The quaint little village of Fatima, located in the rugged Sierra da Aire, some ninety miles north of Lisbon, Portugal, was selected by Divine Providence as the sounding-board of God's own warning to a world that had gone astray.

It was in 1917, in the midst of furious warfare among the nations of the world, when Our Lady, the Queen of Peace, conveyed to three little children in six successive apparitions the saving messages from on high that told how to bring this terrible conflict to an end. Prayer and Penance, she announced, are the only and safest way to an abiding Peace.

The reports of these apparitions have been given the severest scrutinies and have been found trustworthy to the smallest details. Critics and unbelievers who were present at the great miracle of the sun on October 13, 1917, were unanimous in their expressions. This phenomenon, they declared, was overwhelming and the most outstanding in the history of the world. Seventy thousand people who witnessed this extraordinary prodigy were overcome with the fear of God and cried out to the Heavens: "God, save us and spare us. O Lord, forgive us our sins."

A new light of hope evolved from the skies of Fatima to a world which was on the brink of destruction, which, if followed, might once more lead its people to an era of peace and prosperity.

William Thomas Walsh, an author of high repute, expressed himself in his new creation, Our Lady of Fatima: "I came home from Portugal convinced that nothing is so important as making known what the Mother of God asked in those apparitions of 1917 . . . The future of our civilization, our liberties, our very existence may depend upon the acceptance of her commands." The acceptance, then, of the Apostolate of Our Lady of Fatima is imperative and challenges the world.

One day in the spring of 1916, when three little children, Lucia dos Santos, aged ten, and her little cousin Francisco Marto, aged nine, and his little sister Jacinta, only seven years old, were tending sheep near the village of Fatima, Portugal, the appearance of an oval of light of unusual brilliance startled them. The dazzling light seemed to advance from the end of the field toward the cave in which the young shepherds had sought shelter. In the midst of this light they beheld a young man who announced himself as the Angel of Peace. He taught the little seers a new prayer, and then vanished.

A few months later the Angel of Peace made his second appearance and urged the children to offer up sacrifices and prayers at all times. Upon asking what was meant by "sacrifice" they were told to offer everything in reparation to God for the sins by which He is offended and as a petition for the conversion of sinners. "Thus you will bring peace to our country," was the Angel's promise. At this last saying the children were baffled. Reading their thoughts, the Angel revealed that he was the Guardian Angel of Portugal.

In the fall of the same year the Angel appeared a third time. He carried a host in his right hand extended over a ciborium which he held with the left hand. Again the Angel taught the children a beautiful prayer and before parting distributed Holy Communion to the three little ones.

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and love You. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, who do not adore, who have no hope and who do not love You.

Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I offer to You, while I adore them, the very precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ present in all the tabernacles in the world, in reparation for the outrages by which He is Himself offended.

By the Infinite Merits of His Sacred Heart and by the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary I beg of You the conversion of sinners.

On Sunday morning, May 18, 1917, when the three little children, Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco were tending their sheep near the Cova da Iria, not far from the village of Fatima, a cloud suddenly appeared over an oak tree upon which was standing a Lady of radiant beauty. Lucia, the star-witness of all the apparitions, gives us the description of the first scene in these words:

"A young Lady of dazzling beauty seems to be overshadowed by sadness; her hands are joined over her breast in an attitude of prayer; her dress, white as snow, reaches to her feet and is fastened at the neck by a golden cord, the ends of which fall to her waist. A white mantle, edged with gold, covers her head and falls to her feet; in her hands she holds a Rosary of shining pearls with a silver cross."

"I come from Heaven," she answered the children when asked who she was.

"Go on always," she continued, "saying the Rosary as you have just done.... I have come to ask you to come here for six months in succession, on the 13th of each month at this same hour. In the month of October I shall tell you who I am and what I want."

And she continued: "Would you like to offer yourselves to God to make sacrifices, and to accept willingly all the sufferings it may please Him to send you, in order to make reparation for so many sins, which offend God, to obtain the conversion of sinners, and to make amends for all the blasphemies and offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary?"

"Yes, we should like that very much," answered Lucy in the name of all three.

On Wednesday, June 13, the Vision appeared on the same spot as the first apparition. Our Lady asked the children to return on July 13 and to recite the Rosary every day. Then, in conversation with the children, Our Lady confided a secret to the little ones. This secret, which is known as the first one, was revealed to the public at a later date and concerned the destiny of the three children and the world devotion to the Immaculate Heart.

Jacinta and Francis would not remain long in this world. For Lucy Providence had ordained a very special mission. When Lucy, the spokesman for the three, asked Our Lady to take them to heaven, the Blessed Lady replied: "Yes, I shall soon take Jacinta and Francis, but you must remain here for some time. Jesus wants you to be the means of making me known and loved. He wants to establish in the world the devotion to my Immaculate Heart."

As the Blessed Virgin opened her hands, a beam of light emanated from Our Lady upon the children, who immediately saw a heart surrounded with thorns. They understood this Heart to be the Immaculate Heart of Mary, asking for penance and reparation for the numberless sins of the world.

At the close of the apparition there was heard a loud report which sounded like the explosion of a rocket, so witnesses claimed, and Lucy cried: "There, she is going away."

All those who were present, although they did not see the apparition, were deeply moved by the mysterious events and most willingly joined the children in praying the Rosary on their way homeward.

Our Lady of Fatima stresses the Rosary prayer and promises a great miracle on October 13. She requests the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart with Holy Communion of Reparation on the First Saturday of each month. A great promise upon the fulfillment of these requests is announced:

When the Lady came on the thirteenth of July she again urged the recitation of the Rosary. Prayer! Penance! Communion in Reparation! These were the keywords. At this apparition Our Lady stated specifically that the recitation of the Rosary would obtain the end of the war:

"You must recite the Rosary every day in honor of the Blessed Virgin, to obtain the end of the war through her intercession, for only she can help you."

The salvation of souls was Our Lady's next concern. To this end the Lady again pleaded for prayer and penance.

Once more the apparition spoke: "Sacrifice yourselves for sinners, and say often : "O Jesus, it is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

Then another secret was committed to Lucy. Concerning this secret Lucy writes later on: "In pure obedience and with the permission of Heaven"--the secret consists of three distinct parts--"I shall reveal the first two parts, the Vision of Hell, and the Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The third must remain secret for the present."

"The beam of light seemed to penetrate the earth, and we saw as it were a vast sea of fire, in which were plunged, all blackened and burnt, demons and souls in human form like transparent brands. Raised into the air by the flames they fell back in all directions, like sparks in a huge fire, without weight or poise, amidst loud cries and horrible groans of pain and despair which caused us to shudder with fear..."

" 'You have just seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go,' the Blessed Virgin told us sadly. To save them the Lord wishes to establish in the world the devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If people do what I tell you, many souls will be saved and there will be Peace.

"'The war (World War I) will soon end. But if men do not stop offending the Lord, it will not be long before another worse one begins; that will be in the next Pontificate.

" 'When you see the night illuminated by an unknown light, know that it is the great sign which God is giving you, indicating that the world, on account of the innumerable crimes, will soon be punished by war, famine, and persecutions against the Church and the Holy Father.

" 'In order to stop it, I shall ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart as well as a Communion of Reparation on the first Saturday of the month. If my requests are granted, Russia will be converted and there will be Peace. Otherwise an impious propaganda will spread its errors through the world raising up wars and persecutions against the Church.

" 'Many will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer; several nations will be wiped out. The outlook is, therefore, gloomy... but there is a ray of hope: my Immaculate Heart will finally triumph.' "In conclusion she added: 'When you recite the Rosary, say at the end of each decade:

" 'O Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from the fire of Hell. Take all souls to Heaven and help especially those most in need of Thy mercy.'"

Arthur d' Oliveira, the magistrate of the district and a member of the radical movement, by intrigue prevented the children from being present at the Cova on August 13. They were committed to a public prison and threatened to be burnt alive unless they would recant their former statements. But not one of them would retract a single word. A doctor examined the children and declared them sane and of normal mentality.

According to reliable reports, strange happenings in nature occurred at the usual hour of the apparitions. Loud explosions, lightning; the sun lost its brilliancy, whilst a beautiful white cloud hovered over the oakbrush where on previous occasions the apparitions had taken place. The onlookers left the place, being satisfied that Our Lady had come but that the apparition had been delayed.

But on Sunday, August 19, when the children were tending their flock at Valinhos, Our Lady made her appearance. "Due to the wicked man," she said, meaning the magistrate, "the miracle promised for October 13, will be less magnificent than first intended."

Lucy now consulted the Lady about what to do with the money and other gifts left by the pilgrims at the place of the apparitions. That the wish of her Divine Son might be fulfilled, Our Lady directed that the offerings be used to spread the devotion to the Lady of the Rosary and that a new church be built in her honor.

Again the apparition ended with an urgent plea to the children:

"Pray, pray very much and make sacrifices for sinners. Remember that many souls are lost because there is nobody to pray and make sacrifices for them."

The news of Fatima brought many onlookers to the Cova on September 13. For the first time the parents of the children were present. Lucy turned to the crowd and asked them to pray.

Toward midday the clear sky began to disappear and in the golden hue the stars were visible. A globe of light appeared and was advancing toward the Cova. Then the white cloud was seen nestling about the tree where the apparition had generally taken place. A shower of white flowers, as it seemed, was pouring down and vanished before touching the ground. Lucia was heard talking to the apparition.

Our Lady again insisted on the recitation of the Rosary dedicated to the Queen of the Rosary that the war might soon be ended. The promise of the great miracle which was going to happen on October 13 was renewed by Our Lady. This great miracle was to give testimony to all the apparitions at Fatima. St. Joseph and the Infant Jesus were to accompany the Lady at the next and last appearance, when the Lord would bless the people. Again the Blessed Lady promised an end to the war if her pleas for the frequent recitation of the Rosary were heeded. She also promised that in the future she would frequently come to this hallowed place to heal the sick in body and soul.

As the apparition was vanishing, the little seer cried out joyfully, "She is leaving . . . She is going up." Most of the pilgrims saw the globe of light in the direction of the disappearance.

All Portugal was aware of the miracle that was going to happen on October 13 as Our Lady had announced, to give testimony to the previous apparitions and to challenge the world.

The roads to Fatima were crowded with pilgrims on the day previous to the apparition. The day itself was everything but promising. It was wet, gloomy, and cold. Nevertheless 70,000 had gathered about the Cova. Precisely at midday Lucy cried out, "There is the lightning -- see, she is coming -- she comes; do you see her?" Lucy's mother was kneeling beside her child and warned her of "seeing" things. Lucy knew better and directed a question to the apparition, "Who are you and what do you want of me?"

"I am the Lady of the Rosary," was the answer. "I want a chapel built here in my honor: the Rosary must be recited every day. Men must amend their lives and must ask pardon for their sins. Men must no longer offend our Divine Lord who is already offended too much."

At this moment the solar prodigy began and more apparitions in three successive scenes were being observed by the children. First they saw to the right of the sun the Holy Family, and to its left St. Joseph with the Infant Jesus, blessing the world. In the second scene, Lucy relates to have seen to the right of the sun, our Lord blessing the world and Our Lady of the Seven Dolors to the left of the whirling sun. In the last scene Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was holding the Scapular in her hand. It would not be too far fetched to interpret these pictures as vivid symbols of the joyful, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries of the Rosary which the world was asked to recite often in thoughtful meditation.

The spectacular feature of the sun as it trembled, shook, and moved like a wheel of fire with a display of colors in a fantastic manner was seen by the multitude for a period of twelve minutes. All news-reporters have given testimony of this prodigy. Then this phenomenon came to a stop; but the display of fireworks was resumed after a moment's lull. Again all calmed down only to be taken up again in more gorgeous colors the like of which the world had never seen before. This was the great miracle which was promised to prove the genuineness of all apparitions as well as a heavenly warning to us human creatures so absorbed in the things of this world. On this day, October 13, all witnesses of the spectacle were gripped and professed their belief in a God. "My God, have mercy," was the cry of the multitude. This was the turn for the better for all Portugal.

1. His Excellency, the Bishop of Leiria, Portugal.
2. Dr. Formigan, Professor of Theology at the Patriarchal Seminary at Lisbon, one of the best informed authorities, for he assisted discreetly at the apparitions of September 13 and October 13.
3. Rev. Gonzaga da Fonseca, S.J., Professor at the Pontifical Biblical Institute at Rome.
4. Canon Bartha, who was highly lauded by the Holy See.
5. O Seculo, a Newspaper in Portugal.

O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, my Mother, I come to you this day as a little child in prayer. I beg to make this offering of my heart as simple and childlike as I can. The three little ones of Fatima have taught us what it is that pleases your maternal heart.

I earnestly desire that all the people of the world be brought back to an humble knowledge and love of the Sacred Heart of your dear Son. I pray, dear Mother of my God, that through your own Immaculate Heart we, your children, be moved to detest all sin and dedicate our lives to the honor and glory of God who created us.

I give my heart to you, my heavenly Queen, and in utmost confidence I leave to you the choice of what is best for me in answer to my prayer of love and reparation.

Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, I give you my heart. Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, I put my trust entirely in you.

Immaculate Heart of the Mother of my God, we implore through your powerful intercession, the conversion of the hearts of men, complete victory over sin, and the return of a lasting peace which you have promised.

Beloved Lady of Fatima, Queen of the Holy Rosary, Health of the sick and Comfort of the afflicted, I kneel before you to show my love and gratitude for all your blessings to me. I promise as a token of my gratitude, O merciful Virgin, to love, to revere, and to praise you all my life. I promise also to foster devotion to you and to your Holy Rosary especially within the circle of my family.

Be a mother to me and look upon me with pitying eyes. Assist me that I may not yield to temptation; in return I resolve to fulfill whatever my Christian duty commands, and, trusting to your help, never to sin against your Divine Son nor to offend you.

Be my mother throughout my life and be my mother when I die. Amen.

Queen of the Holy Rosary, sweet Virgin of Fatima, you have deigned to appear in the land of Portugal and have brought an internal and external PEACE to that once so troubled country, we beg of you to watch over our dear homeland, and to assure its moral and spiritual revival.

Bring back PEACE to all nations of the world, so that all, and our own nation in particular, may be happy to call you their Queen of PEACE. Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, pray for our country. Our Lady of Fatima, obtain for all humanity a lasting PEACE. Amen.

The observance of the First Saturdays in honor of the Immaculate Virgin Mary had been approved by the Church a number of years before the apparitions at Fatima. The Holy See had granted on the 13th of June, 1912, a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, to all who on the first Saturday of any month perform special exercises of devotion in honor of the Immaculate Virgin Mary in reparation for the blasphemies against her name and her prerogatives. (Preces et Pia, Opera No. 835-- Ed. 1938)

". . . I shall ask for the consecration of the world to my Immaculate Heart, as well as Communion of reparation on the first Saturday of the month. If my requests are granted, Russia will be converted and there will be Peace . . . otherwise . . . wars and persecutions and great sufferings . . . My Immaculate Heart will finally triumph."

Eight years after the apparitions at Fatima, when Lucy was a Lay-Sister in a secluded convent in Spain, Our Lady appeared to her, holding the Divine Child, on the 10th of December, 1925. The Infant Jesus, pointing to the Immaculate Heart of Mary surrounded with thorns, said:

"Have compassion on this most sweet Heart continually martyred by the ingratitude of men."

And only eight years before, at Fatima, the Blessed Virgin revealed her promise:

"My child, behold my Heart all pierced with thorns which the blasphemies and ingratitude of men drive deeper at every moment . . . make known to men that:

"I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation all those who, the first Saturdays of five consecutive months, go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, say the Rosary, and spend a quarter of an hour with me in meditation on the fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary, with the object of making reparation to me."

"Sacrifice yourselves for sinners and say this prayer very often:

"O Jesus, I offer this for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for all the wrongs done to the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

A great and consoling promise made by Our Lady: "I promise to assist in the hour of death, with all the graces necessary for eternal salvation."

The observance of the Five First Saturdays is the same as on the First Saturdays with additions:

Mary's magnificent promise at Fatima, approved by Church authorities, should induce pious souls to make the Five First Saturdays. The confession asked by the Blessed Mother may be made a week before, or after the Communion. The Rosary may be recited at any convenient time of the day, and the fifteen-minute meditation may be made at any time of the day, either on all the mysteries as a whole or on one mystery each month. It is permissible to combine the Rosary and meditation by thinking on each mystery a few minutes before reciting the decade. A sermon for the occasion may be substituted for the meditation.

"O Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from the fire of Hell. Take all souls to Heaven and help especially those most in need of Thy mercy."

"O Jesus, I offer this for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for all the wrongs done to the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

Most Holy Virgin and our beloved Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of thy Immaculate Heart surrounded with thorns which ungrateful men place therein at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Moved by the ardent desire of loving thee as our Mother and of promoting a true devotion to thy Immaculate Heart, we prostrate ourselves at thy feet to prove the sorrow we feel for the grievances that men cause thee and to atone, by means of our prayers and sacrifices, for the offenses with which men return thy tender love.

Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. A word from thee will obtain grace and amendment for us all.

Hasten, O Lady, the conversion of sinners, that they may love Jesus and cease to offend the Lord.

Turn thine eyes of mercy towards us, that henceforth we may love God with all our heart while on earth and enjoy Him forever in heaven. Amen.

O Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, and tender Mother of men, in accordance with thy ardent wish made known at Fatima, I consecrate to thee, myself, my brethren, my country, and the whole human race.

Reign over us and teach us how to make the Heart of Jesus reign and triumph in us and around us, as It has reigned and triumphed in thee.

We want to atone for the many crimes committed against Jesus and thee. We want to call down upon our country, and the whole world, the peace of God in justice and charity.

We promise to imitate thy virtues by the practice of a Christian life without regard to human respect. We resolve to receive Holy Communion on the first Saturday of every month, and to offer thee five decades of the Rosary on this day, together with our sacrifices in the spirit of reparation and penance. Amen.

Most glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, turn thine eyes in pity upon us, miserable sinners; we are sore afflicted by the many evils that surround us in this life, but especially do we feel our hearts break within us upon hearing the dreadful insults and blasphemies uttered against thee, O Virgin Immaculate. O how these impious sayings offend the infinite Majesty of God and of His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ!


How they provoke His indignation and give us cause to fear the terrible effects of His vengeance! Would that the sacrifice of our lives might avail to put an end to such outrages and blasphemies; were it so, how gladly we should make it, for we desire, O most holy Mother, to love thee and to honor thee with all our hearts, since this is the will of God. And just because we love thee, we will do all that is in our power to make thee honored and loved by all men. In the meantime do thou, our merciful Mother, the supreme comforter of the afflicted, accept this our act of reparation which we offer thee for ourselves and for all our families, as well as for all who impiously blaspheme thee, not knowing what they say.


Do thou obtain for them from Almighty God the grace of conversion, and thus render more manifest and more glorious thy kindness, thy power and thy great mercy. May they join with us in proclaiming thee blessed among women, the Immaculate Virgin and most compassionate Mother of God. Amen