Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima

The story of Fatima begins with three shepherd children named siblings Francisco and Jacinta and their cousin Lucia. As usual, the children were minding their own business when the reported seeing an angel clothed in light. The children naturally didn’t know who or what it was. Eventually, the Virgin Mary was appearing to them but the children also didn’t know this. She revealed her identity to the children and she asked the children to pray the rosary. Naturally, people were incredulous to the claims of the children. They were even briefly taken into custody because their claims were disruptive to officially secular Portugal.

Stylized Crucifix at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima

The Virgin Mary would appear a total of six times each time urging the children to pray. The children were entrusted with secrets from the Blessed Virgin Mary all of which have already been divulged over the years. As foretold by the apparition, Francisco and Jacinta passed away within two years of the apparition. At that time there was a flu pandemic sweeping Europe. Both are now buried in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima. As for Lucia, she became a nun and lived until 97. Both Francisco and Jacinta have been canonized as saints, while Lucia has been beatified, paving the way for her eventual sainthood.

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