a flash of light, and then Our Lady appeared.

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 Dolours and Our Lady of Carmel. Saint Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus to bless the world. God is pleased with your sacrifices. He does not want you to sleep with the rope on, but only to wear it during the daytime.

I was told to ask you many things, the cure of some sick people, of a deaf.

Yes, I will cure some, but not others. In October I will perform a miracle so that all may believe.

Again She then began to rise, moving to the east, until She disappeared.

The Sixth appearance of Our Lady – 13 October 1917

As always a flash appeared above a small tree and Our Lady appeared.

What do you want from me?

I want to tell you that a chapel is to be built here in my honour. 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…..

Some yes, but not others. They must amend their lives and ask for forgiveness for their sins. Do not offend the Lord our God any more, because He is already so much offended.

Then, She opened 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. As She vanished, the children had visions of the three mysteries of the Rosary. Jacinta and Francisco only saw the first mystery, whereas Lucia saw all three.

            In the first mystery, St. Joseph stood with the Child Jesus and Our Lady beside the sun. This was the Holy Family; Our Lady of Dolours was dressed in a white robe with blue mantle, and Jesus in a light red dress. St. Joseph blessed the world by making the sign of the cross three times, Jesus did the same.

            The next was the scene of Our Lady of Carmel and Jesus nailed to the cross with much pain. Of the vision when Jesus was carrying the cross, He made the sign of the cross and blessed the people.

            The next vision was Our Lady of the Assumption, crowned Queen of heaven and earth, with baby Jesus in her hands.

            The Miracle