May 13 commemorates the anniversary of the first of six apparitions of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in Fátima, Portugal. In 1917, nine-year-old Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, aged 8 and 6 respectively, were tending sheep in central Portugal when they had a vision of a woman surrounded by light who identified herself as the Lady of the Rosary.
Message of peace and the three secrets
The apparition urged the children to pray the rosary for world peace and, over the course of the six apparitions, entrusted them with three “secrets.” She promised a miracle for October, and on the 13th of that month, a crowd of about 70,000 people witnessed a “miraculous solar phenomenon,” in which the Sun seemed to fall toward the Earth. This event, known as the “miracle of the sun,” was interpreted as a divine sign and consolidated the credibility of the visions.
Ecclesiastical recognition and sanctuary
Initially, the Vatican questioned the authenticity of the visions, but later accepted them as apparitions of the Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Fátima. The site became one of the most important Marian sanctuaries in the world, visited by thousands of pilgrims each year. Devotion to Fátima has spread globally, inspiring prayers, processions, and acts of penance.
Lives of the seers and legacy of holiness
Lúcia dos Santos later entered as a Carmelite nun and lived to be 97 years old. In contrast, Francisco and Jacinta Marto died as children due to the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919. The pious siblings were beatified in the year 2000 by Pope John Paul II, becoming the youngest non-martyred children to be beatified in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. Finally, they were canonized as saints by Pope Francis in 2017, coinciding with the centenary of their visions. Their example of faith and sacrifice continues to inspire believers around the world.
Original source: www.britannica.com (published May 6, 2026)
Photo: Rui Silva sj on Unsplash
