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February 20
Blessed
Jacinta and Francisco Marto
(1910-1920; 1908-1919)
Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, three children, Portuguese shepherds from Aljustrel, received
apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria,
near Fatima, a city 110 miles north
of Lisbon. At that time, Europe was involved in an extremely bloody war. Portugal
itself was in political turmoil, having overthrown its monarchy in 1910; the
government disbanded religious organizations soon after.
At the first appearance, Mary asked the children to return to that
spot on the thirteenth of each month for the next six months. She also asked
them to learn to read and write and to pray the rosary “to obtain peace for the
world and the end of the war.” They were to pray for sinners and for the
conversion of Russia, which had recently overthrown Czar Nicholas II and was
soon to fall under communism. Up to 90,000 people gathered for Mary’s final
apparition on October 13, 1917.
Less than two years later, Francisco died of influenza in his
family home. He was buried in the parish cemetery and then re-buried in the
Fatima basilica in 1952. Jacinta died of influenza in Lisbon, offering her suffering
for the conversion of sinners, peace in the world and the Holy Father. She was
re-buried in the Fatima basilica in 1951. Their cousin, Lucia dos Santos, became a Carmelite nun and was still living when
Jacinta and Francisco were beatified in 2000. Sister Lucia died five years
later. The shrine of Our Lady of Fatima is visited by up to 20 million people a
year.
Comment:
The Church is always very cautious about endorsing
alleged apparitions, but it has seen benefits from people changing their lives
because of the message of Our Lady of Fatima. Prayer for sinners, devotion to
the Immaculate Heart of Mary and praying
the rosary—all these reinforce the Good News Jesus came to preach.
Quote:
In his homily at their beatification, Pope John Paul
II recalled that shortly before Francisco died, Jacinta said to him, “Give my
greetings to Our Lord and to Our Lady and tell them that I am enduring
everything they want for the conversion
of sinners.”
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