Madonna Di Fatima - News Insights

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Our Lady of Fatima

The story of Our Lady of Fatima centers around the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children – Lúcia Santos and her cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto – in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. These events, imbued with messages of peace, prayer, and penance, have become one of the most significant and enduring Marian apparitions in the Catholic Church.

Between May 13th and October 13th, the Virgin Mary appeared to the children on the 13th day of each month. She identified herself as the Lady of the Rosary and urged the children to pray the rosary daily for peace in the world and the end of World War I. Her messages emphasized the importance of prayer, particularly the Rosary, and acts of penance and reparation for the sins of humanity.

The most well-known aspect of Fatima is the “Three Secrets.” The first two secrets, revealed to the children in 1917, involved a terrifying vision of hell and a prediction of the end of World War I, followed by a greater war if people did not cease offending God. The second secret also included a warning about the spread of communism and a call for the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The third secret was written down by Lúcia and kept secret for many years. It was finally revealed by Pope John Paul II in 2000. The widely accepted interpretation of the third secret is a prophecy of the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981, representing the persecution and suffering of Christians in the 20th century. It depicts a bishop dressed in white (believed to represent the Pope) being killed by soldiers after passing through a ruined city.

On October 13, 1917, the final apparition was accompanied by a miraculous event known as the “Miracle of the Sun.” Before a crowd of approximately 70,000 people, the sun appeared to dance in the sky, change colors, and emit rays of light. Many witnesses, including skeptics and secular journalists, reported seeing this extraordinary phenomenon. This miracle served as a powerful confirmation of the authenticity of the apparitions and the message of Fatima.

The events at Fatima have had a profound impact on the Catholic Church and the world. The message of Fatima continues to resonate, reminding people of the importance of prayer, penance, and conversion, particularly in the face of global conflict and moral decay. The Shrine of Fatima has become a major pilgrimage site, attracting millions of visitors each year who seek solace, spiritual renewal, and intercession from the Virgin Mary.

The children of Fatima were later recognized for their holiness. Francisco and Jacinta Marto died shortly after the apparitions during the Spanish Flu epidemic and were canonized as saints in 2017. Lúcia Santos became a Carmelite nun and lived until 2005. Her cause for canonization is currently underway.