Apparitions of Our Lady in Fatima
In 1917, Mary Mother of God appeared six times within six consecutive months to three little shepherds of Fatima: Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia. Mary brought some important messages to the world during the apparitions.
See the full messages of Our Lady of Fatima below.
Apparitions of the Angel of Peace; Guardian Angel of Portugal
Fatima, Portugal 1916
Apparitions of the Angel
In 1916, a year before the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the three little shepherds began to witness the apparitions of the angel. Based on the accounts of Sister Lucia, the first apparition of the angel took place around the spring of 1916.
First Apparition of the Angel
This is Sister Lucia's account:
"I think it was in the spring of 1916 that the Angel appeared to us for the first time at Loca do Cabeço." (A cave on top of a hill.)
"As we were playing, a strong wind shook the trees. It was a calm day, so the strong wind was noticeable. We looked up to see what was happening. Then we saw above the trees, the shape of a transparent young man who was more brilliant than the sun.”
"As he approached, we saw he was of great beauty about fourteen or fifteen years old. We were speechless.”
"Once he drew near us, he said:
'Fear not. I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me.' "Kneeling down, he bowed until his forehead touched the ground.”
Led by a supernatural inspiration, we imitated him and repeated the words we heard him say: 'My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love Thee. I beg Thee pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love Thee.'
"After he had repeated this three times, he rose and said: 'Pray thus. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications.' Then he disappeared.
Second Apparition of the Angel
The second apparition of the Angel of Portugal occurred around the summer of 1916 at the well behind the house of Lucia's parents.
This Sister Lucia’s account:
"On a hot summer’s day, we were playing near a well my parents had in the kitchen garden we called Arneiro, suddenly we saw near us, the same figure or Angel.” “What are you doing? Pray! Pray! The Hearts of Jesus and Mary have merciful designs upon you. Offer prayers and sacrifices constantly to the Almighty!”
"How can we accomplish this?” I asked.
"In every way you can, offer a sacrifice in reparation for the sins that offend Him and to implore the conversion of sinners. In this way you will obtain peace for your country. I am its Guardian Angel, the Angel of Portugal. Above all, accept and humbly endure the sufferings the Lord sends you.”
"The angel's words sank deeply into our souls like a burning torch, showing us who God and His love are for us, and how much He wishes to be loved too; the value of sacrifice and how sacrifice pleases Him, and how He converts sinners through our sacrifice. This is why from that time; we began to offer Him whatever that mortified us"
Third Apparition of the Angel
The third apparition occurred either at the end of the summer or the beginning of the fall of 1916 at Loca do Cabeço, the location of the first apparition.
Sister Lucia's account:
"As we arrived at Loca do Cabeço, we fell on our knees and began to say the prayer the angel taught us, with our faces to the ground.”
'My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love Thee....' “I do not know how many times we said this prayer when we saw a bright light shining over our heads. Looking up we saw the angel bearing a chalice in his left hand and a Host over the chalice. Drops of blood fell into the chalice from the Host suspended over it.” Leaving the chalice and the Host suspended in the air, the angel prostrated himself beside us and said the following prayer three times:
"'Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I adore Thee profoundly and I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the earth, in reparation for the insults, sacrileges, and indifference with which He is offended. And through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg Thee for the conversion of poor sinners.'
"After this, rising up, he again took the chalice and the Host in his hand; he gave the Host to me and the contents of the chalice to Jacinta and Francisco to drink, saying:
'Eat and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, who is horribly offended by ungrateful men. Make reparation for their crimes and console your God.'
"He again prostrated himself on the ground and repeated with us the same prayer three more times. 'Most Holy Trinity....' Then he disappeared."
We remained a long time prostrated and repeated the angel’s prayer.
First Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima
13th May 1917
A Lady Shining Brighter than the Sun
Sister Lucia's Account:
"One day, when I was playing with Jacinta and Francisco at the top of the slope of the Cova da Iria, building a little wall around a thicket, we suddenly saw something like a flash of lightening. "We better go home," I said to my cousins. "There are flashes of lightening, we may have a thunderstorm."
"Okay!" they replied
And we began to go down the slope, steering the sheep towards the road. When we were half way down, near a scarlet oak tree, we saw another flash of lightening, and after taking a few steps, we saw on the same scarlet oak, a lady dressed in white, shining brighter than the sun, projecting rays of clear and intense light, just like a crystal goblet full of crystal clear water when the fiery sun shines through it.
We stopped, astounded by the apparition. We were so near that we found ourselves engulfed in the light that encircled Her, or which She radiated, perhaps a metre and a half away. Then She spoke:
"Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you."
"Where do you come from?" asked Lucia.
"I am from Heaven." replied the Lady.
"And what do you want from me? asked Lucia.
"I have come to ask you to come here on the 13th day of each of the next six consecutive months at this exact time. Later, I will tell you who I am and what I want. After that, I will return for the 7th time.
"And will I go to Heaven?", asked Lucia.
"Yes, you will."
And Jacinta?"
"She will go also."
"And Francisco?"
"He will go too, but he must say many Rosaries."
Then I thought of asking Her about two girls who had died recently. They were my friends and had stayed in our house learning to weave with my oldest sister.
"Maria das Navas, is she already in Heaven?"
"Yes, she is."
And Amelia?"
"She is in Purgatory."
"Do you want to offer yourselves to God and endure all the sufferings He sends you, in atonement for the sins which offend Him and for the conversion of sinners?"
"Yes, we do!" the children replied.
"Then you will have to suffer very much, but God's grace will be your comfort."
When pronouncing these words, "God's," etc., She opened her hands for the first time, shedding upon us a very intense light, like a reflection radiating from them, and penetrating our hearts and the depths of our souls showing us ourselves in God. He was that light, and we were then able to see much more clearly than in the finest mirror.
Then, as a consequence of an interior impulse which we received, we fell to our knees and repeated: "Oh, blessed Trinity, we adore Thee. My God, my God, I love Thee in the Blessed Sacrament"
After those first moments, Our Lady adds:
"Say the Rosary daily in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war."
After that, She began to rise slowly in the direction of the east until She disappeared in the immense distance. The light that encircled Her seemed to open the way amidst the stars, and that is why we sometimes said we had seen the Heavens open.
Second Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima.
13th June 1917
The Heart of Mary
Lucia's Account:
After having said the Rosary with Jacinta and Francisco and others who were present, we saw the reflection of light nearing us (we used to say it was the lightening following Our Lady on the scarlet oak as in May.)
"What do you want?" asked Lucia
"I want you to come here on the 13th of next month, to say the Rosary daily, and learn to read and write. After that I will tell you what I want."
I asked for the cure of a sick person.
"If this person converts to faith, he will be cured within a year."
"I ask you please take us to Heaven."
"Certainly, I will take Jacinta and Francisco soon. But you must stay here longer. Jesus wants you to make me known and loved. He wants to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. To those who embrace it, I promise salvation, and God will love these souls like flowers put by me to adore His throne."
"And will I remain here alone?" Lucia asked sorrowfully.
"No, my child. And does that make you suffer very much? Don't lose courage. I will never leave you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the path leading you to God."
The moment She said those last words, opening Her hands, She transmitted to us, for the second time, the reflection of that intense light. In it we felt we were submerged in the grace of God.
The moment She said those last words, opening Her hands, She transmitted to us, for the second time, the reflection of that intense light. In it we felt we were submerged in the grace of God. Jacinta and Francisco seemed to be in that part that of the light which was rising to heaven, and I in the part spreading over the earth.
In front of the palm of Our Lady’s right hand was a heart encircled with thorns which appeared to pierce it. We understood it was the Immaculate Heart of Mary offended by the sins of mankind, craving for reparation.
Francisco, terribly shocked by what he had seen, asked his companions:
“Why did Our Lady have a heart in Her hand, spreading that brilliant light that is God over the world?” “You, Lucia, was with Our Lady in the part of the light that spread over the earth. Jacinta and I were in the part rising to Heaven.”
- “This means, I told him, that you and Jacinta will soon go to Heaven, and I will remain longer in the world with the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
(Francisco died on the 4th of April 1919, at the age of 10, about two years after the apparition, and Jacinta died on the 20th of February 1920, at the age of 9, less than three years after the apparition. Sister Lucia died on the 13th of February 2005, at the age of 97.)
Third Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima
13th July 1917
Vision of the Hell Fire
Lucia's Account
A few minutes after we arrived at the Cova da Iria, near the scarlet oak, in the midst of a large crowd, when we were saying the Rosary, we saw the flash of the usual light and after that, the appearance of Our Lady on the scarlet oak.
- “What do you want?” – I asked
- “I want you to come here on the 13th of next month, to continue reciting the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, in order to obtain peace in the world and the end of the war, because only Our Lady can help you.”
‘I would like to ask You to tell us who You are, and to make a miracle so that everyone will believe that You are appearing to us.’
‘Continue to come here every month. In October, I will tell you who I am and what I want, and I will perform a miracle so that all might see and believe.’
Here I made some requests which I do not remember. What I do remember, is that Our Lady said it was necessary to say the Rosary in order to obtain these graces throughout the year.
Our Lady continued: ‘Sacrifice yourselves for sinners, and say often to Jesus, especially whenever you make a sacrifice:
O Jesus, it is for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.’
As Our Lady spoke these last words, She opened Her hands once more, as She had done during the two previous months. The rays of light seemed to penetrate the earth, and we saw what seemed like an ocean 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 the 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. (It must have been this sight which caused me to cry out, as people say they heard me). The demons could be distinguished by their terrifying and repellent likeness to frightful and unknown animals, black and transparent like burning coals. That vision lasted only a moment, thanks to our good Mother of Heaven, Who, at the first apparition, had promised to take us to Heaven. Without that, I think we would have died of terror and fear.
Terrified and as if to plead for help, we looked up at Our Lady, who said to us, 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 souls will be saved and there will be peace. The war is going to end; but if people do not stop offending God, a worse war will break out during the reign of Pius XI. When you see a night illumined 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 persecutions 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 Saturdays. 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, etc. 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 our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need of your mercy.’
After this, there was a moment of silence, and then I asked, ‘Is there anything more that You want of me?’
‘No, I do not want anything more of you today.’
Then, as before, Our Lady began to ascend towards the east, until She finally disappeared.
Fourth Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima
August 19, 1917
Though the Blessed Virgin Mary asked the three shepherds to come to Cova da Iria on the 13th of each of the six consecutive months, one of the apparitions did not go as anticipated. Apparition of the month of August did not only take place on the 19th instead of the 13th, it also did not take place at the Cova da Iria. Rather, the apparition of August took place at a place that is called Valinhos. What led to these changes?
On August 13, around 20,000 people gathered at the Cova da Iria to witness the apparition of Our Lady. However, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta were not there. They were in prison. The administrator of the district, Artur de Oliveira Santos, had held the three children in prison in Ourem. The children were arrested and taken away on 13th of August.
For two days, he used different means, including promises of gifts and threats of boiling them in a drum of hot oil, to extract from them either the Secret Our Lady had revealed to them and asked them not to disclose to anyone, or to compel them to make a confession that all they had said about the apparition of Our Lady were lies. The children refused vehemently to either disclose the secret to the authority or to deny the authenticity of the apparitions. Believing that they were going to be killed, they were rejoicing at the thought that they would soon be in Heaven. Realizing that they were not giving in, after two days, the administrator released the three children.
The Fought Apparition of Our Lady
Lucia’s Account:
On Sunday August 19, when we were guiding the sheep with Francisco and Joao, Francisco’ elder brother, in a place called Valinhos, sensing that something supernatural was coming near and encircling us, suspecting that Our Lady was going to appear, and feeling sorry that Jacinta would not see Her, we asked Joao, her brother, to go and call her. As he did not want to go, I offered him two pennies to do that, and he ran off. I saw, together with Francisco, the shining of the light which we call lightning. A moment after, Jacinta arrived and we saw Our Lady, again on the scarlet oak.
- “What do you want?”
- “I want you to continue going to Cova da Iria on the 13th of every month, to continue saying the Rosary daily. In the last month I will perform the miracle so that all may believe.”
- “What do you want us to do with the money that people leave at the Cova da Iria?” asked Jacinta
- “Make two andores, you and Jacinta and two other little girls dressed in white will carry one of them and Francisco and three little boys will carry the other. The money on the andores will be offered for the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and the remainder is to help in construction of a chapel that you must have built.”
- “I would like to ask you to cure several invalids.” Begs Lucia
- “Well, I will cure some of them during the year.”
And, becoming sad, She said:
- “Pray, pray very much and offer sacrifices for sinners. Many souls will go to hell because there is nobody to offer sacrifice for them,”
And, as usual, She began to rise in the direction of the east.
Fifth Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima
September 13, 1917
Lucia’s Account:
At about the usual time, I went with Jacinta and Francisco, moving with difficulty amid the crowd. The roads were packed with people, everybody striving to see us and talk to us. Many people, even ladies and gentlemen, forced their way through the crowd who surrounded us, knelt before us, asking us to present their needs to Our Lady. Others, being unable to get near us, shouted from a distance:
- “Oh! Ask Our Lady to cure my son who is a cripple,” asks a mother.
Another: - “Cure my son who is blind.”
“Please cure mine who is deaf.”
- “Please bring my husband and my son, fighting in the war back home to me.” To convert a sinner, to provide good health, to cure tuberculosis etc., etc
All the miseries of our poor humanity appeared there. Some people climbed the trees or got on the walls to see us pass and from there they shouted. Saying a word to some, giving a hand to others, helping them to rise from the dust, we continued on our way. Thanks to some gentlemen who opened a way for us through the crowd.
At last, we arrived at the Cova da Iria near the scarlet oak and began to say the Rosary with the multitude. Shortly after, we saw the reflection of the light and Our Lady on the oak tree.
- “Continue saying the Rosary in order to obtain the end to the war. In October, Our Lord will also come, and Our Lady of Sorrows and Mount Carmel, and St. Joseph with the infant Jesus, all to bestow Their blessings on the world. Almighty God is pleased with your sacrifices, but He does not want you to sleep with the cords. Use them only during the day.”
- “They have asked me to implore many things from you; to cure various sick people, one who is deaf and dumb,” begs Lucia.
- “I will cure some of them, but others no. In October, I will perform the miracle so that everybody will believe,”
And beginning to rise, She disappeared in the usual manner.
The Last Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima
October 13, 1917
Lucia's Account:
<<We left home rather early because we expected to have difficulties on the way because of the immense crowd. There was a mass of people and torrential rain. My mother, fearing that that would be the last day of my life and deeply troubled by the uncertainty of what was going to happen, wanted to go with me. On the way there, we were met with scenes like those of September, but more numerous and more touching. Not even the mud on the road prevented them from kneeling in the most humble and imploring manner. On arriving at the Cova da Iria, near the scarlet oak, moved by some interior impulse, I asked the people to shut their umbrellas. We began to say the Rosary. Shortly after, we saw the reflection of the light and, shortly, Our Lady appeared on the scarlet oak tree.>>
- "What do You want from me?" Lucia asks
- "I ask you to have a chapel built here in my honour." "I am the queen of the Holy Rosary. Continue to say the Rosary daily. The great war is coming to an end and soon the soldiers will return to their homes."
- "I have many things to ask You, to cure the sick, to convert sinners, " etc.
- "I will cure or convert some of them, others I will not. They must repent and beg for forgiveness for their sins."
And looking sadder:
- "Do not offend God anymore. You have offended Him so much."
And opening Her hands, She made them reflect on the sun, and as She was rising, the reflection of the light was projected on the sun.
That is why I exclaimed: <<Look at the sun! I had no intention of attracting the attention of the crowd to the sun, for I was not even aware of their presence. I did it solely because I was moved by an interior impulse>>
The miracle of the sun that was promised in July by Our Lady occurred as proof of the authenticity of the apparitions in Fatima. The rain stopped and the sun revolved many times, sending luminous rays of different colours in all directions. At a certain point, the sun seemed to be detached from the sky and about to fall on the crowd. The crowd were so frightened that they thought that was going to be the end of the world. After what appeared to be ten minutes of the spectacular phenomenon, the sun returned to its normal place.
In the meantime, the three shepherd children were favoured with other visions.
<<After Our Lady had disappeared in the immense distance of the sky, we saw at the side of the sun, St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady dressed in white with a blue mantle. It seemed that St. Joseph and the Child Jesus were blessing the world with gestures of their hands in the form of a cross.
The apparition disappeared, and shortly after, I saw Our Lord and Our Lady of Sorrows. It seemed
that Our Lord was blessing the world like St. Joseph. This apparition vanished too, and I seemed to see Our Lady of Mount Carmel.>>
Astonishing Miracle
Another astonishing aspect of the Miracle was that all the thousands of people, most of whom were soaked from the heavy persistent rain and dirty from the mud, suddenly found that their clothes were dry and clean.
This is one of the most surprising aspects of the miracle and the undeniable proof of its authenticity: The amount of solar energy that would be needed to naturally dry the clothes of the drenched crowd in such short a time, would have cremated everyone present at the Cova da Iria to ashes at that time. This miracle defies the laws of nature.
Many miracles of conversion also occurred on the spot. Here is one of them:
The captain of the regiment of soldiers on the mountain, who were given orders to prevent the gathering of the crowd, was converted instantly. Hundreds of other unbelievers who came to mock the entire phenomenon or came out of mere curiosity were converted.
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