THE FATIMA STORY

On May 13, 1917, when Europe was in the tumultuous throes of World War I, three children were shepherding sheep near the town of Fatima in Portugal. Their names were Lucia (age 10) and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta (age 9 and 7 respectively). It was at noon, and the children were playing on their way while shepherding sheep. Suddenly there was a great flash of light, brighter than lightning. The children thought it was going to rain and they decided to head for home. As they walked down the slope, another flash of light illumined the area, and they saw standing on top of a Holm oak tree a lady (Blessed Virgin Mary) brighter than the sun with a white rosary hanging from her hands. The children were so close to the apparition, and the light radiated from her showered them. Blessed Virgin Mary asked the three children to pray for peace and to make sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. She also requested that they return to this same spot on the 13th of each month for five consecutive months.

Though people disbelieved them at first, crowds began to gather on this day every month until 13th October, 1917. On 13th October, 1917, over fifty thousand people had come together Our Lady appeared to declare herself ‘Our Lady of the Rosary’ and the great Miracle of the Sun occurred. Many people including sceptical journalists who were there to report the event were converted. Less than three years later Francesco and Jacinta died, leaving Lucia to promote devotion to the Immaculate Heart.