Fatima's Message
WHAT HAPPENED IN FATIMA?
We know what happened at Fatima thanks to Lucia dos Santos. She was one of three children who saw the Blessed Virgin Mary. Lucia spoke with her. Later in life, Lucia wrote an eyewitness account of what happened at Fatima. She was by then a Carmelite nun and she wrote in obedience to her religious superiors. Her vivid eyewitness account is published as Fatima in Lucia’s Own Words.
Our Lady appeared to three children, Lucia dos Santos, Francisco Marto, and Jacinta Marto. The year was 1917. At the time, the children were ten, nine and seven years of age respectively. All three lived in Aljustrel, a village in the parish of Fatima, Portugal. The apparitions took place on a small plot of land belonging to Lucia’s parents called the Cova da Iria, where the children used to graze their sheep.
A message of apocalyptic proportions was entrusted to these little children. The message was directed not only to the people of Fatima, not only to Portugal, but to all mankind!
Our Lady's Message to the World
The reason that Our Lady came to Fatima was to deliver a message to the world. This was delivered during her third apparition on 13 July 1917. The message is the most important point of the whole Fatima story.
Our Lady's
Requests
If we take on board Our Lady’s requests there will be peace and many souls will be saved. Our Lady asks us to put aside our sinful lifestyles and turn completely to God. There will be no peace in the world until mankind converts. Our Lady asks for prayers and penance for world peace and for the conversion of sinners. Especially she requests we pray the Rosary every day.
Three Fatima
Children
Both Jacinta and Francisco passed away shortly after the apparitions, as foretold by Our Lady. Lucia dos Santos joined the Sisters of Saint Dorothy at Tuy, Spain, and later became a Carmelite in Coimbra, Portugal. In 2005, Sister Lucia died in Coimbra Carmel and in the same year, her cause for beatification was officially opened.
The Church and Fatima
On 3 May 1922, the bishop of Leria (Fatima), Jose Carreia da Silva, opened the official investigation into the apparitions, which were declared worthy of belief on 13 May 1930.
Apparitions of the Angel
The Angel of Portugal, also known as the Angel of Peace appeared to the three Fatima children in the summer of 1916, one year before the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The children were visited three times by the angel.
Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima
The beautiful statue of Our Lady of Fatima whose photo appears throughout our website is the International Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima. This statue is not only exceptionally expressive but has an exceptional history.
Our Lady's Message to the World
The reason that Our Lady came to Fatima was to deliver a message to the world. This was delivered during her third apparition on 13 July 1917. The message is the most important point of the whole Fatima story.
Our Lady's
Requests
If we take on board Our Lady’s requests there will be peace and many souls will be saved. Our Lady asks us to put aside our sinful lifestyles and turn completely to God. There will be no peace in the world until mankind converts. Our Lady asks for prayers and penance for world peace and for the conversion of sinners. Especially she requests we pray the Rosary every day.
Three Fatima
Children
Both Jacinta and Francisco passed away shortly after the apparitions, as foretold by Our Lady. Lucia dos Santos joined the Sisters of Saint Dorothy at Tuy, Spain, and later became a Carmelite in Coimbra, Portugal. In 2005, Sister Lucia died in Coimbra Carmel and in the same year, her cause for beatification was officially opened.
The Church and Fatima
On 3 May 1922, the bishop of Leria (Fatima), Jose Carreia da Silva, opened the official investigation into the apparitions, which were declared worthy of belief on 13 May 1930.
Apparitions of the Angel
The Angel of Portugal, also known as the Angel of Peace appeared to the three Fatima children in the summer of 1916, one year before the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The children were visited three times by the angel.
Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima
The beautiful statue of Our Lady of Fatima whose photo appears throughout our website is the International Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima. This statue is not only exceptionally expressive but has an exceptional history.
Fatima is a beacon of hope in the darkness of our times!
Fatima is the greatest supernatural event of the last hundred years.
It is the solution for the crisis our world is going through.
It is a remedy for the salvation of countless souls.
Fatima is a beacon of hope in the darkness of our times!
Fatima is the greatest supernatural event of the last hundred years.
It is the solution for the crisis our world is going through.
It is a remedy for the salvation of countless souls.
Our Lady's Message to the World
The reason that Our Lady came to Fatima was to deliver a message to the world. This was delivered during her third apparition on 13 July 1917. The message is the most important point of the whole Fatima story.
“Our Lady showed us a great sea of fire which seemed to be under the earth,” wrote Lucia. “Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning coals floating about in the blaze, now thrown 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 a great bonfire, without weight or balance, 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 repulsive shapes, like frightful unknown animals, all black and transparent.
This vision lasted but an instant. How can we ever repay our kind heavenly Mother, who had already prepared us by promising, in the first apparition, to take us to heaven? Otherwise, I think we would have died of fear and terror.”
“You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go,” said Our Lady. “To save them, God wishes to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world. If what I say is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.” Then Our Lady described the terrible things that would soon happen in the world because of sin:
“The war is going to end: but if they do not stop offending God, an even worse war will begin during the reign of Pius XI. When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is a great sign God gives you 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.”
‘God wishes to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world. If what I say is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.’
“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 shall 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…”
The third part of the secret is best left to Sister Lucia herself to tell:
“After the two parts which I have already explained,” writes Lucia, “at the left of Our Lady, and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand. Flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendour that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand.”
Pointing to the earth with his right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: ‘Penance, Penance, Penance!’
“And we saw, in an immense light that is God, a bishop dressed in white – we had the impression it was the Holy Father – other bishops, priests, men and women religious, all of them climbing a steep mountain, at the top of which was a large rough Cross.”
“Before reaching this point (the cross), the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins. He trembled with a halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, praying for the souls of the corpses he met on his way. Having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the large cross, he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him. And in the same way there died, one after another, the other bishops, priests, men and women religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions.”
“Beneath the two arms of the Cross were two Angels, each with a crystal chalice in his hand, into which they gathered up the blood of the martyrs and with it doused the people who were making their way to God.”
Our Lady's Message to the World
The reason that Our Lady came to Fatima was to deliver a message to the world. This was delivered during her third apparition on 13 July 1917. The message is the most important point of the whole Fatima story.
“Our Lady showed us a great sea of fire which seemed to be under the earth,” wrote Lucia. “Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning coals floating about in the blaze, now thrown 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 a great bonfire, without weight or balance, 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 repulsive shapes, like frightful unknown animals, all black and transparent.
This vision lasted but an instant. How can we ever repay our kind heavenly Mother, who had already prepared us by promising, in the first apparition, to take us to heaven? Otherwise, I think we would have died of fear and terror.”
“You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go,” said Our Lady. “To save them, God wishes to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world. If what I say is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.” Then Our Lady described the terrible things that would soon happen in the world because of sin:
“The war is going to end: but if they do not stop offending God, an even worse war will begin during the reign of Pius XI. When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is a great sign God gives you 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.”
‘God wishes to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world. If what I say is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.’
“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 shall 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…”
The third part of the secret is best left to Sister Lucia herself to tell:
“After the two parts which I have already explained,” writes Lucia, “at the left of Our Lady, and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand. Flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendour that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand.”
Pointing to the earth with his right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: ‘Penance, Penance, Penance!’
“And we saw, in an immense light that is God, a bishop dressed in white – we had the impression it was the Holy Father – other bishops, priests, men and women religious, all of them climbing a steep mountain, at the top of which was a large rough Cross.”
“Before reaching this point (the cross), the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins. He trembled with a halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, praying for the souls of the corpses he met on his way. Having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the large cross, he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him. And in the same way there died, one after another, the other bishops, priests, men and women religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions.”
“Beneath the two arms of the Cross were two Angels, each with a crystal chalice in his hand, into which they gathered up the blood of the martyrs and with it doused the people who were making their way to God.”
Our Lady's Requests
01.
Conversion and Amendment of Life
Our Lady asks us to put aside our sinful lifestyles and turn completely to God. There will be no peace in the world until mankind converts.
02.
Prayers & Penance
Our Lady asks for prayers and penance for world peace and for the conversion of sinners. Especially she requests we pray the Rosary every day.
03.
Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Our Lady asks for the Pope, in union with all the bishops of the world, to consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart. At Fatima, she said “I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart.”
And over ten years later, on the night of 13 June 1929, she appeared to Sister Lucia saying, “God is asking the Holy Father to consecrate Russia to my Immaculate Heart in union with all the bishops of the world. He promises to save it by this means.”
04.
First Saturdays Devotion
When she appeared at Fatima in 1917, Our Lady said she would come to ask for the ‘Five First Saturdays devotion’.
This she did on 10 December 1925, when she appeared to Sister Lucia saying: “I promise to assist at the moment of death with the graces necessary for salvation all who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to confession, receive Holy Communion, pray the Rosary, and keep me company for a quarter of an hour while meditating on the fifteen mysteries with the intention of offering me reparation.”
Three Fatima Children
Saint Jacinta Marto
Saint Francisco Marto
Sister Lucia dos Santos
The Church & Fatima
The bishop's pastoral letter states:
The apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima have been the subject of keen interest on the part of every Pope since 1917 and several have gone there as pilgrims.
1917
The Apparition of Fatima, in Portugal, saw the Blessed Virgin Mary appearing to the hree shepherd children.
1921
The first bishop of Fatima, Bishop Jose da Silva, conducted a thorough investigation of the children who had seen the vision of Our Lady in 1917, and declared it to be a true apparition of the Virgin Mary. Bishop da Silva also established a special chapel in Fatima where people could come to pray, and it remains a major pilgrimage site today.
1944
Pope Pius XII established the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
1946
On 13 May 13 1946, the papal legate Cardinal Masella crowned a statue of Our Lady of Fatima at the Cova da Iria on behalf of Pope Pius XII.
1956
Cardinal Roncalli (later Pope Saint John XXIII), in his homily at Fatima prayed through the intercession of Mary for the grace of justice, mercy and peace. When Cardinal Roncalli became Pope, he established the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.
1965-67
Pope Paul VI stressed the importance of the Fatima message. In a speech at the end of the third session of the Second Vatican Council he promised to send a Golden Rose to Fatima. He sent it to the shrine in 1965, with the papal legate, Cardinal Cento. Paul VI went on pilgrimage to Fatima on 13 May 1967 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the apparitions.
1977
Cardinal Luciani (later Pope John Paul I) went on pilgrimage to Fatima on 10 July 1977 and prayed a Rosary there.
1982 to 2000
Pope Saint John Paul II was well known for his deep devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. On 13 May 1982, first anniversary of the 1981 assassination attempt, he placed a votive offering of a golden rosary in the sanctuary in gratitude for Our Lady saving his life. On 13 May 2000, Pope Saint John Paul II beatified Francisco and Jacinta Marto in Fatima.
2008
Pope Benedict XVI instructed the beatification process of Sister Lucia to begin earlier than the required five years after her death. In May 2010 he went on pilgrimage to Fatima.
The Church & Fatima
The bishop's pastoral letter states:
The apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima have been the subject of keen interest on the part of every Pope since 1917 and several have gone there as pilgrims.
1917
The Apparition of Fatima, in Portugal, saw the Blessed Virgin Mary appearing to the hree shepherd children.
1921
The first bishop of Fatima, Bishop Jose da Silva, conducted a thorough investigation of the children who had seen the vision of Our Lady in 1917, and declared it to be a true apparition of the Virgin Mary. Bishop da Silva also established a special chapel in Fatima where people could come to pray, and it remains a major pilgrimage site today.
1944
Pope Pius XII established the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
1946
On 13 May 13 1946, the papal legate Cardinal Masella crowned a statue of Our Lady of Fatima at the Cova da Iria on behalf of Pope Pius XII.
1956
Cardinal Roncalli (later Pope Saint John XXIII), in his homily at Fatima prayed through the intercession of Mary for the grace of justice, mercy and peace. When Cardinal Roncalli became Pope, he established the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.
1965-67
Pope Paul VI stressed the importance of the Fatima message. In a speech at the end of the third session of the Second Vatican Council he promised to send a Golden Rose to Fatima. He sent it to the shrine in 1965, with the papal legate, Cardinal Cento. Paul VI went on pilgrimage to Fatima on 13 May 1967 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the apparitions.
1977
Cardinal Luciani (later Pope John Paul I) went on pilgrimage to Fatima on 10 July 1977 and prayed a Rosary there.
1982 to 2000
Pope Saint John Paul II was well known for his deep devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. On 13 May 1982, first anniversary of the 1981 assassination attempt, he placed a votive offering of a golden rosary in the sanctuary in gratitude for Our Lady saving his life. On 13 May 2000, Pope Saint John Paul II beatified Francisco and Jacinta Marto in Fatima.
2008
Pope Benedict XVI instructed the beatification process of Sister Lucia to begin earlier than the required five years after her death. In May 2010 he went on pilgrimage to Fatima.
Apparations of the Angel
The Angel of Portugal, also known as the Angel of Peace appeared to the three Fatima children in the summer of 1916, one year before the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The children were visited three times by the angel.
The first apparition of the angel took place in spring or summer of 1916, near Aljustrel, on the rock outcrop where the children frequently played known as the Cabeco.
Sister Lucia recalls: “We played for a while, when suddenly a strong wind shook the trees, which led us to wonder what was happening, because the day was sunny. Then we saw in the distance, above the trees east of us, a light whiter than snow, in the shape of a transparent young man, clearer than crystal in the sunshine. As he drew near, we were able to discern his character: a young man aged about 14 or 15 years, of amazing beauty.”
‘O my God, I believe, I adore you, I hope, and I love you. I beg pardon of Thee for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love Thee.’
We were surprised and excited. We could not utter a word. He soon approached us, saying, ‘Do not be afraid. I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me.’ And his knees bent until his forehead touched the ground. Inspired, we imitated the angel, and we began to repeat his words: ‘O my God, I believe, I adore you, I hope, and I love you. I beg pardon of Thee for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love Thee.’
After repeating these words three times, the angel got up and said: ‘Pray thus. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to your requests.’ Then he disappeared.
The atmosphere of the supernatural which enveloped us was so strong that for a long time we almost did not notice our own existence, but remained in the same position in which the angel left us, repeating over and over the same prayer.
God’s presence was so strong and so profound that it we could not even speak about it to each other. The next day, we still felt embraced by the presence, which began to disappear very slowly. We decided not to talk about it but keep it secret. This presence was so profound that it was not easy to say even a word about it. This appearance made more of an impression, probably because it was the first.
For the second time the angel appeared in the summer of 1916, near to Lucia’s home, by the well where the children were playing.
Pray! Pray a lot! The Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary want to show mercy through you. Offer prayers and mortification constantly to the Most High.
Lucia recalls the first startling words of the angel:
Angel: What are you doing? Pray! Pray a lot! The Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary want to show mercy through you. Offer prayers and mortification constantly to the Most High.
Lucia: How are we to mortify? I asked.
Angel: With everything you can, make a sacrifice to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and as supplication for the conversion of sinners. In this way, bring peace to your homeland. I’m the Guardian Angel of Portugal. Above all, humbly accept all the suffering, which God will send you.
Lucia concludes saying, “And with this, he disappeared. These words of the angel impressed upon our souls like a light, which allowed us to understand who God is, how He loves us, and wishes to be loved by us. It allowed us also to understand the value of mortification, how it is pleasing to God and how He converts sinners by it.”
The third apparition of the angel took place in the early autumn of 1916, at the Cabeco. Sister Lucia describes the event: As soon as we came there [the Cabeco], we began to say the angel’s prayer on our knees with foreheads touching the ground: ‘Oh my God I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love you etc..’
I do not remember how many times we had repeated this prayer when we saw a bright light on shining on us.
We straightened up to see what was happening and saw the angel holding a chalice in his left hand. He held a Host in his right hand, from which flowed drops of blood into the chalice. Leaving the chalice and Host suspended in the air, the angel knelt beside us and said the following prayer three times:
‘Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, we worship Thee profoundly and offer Thee 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 negligence with which He is offended. And by the infinite merits of His Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners.’
Then rising, he took the Chalice and Host in his hands. He gave the Host to me, and he gave the contents of the chalice to Jacinta and Francisco to drink, while saying: ‘Receive the Body and drink the Blood of Jesus Christ who is terribly insulted by ungrateful men. Make reparation for the crimes of your people, and comfort your God.’
Once again he bowed low to the ground, repeating with us three times the same prayer: ‘Most Holy Trinity, etc’.
Then he disappeared. Inspired by the supernatural force which enveloped us, we imitated the angel, that is, prostrating ourselves as he did, and repeating the prayers he said.
“Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, we worship Thee profoundly and offer Thee 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 negligence with which He is offended. And by the infinite merits of His Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners.”
The strength of God’s presence was so intense that it almost engulfed us. It seemed to deprive us the use of our bodily senses for a long time. During these days, we performed our physical actions as though sustained by that same supernatural force. We felt great peace and happiness in our inner souls, completely focused on God. Great physical weakness also overcame us.
I don’t know why, but the apparitions of Our Lady aroused in us very different effects. There was the same inner joy, the same calm, and same sense of happiness. But instead of physical weariness we felt a certain expansive liveliness. A sense of gladness instead of annihilation in God’s presence.
Instead of difficulty speaking, a kind of enthusiasm. But despite these feelings I felt inspired to remain silent, particularly about some things. During the investigations, I felt an inner inspiration that suggested to me the answers which, although true, would not disclose what I should keep secret.
Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima
The beautiful statue of Our Lady of Fatima whose photo appears throughout our website is the International Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima. This statue is not only exceptionally expressive but has an exceptional history.
In 1947, the Bishop of Leria-Fatima wished to make the apparitions better known, so he formulated a plan for a travelling ‘pilgrim’ statue of Our Lady of Fatima. It happened that about this time he was approached by an American, Mr John Haffert, one of the founders of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima (today the World Apostolate of Fatima) who was eager to help the bishop’s project by raising funds.
The bishop asked sculptor Jose Thedim – one of Portugal’s best – to carve two statues of Our Lady of Fatima from wood. Sister Lucia was asked to advise the sculptor so that the statues would resemble as closely as possible Our Lady as she appeared at Fatima.
When the artist was finished his work, four beautiful statues were ready. It was decided that one of these statues would travel continually in the East behind the Iron Curtain. A second one would do the same in the West. The third would remain in Fatima. The fourth would be sent to Rome.
John Haffert took charge of the western one, and this is the one we know today as the International Pilgrim Virgin. When she arrived in the United States for the first time, on 8 December 1947, over 200,000 people assembled on the US-Canada border to receive her.
The International Pilgrim Virgin has travelled around the world continually for the last seventy years. The number of graces obtained by multitudes of people who have honoured her is beyond count. Clearly, this statue has been chosen by Our Lady to be an instrument to touch hearts all over the world.
In the city of New Orleans, in 1972, the statue wept tears fifteen times. The event was widely reported in the media. Samples of the liquid dripping from her eyes were tested scientifically and found to have the chemical composition of human tears.
When the International Pilgrim Virgin statue was made, Sister Lucia remarked that of all the statues of Our Lady she had seen, this one had the greatest likeness to the ‘lady’ she spoke with at the Cova da Iria. Nonetheless, she said it falls far short of reality, because it is impossible to make a statue that comes anywhere near to the beauty of Our Lady herself.