Apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima Sister Lúcia

lúcia dos santos (left) fellow visionaries francisco , jacinta marto

between may , october 1917, lúcia , cousins jacinta , francisco marto reported visions of luminous lady, believed virgin mary, in cova da iria fields outside hamlet of aljustrel, near fátima, portugal. children said visitations took place on 13th day of each month @ approximately noon, 6 straight months. exception august, when children detained local administrator. month did not report vision of lady until after released jail, 2 days later.

according lúcia s accounts, lady told children penance , make sacrifices save sinners. lúcia said lady stressed importance of saying rosary every day, bring peace world. many young portuguese men, including relatives of visionaries, fighting in world war i. lúcia heard mary ask learn read , write because jesus wanted employ convey messages world mary, particularly immaculate heart of mary.

lúcia s mother did not take kindly news youngest daughter having visitations, believing lúcia making lies attention. heretofore favorite, lúcia suffered beatings , ridicule mother. incredulous of idea lúcia had been asked learn read , write.

the 3 secrets


lúcia dos santos (standing) cousin, jacinta marto, 1917

on july 13, 1917, around noon, lady said have entrusted children 3 secrets. 2 of secrets revealed in 1941 in document written lúcia, @ request of bishop of leiria, josé alves correia da silva, partly assist publication of new edition of book on jacinta.

on january 25, 1938, massive aurora borealis, described variously curtain of fire , huge blood-red beam of light, appeared in skies on europe , visible far away gibraltar , parts of united states. lúcia believed event night illuminated strange light in sky had heard mary speak part of second secret, predicting events lead second world war , requesting acts of reparation including first saturday devotions, along consecration of russia.

when asked josé alves correia da silva, bishop of leiria in 1943 reveal third secret, lúcia struggled short period, being not yet convinced god had authorized act. under strict obedience in accordance carmelite life, , conflicted whether should obey superiors, or personal orders had heard mary. however, in october 1943 fell ill influenza , pleurisy, same illness had killed cousins, , time believed die. bishop da silva ordered put third secret in writing. lúcia wrote down secret , sealed in envelope not opened until 1960. designated 1960 because thought appear clearer. text of third secret officially released pope john paul ii in 2000. vatican described secret vision of 1981 assassination attempt on pope john paul ii.

miracle of sun

the visions increasingly received wide publicity, , estimated seventy thousand witnesses reportedly present sixth , final apparition. lúcia had promised several months lady perform miracle on day may believe. witnesses present in cova da iria day, 25 miles (40 km) away, reported sun appeared change colors , rotate, fire wheel, casting off multicolored light across landscape. sun appeared plunge towards earth, frightening many believing end of world. others suggested had merely witnessed eclipse. popular expression, according o século reporter avelino de almeida, sun danced. event became known miracle of sun. episode reported portuguese secular media. coverage appeared in small article in new york times on october 17, 1917. lúcia reported day lady identified herself our lady of rosary. thereafter became known our lady of fátima.

on behalf of catholic church, bishop da silva approved visions worthy of belief on october 13, 1930.