The Six Historical Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima
On May 13, Catholics across the globe commemorate Our Lady of Fatima. On this day in 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in Fátima, Portugal. This was the first of six total apparitions Blessed Mary would make to the children from May to October 1917. Throughout her apparitions, Mary made predictions and warned that unless everyone prays, repents, and abandons sin, the world would suffer war, turmoil, and persecution of the Church. Let’s take a closer look at the six apparitions.
First Apparition (May 13, 1917)
On May 13, 1917, Blessed Mary appeared to the children for the first time as they tended their sheep in Fatima, Portugal. The children, Lucia dos Santos, age 10; Francisco Marto, age 9; and Jacinta Marto, age 7, were cousins. Blessed Mary urged them to “Pray the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war (World War I).” She instructed them to return to the same place at the same time on the 13th of each month for the next five months.
Second Apparition (June 13, 1917)
As promised, Blessed Mary appeared again on June 13, 1917, instructing the children to continue saying the Rosary and for Lucia to learn to read and write. Lucia was informed that she would live longer than the other two children and should spread Mary’s message worldwide. Mary emphasized that God wants to “establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world,” promising salvation to those who embrace it.
Third Apparition (July 13, 1917)
During the third apparition on July 13, 1917, in addition to urging the children to continue praying the Rosary for peace, Blessed Mary asked them to pray for the conversion of sinners and all the sins committed against her Immaculate Heart. In this apparition, Mary revealed three secrets or prophetic visions. The first secret was a glimpse of hell, emphasizing that God desires the world to be devoted to her Immaculate Heart: “If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.”
The second secret predicted the end of World War I, warning that if people did not stop offending God, a worse war would break out during Pius XI's pontificate. To prevent this, she asked for Russia's dedication to her Immaculate Heart to mitigate the damage of communism.
The third secret was not revealed until the year 2000. It involved a vision of a bishop dressed in white (who they believed to be the pope) making a journey with other priests and religious figures through a ruined town, praying for souls along the way. Upon reaching a mountain, the pope kneels before a cross, and he, along with the others, is killed by soldiers.
There has been much debate regarding the meaning of the third secret, with Pope John Paul II believing it referred to his own assassination attempt.
Fourth Apparition (August 19, 1917)
In August, civil authorities prevented the children from going to their usual meeting place, and Mary's apparition was missed on the 13th. However, on August 19, Blessed Mary appeared to them, urging them to continue praying the Rosary and to “Pray for the many souls that go to hell because there is none who prays for them.”
Fifth Apparition (September 13, 1917)
By the fifth apparition on September 13, the children were joined by thousands of onlookers. While many came to see Mary, only the children experienced her apparitions and described them to the crowd. The Blessed Lady appeared with the message: “Continue to pray the Rosary to obtain the war's end. In October, Our Lord will come, along with Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Carmel. Saint Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus to bless the world. I will perform a miracle in October so that all may believe.”
Sixth Apparition (October 13, 1917)
On October 13, 1917, the children, surrounded by a crowd of 70,000 people, stood under torrential rain as Blessed Mary appeared and revealed her identity: “I am the Lady of the Rosary. I desire a chapel to be built in my honor here, and that people continue to recite the Rosary every day. The war will soon end, and the soldiers will return home. Do no longer offend the Lord our God because He is already so offended.” Then the promised miracle occurred: the Miracle of the Sun.
Many described this miracle similarly: Mary opened her hands, launching a ray of light toward the sun; the rain stopped suddenly, and a brilliantly bright sun appeared. The sun began to turn, projecting colorful bands of light before appearing to spin out of control.
First Apparition (May 13, 1917)
On May 13, 1917, Blessed Mary appeared to the children for the first time as they tended their sheep in Fatima, Portugal. The children, Lucia dos Santos, age 10; Francisco Marto, age 9; and Jacinta Marto, age 7, were cousins. Blessed Mary urged them to “Pray the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war (World War I).” She instructed them to return to the same place at the same time on the 13th of each month for the next five months.
Second Apparition (June 13, 1917)
As promised, Blessed Mary appeared again on June 13, 1917, instructing the children to continue saying the Rosary and for Lucia to learn to read and write. Lucia was informed that she would live longer than the other two children and should spread Mary’s message worldwide. Mary emphasized that God wants to “establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world,” promising salvation to those who embrace it.
Third Apparition (July 13, 1917)
During the third apparition on July 13, 1917, in addition to urging the children to continue praying the Rosary for peace, Blessed Mary asked them to pray for the conversion of sinners and all the sins committed against her Immaculate Heart. In this apparition, Mary revealed three secrets or prophetic visions. The first secret was a glimpse of hell, emphasizing that God desires the world to be devoted to her Immaculate Heart: “If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.”
The second secret predicted the end of World War I, warning that if people did not stop offending God, a worse war would break out during Pius XI's pontificate. To prevent this, she asked for Russia's dedication to her Immaculate Heart to mitigate the damage of communism.
The third secret was not revealed until the year 2000. It involved a vision of a bishop dressed in white (who they believed to be the pope) making a journey with other priests and religious figures through a ruined town, praying for souls along the way. Upon reaching a mountain, the pope kneels before a cross, and he, along with the others, is killed by soldiers.
There has been much debate regarding the meaning of the third secret, with Pope John Paul II believing it referred to his own assassination attempt.
Fourth Apparition (August 19, 1917)
In August, civil authorities prevented the children from going to their usual meeting place, and Mary's apparition was missed on the 13th. However, on August 19, Blessed Mary appeared to them, urging them to continue praying the Rosary and to “Pray for the many souls that go to hell because there is none who prays for them.”
Fifth Apparition (September 13, 1917)
By the fifth apparition on September 13, the children were joined by thousands of onlookers. While many came to see Mary, only the children experienced her apparitions and described them to the crowd. The Blessed Lady appeared with the message: “Continue to pray the Rosary to obtain the war's end. In October, Our Lord will come, along with Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Carmel. Saint Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus to bless the world. I will perform a miracle in October so that all may believe.”
Sixth Apparition (October 13, 1917)
On October 13, 1917, the children, surrounded by a crowd of 70,000 people, stood under torrential rain as Blessed Mary appeared and revealed her identity: “I am the Lady of the Rosary. I desire a chapel to be built in my honor here, and that people continue to recite the Rosary every day. The war will soon end, and the soldiers will return home. Do no longer offend the Lord our God because He is already so offended.” Then the promised miracle occurred: the Miracle of the Sun.
Many described this miracle similarly: Mary opened her hands, launching a ray of light toward the sun; the rain stopped suddenly, and a brilliantly bright sun appeared. The sun began to turn, projecting colorful bands of light before appearing to spin out of control.
LITANY TO OUR LADY OF FATIMA
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for our dear country.
Our Lady of Fatima, sanctify our clergy.
Our Lady of Fatima, make our Catholics more fervent.
Our Lady of Fatima, cure the sick who confide in thee.
Our Lady of Fatima, console the sorrowful who trust in thee.
Our Lady of Fatima, help those who invoke your aid.
Our Lady of Fatima, deliver us from all dangers.
Our Lady of Fatima, help us to resist temptation.
Our Lady of Fatima, obtain for us all that we lovingly ask of thee.
Our Lady of Fatima, help those who are dear to us.
Our Lady of Fatima, bring back to the right road our erring brothers.
Our Lady of Fatima, give us back our ancient fervor.
Our Lady of Fatima, obtain for us pardon for our manifold sins and offences.
Our Lady of Fatima, bring all men to the feet of thy Divine Child.
Our Lady of Fatima, obtain peace for the world.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Let Us Pray:
O God of infinite goodness and mercy, fill our hearts with a great confidence in Thy dear Mother, whom we invoke under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary and Our Lady of Fatima, and grant us by her powerful intercession all the graces, spiritual and temporal, which we need, through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Sources:
(1) The 6 Apparitions of Fatima—Daily Bread.
(2) INTRODUCTION TO THE FATIMA APPARITIONS “THE MARIAN APPARITIONS”—Chinacas Reflection.
Dr. Nicholas Macedon, OCD
Carmelite Priory, Oxford.
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Nice write up
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