The
story of Our Lady of Fatima began in 1917, when three young Portuguese
shepherd children reported that an angel or holy lady visited them
while they were tending sheep on a plateau known as Cova da Iria. The
children, Lúcia
de Jesús and her cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, said
the Lady visited them six times between the 13th of May and the 13th
of October. Reportedly, she told them of events to come that included
World War II and Russia’s rejection of God. Many believe the
lady was an apparition of the Virgin Mary.
Miracle of
the Sun Story
As proof of
her legitimacy, the Lady said a miracle would appear on October13th
in the sky over the village of Fatima, located about 90 miles north
of Lisbon. On that date in 1917, the Fatima children were joined
by approximately 70,000 witnesses who watched as the sun appeared
to dance in the sky and fall to the earth.
In addition to
warnings about war and Russia, there was also a third revelation
from the Lady that Lúcia provided to the leaders
of the Catholic Church in a sealed letter. The letter was opened
by the Pope in 1960 but not shared with the public.
Both Francisco
and Jacinta died from influenza after World War I. Lúcia
became a Carmelite nun and is still alive today. The water at Fatima
is thought to have curative powers, as is the site at Fatima. People
travel from all over the world to visit Fatima, mostly between
May and October.
Our
Lady of Fatima Amenities
and Accommodations
Although there
are hotels and shops in the village, there is little for entertainment,
as the city is mainly geared toward religion and worship. Visitors
can travel to Fatima by train, bus, or automobile. Pilgrims often
make the journey on foot.
The story of Our Lady of Fatima has spread around the world and
today is the basis for an entire spiritual following. Many in the
general public are intrigued by the reverence and mystery surrounding
the site as well, and for those that travel to Portugal, a visit
to the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima is not to be missed.
Further interesting Links on Fatima: The Fatima Network Online
Fatima-A grace fro mankind and the message of Fatima from the Vatican
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