Our Lady of Fatima: The 1917 Apparitions, the Three Secrets and Her Message
Quick answer
In 1917, three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, reported six apparitions of the Virgin Mary, who asked for prayer, penance and the daily Rosary. The local bishop approved the apparitions in 1930. The Holy See published the third part of the secret in 2000. The memorial of Our Lady of Fatima is May 13.
Key takeaways
- Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto reported apparitions from May 13 to October 13, 1917.
- Thousands of people reported an extraordinary sign in the sun on October 13, 1917.
- The bishop of Leiria declared the apparitions worthy of belief in 1930.
- Pope Francis canonized Francisco and Jacinta on May 13, 2017.
In 1917, while Europe was at war, three shepherd children in a poor Portuguese village said that a Lady brighter than the sun had asked them to pray. A century later, millions of pilgrims still go there.
The Three Children
Lúcia dos Santos was ten. Her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, were nine and seven. They tended sheep near Fatima. In 1916, they reported the visits of an angel who taught them to pray.
The Apparitions of 1917
On May 13, 1917, in a place called the Cova da Iria, the children said they saw a Lady who asked them to return on the thirteenth of each month. She asked for the daily Rosary for peace in the world and for the conversion of sinners.
They faced disbelief, and in August a local official jailed and threatened them. They did not change their story.
The Miracle of the Sun
The Lady had promised a sign on the last day. On October 13, 1917, a crowd of tens of thousands gathered in driving rain. Many witnesses, including reporters from secular newspapers, said that the sun appeared to spin and to plunge toward the earth, and that their soaked clothes were suddenly dry.
The Three Parts of the Secret
The children reported a secret in three parts:
- A vision of hell, shown to move them to pray for sinners.
- A call for devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, including a warning about war and a request for the consecration of Russia.
- A symbolic vision of a “bishop dressed in white” and martyrs, which was written down later and published by the Holy See in 2000.
The Holy See connected the third part with the sufferings of the Church in the twentieth century, and with the attempt on the life of St. John Paul II on May 13, 1981.
Fatima has often been misused. It has been cited to predict disasters and to attack the popes and the Second Vatican Council. These uses go against the plain message of the apparitions, which called people to prayer and to conversion, in union with the Church.
What Happened to the Children
Francisco died in 1919, and Jacinta in 1920, both after the influenza pandemic. Lúcia became a Carmelite nun and died in 2005, at the age of 97. St. John Paul II beatified the two younger children in 2000, and Pope Francis canonized them on May 13, 2017.
Living the Message
- Pray the Rosary each day. Try our Rosary for today.
- Offer small sacrifices for others.
- Go to confession and receive Communion, especially on the First Saturdays.
- Pray for peace.
Prayer of the Angel of Fatima (Traditional)
My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee.
A Prayer to Our Lady of Fatima (Original Prayer)
Our Lady of Fatima, you asked for prayer and penance. Help me to answer you with a generous heart. Pray for peace in our world and in our homes. Amen.
Continue Reading
Read why Catholics pray to Mary and what the Church teaches about the end times.
Frequently asked questions
What was the message of Fatima?
Prayer, especially the daily Rosary, penance for sinners, conversion and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Do Catholics have to believe in Fatima?
No. Fatima is an approved private revelation. Catholics are free to accept it, and it adds nothing to the faith (CCC 67).
Was the whole third secret published?
The Holy See published the text on June 26, 2000, with a commentary by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Sister Lúcia confirmed it was the text she had written. Claims that a further hidden text exists and that it condemns the Church's popes have no basis in that record.
What is the Fatima prayer?
It is the short prayer often added after each decade of the Rosary. "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy."
Sources
- Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, The Message of Fatima (June 26, 2000)
- Britannica, Our Lady of Fátima
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 67, 971, 2678, 2708
