May 13: Our Lady of Fatima
Prayer and Penance
It was May 13, 1917, when Our Lady appeared to three children who were in a field grazing their sheep: Francisco Marto, aged 9, his younger sister Jacinta Marto , aged 7, and their cousin, Lucia dos Santos, aged 10. The apparition took place in Cova da Iria, a town near Fatima and was the first of a series apparitions. In fact, every 13th of the month, from May to October, the Virgin Mary appeared to the three little shepherds, entrusting them with a message.
In the first apparition, Our Lady asked them specifically to “Recite the Rosary every day to obtain peace in the world and the end of the war”. A request that is still relevant today.
In her messages, the Virgin invited people to pray, to convert, to commit themselves to reparation and penance. She also asked for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart and revealed secrets that were made public years later.
To commemorate the first day of the apparitions, in 1930 the Bishop of Leiria approved the liturgical memorial of Our Lady of Fatima, which in 2002 was extended to the universal Church.
Several Popes have made a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima on the anniversary of the first apparition: Paul VI, on May 13, 1967. John Paul II visited three times: on May 13, 1982, to thank Our Lady for saving him during the attack on his life the previous year on May 13, 1991 and finally, on May 13, 2000, when he beatified Francisco and Jacinta. Benedict XVI visited Fatima on May 13, 2010, and Pope Francis on May 13, 2017.
On the centenary of the apparitions, during a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, Francisco and Jacinta Marto were canonized by Pope Francis on May 13, 2017. Sister Lucia dos Santos was declared Venerable, on June 22, 2023.