Fatima, Portugal
In 1916, in a small town of Portugal, three children: Lucia Santos - age 9, Francisco Marto - age 8, and Jacinta Marto - age 6 were out tending to sheep. They report being visited by a young male angel who identified himself as the Angel of Peace. The children reported that he appeared "as white as snow" and the sun rendered him as transparent as crystal. He taught the children how to pray, and then proceeded to pray with them before he disappeared. Again in 1916, the children were visited by the same Angel. This time, he instructed them to continue to pray and make sacrifices to God. A third visit that same year involved the Angel providing communion for the children while praying with them.
In May of 1917 the children were again tending to sheep when they saw a flash of lightening, despite no storm in the sky. After a second flash of light they saw a lady of dazzling light standing several feet away. They asked the woman where she was from. She replied "I am from heaven." She proceeded to ask the children to come to that same place on the 13th day of each month, at the same time, for 6 months. After telling family and locals, many individuals began accompanying them to this place of apparitions. As with other historical apparitions, many came to simply mock the children.
As time went on and other apparitions took place, the local government became involved since they were heavily opposed to religion at that time. However, despite being mocked, spat at by other local children, and threatened to boil them in oil by their Mayor, the children did not waiver in their proclamations. In their visits with Our Lady the children were given three secrets. They were also told that Francisco and Jacinta would soon be joining Our Lady in heaven. Francisco passed away in 1919 and Jancinta in 1920. Lucia, however, was chosen by God to perform some of his work here on earth. She passed away in 2005. Through the children's apparitions with the "Lady of the Rosary," as she named herself, the children were told three secrets and instructed not to reveal the content of those secrets. Years later, however, Lucia's priest demanded that she reveal the secrets. Being obedient, she documented the content of the messages (or what was experienced) as follows:
- First secret: They experienced visions of hell, where the souls of sinners will go.
- Second secret: They were told that World war I will soon end. However, there would be another war (World War II) should people continue to offend God, and Russia not be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
- Third secret: They were told about the 20th century persecution of Christians and that there would be a failed attempt to assassinate a Pope. This, as we now know, was Pope John Paul II whose failed assassination attempt occurred on the 64th anniversary of the first apparition of the Lady of Fatima, May 13, 1981.
To prove to the many thousands of people who came to witness the children during their apparition, the children asked Our Lady to show a sign that she was real, and to prove that they were not lying. Our Lady promised the children a sign to occur on October 13, 1917. This day would draw an estimated 70,000 people to the hillside, during torrential rain, to witness the children's apparition, and what would be known as the "Miracle of the Sun." This miracle, was not only seen by the 70,000 people who were present on the hillside, but also to people up to 25 miles away. Their experience of the miracle of the sun would result in many non-believer conversions to Christianity. It began after the children were instructed by the Virgin Mary to tell the people to close their umbrellas. The rain suddenly stopped and the clouds parted. The sun then "danced" in the sky while moving closer to the earth. This lasted 13 minutes and resulted in many people screaming due to their fear of the end of the world. After the miracle ended, the ground and all of the people's clothes were completely dry. If you would like to gain more of an insight into the story of Fatima, I would suggest watching the movie whose namesake is "Fatima."
Miracle of the Sun Images, Fatima, October 13, 1917:
I will assume that after learning of the apparitions at Fatima, and the Miracle of the Sun (involving 70,000+ people), you are now a believer. However, for those of you who require a bit more convincing, and a greater number of witnesses (yes, more than 70,000), please move forward to the next webpage, Zeitoun, Egypt.