Our Lady of Fatima , anniversary of the apparitions
Every year, on May 13 , we celebrate the anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament of Fatima. Every May 13 we celebrate the day of the Virgin of Fatima.
In this celebration we commemorate the anniversary of the first apparition of the Virgin Mary in the Cova de Iria to the three shepherd children of Fatima.
Every year the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Fátima is filled with pilgrims and devotees. Thousands of people showing their love to our mother, the Virgin Mary.
The Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal
The Virgin of Fátima is one of the Marian dedications with the greatest devotion in the Iberian Peninsula, as is the Virgen del Carmen or the Immaculate Conception of Mary .
May 13 is the day that the Virgin Mary chose to appear before three Portuguese shepherds who were with their sheep. The Virgin Mary chose three humble shepherds to be her seers, Lucía dos Santos and her two cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto. A boy and two young girls contemplated the divine grace of the Virgin Mary.
The Virgin appeared on the hills of Cova de Iría, in Fátima (Portugal). Location in which, years later, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima, better known as the Sanctuary of Fátima, would be built.
The apparitions of Our Lady at Fátima were preceded by the visit of an Angel, known as the Angel of Portugal, who prepared the three children for the apparition of the Virgin Mary.
First we will talk about the seven apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima : six of them during the year 1917 and the last one in the year 1920.
In the second part we will focus on the three appearances of the Angel of Portugal .
Apparitions in Fatima, the first apparition of the Virgin in Fatima (May 13, 2017)
Lucía, the oldest, was 10 years old, her cousin Francisco, 8, and her cousin Jacinta, 7. The three little shepherds enjoyed watching the sheep because it allowed them to play in the field and pray the rosary , two of the things that made them happiest. .
That day, while they were praying the rosary as the Angel had taught them, they saw a strange light peeking through the oak trees that were there. The three children, intrigued by the strange light, approached the trees.
When they arrived at the place where the light emanated, they found a beautiful image. The beautiful figure of a woman all dressed in white. The children did not know it, but that precious woman was the Virgin Mary .
The first thing the three little shepherds could see, in addition to the light that the Virgin Mary gave off, was that she was carrying a beautiful rosary.
The Virgin Mary spoke and told the children of Fatima:
"Please don't be afraid, I'm not going to hurt you."
None of the little shepherds was afraid, the image of the Virgin made them happy. Lucia asked him where he came from. The Virgin Mary, moving gently, replied that she came from heaven.
Later, the Virgin Mary asked the little shepherds if they were willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of humanity. He warned them that they should suffer many torments and mockery, but that the grace of God strengthened them.
The three little shepherds of Fatima told the Virgin that they were willing to do anything to compensate for the offenses with which humanity offended God. The Virgin Mary was pleased with the attitude of the little shepherds. He asked for two things. The first of them to pray the rosary every day. The second, that the next six months, on the 13th, they were in that same place and at the same time. She would reveal her wishes to them.
After this request, the Virgin Mary opened her hands and covered the three children of Fatima with her light. In a moment, just as it had appeared, it disappeared.
After that divine moment, the three little shepherds of Fatima were left with an indescribable inner peace. They were full of joy. I was happy. Despite this, they decided not to tell anything at home. The appearance of that woman all dressed in white would be his secret.
Despite that pact, Jacinta, the youngest, could not help but tell her mother. Soon the news spread through the family. Most of the members made fun of the story, considering it childish stuff. Only Tio Marto, the father of Francisco and Jacinta, believed the word of the children. In this way, without even realizing it, Tio Marto became the first believer in the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima.
Apparitions of the Virgin of Fatima, Mary visits the little shepherds for the second time
The month passed quickly. For the three children of Fatima, June 13th came between teasing and scolding. The three shepherd boys were not affected. They knew what they had seen, what they had felt. Their hearts were determined to follow the instructions that the Virgin Mary had given them.
June 13 is a special day in Fatima and throughout Portugal. The day of San Antonio de Lisboa , known universally as San Antonio de Padua, is celebrated. Saint much loved by all the Portuguese.
That day of San Antonio in 1917, at the established time, the three little shepherds headed towards the Cova de Iria. When they got there they were surprised to see a small group of people waiting for them. His account of the apparitions of the Virgin had spread throughout Fatima. Some residents of Fatima believed in the apparitions of the Virgin Mary and were there with hearts full of hope.
The three little shepherds prayed the rosary with the devotees of Mary. When they finished, suddenly, they saw again the light that came from the area of the oaks. The three children of Fatima approached the light and, again, they saw the precious figure of the Virgin.
In this second apparition, the Virgin of Fatima told them two important things. In the first place, he told them that Francisco and Jacinta would soon go to heaven , by his side. Lucia had to stay on earth to bear witness to the Sacred Heart of the Virgin.
The second one was a request. The Virgin Mary asked him to continue praying the rosary , to try to spread the prayer of the rosary among all his neighbors. Praying the rosary would be the way to bring peace to Portugal and the world.
Third apparition, the three secrets of the Virgin of Fatima are revealed
The children of Fatima, under pressure from their family, had been hesitant to go to their appointment with Our Lady. They finally decided not to disappoint the Virgin.
The news of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima was becoming more widespread. The group of people that crowded the field of the Cova de Iria did not stop growing. More and more people believed that the Virgin Mary visited Fatima on the 13th of each month.
The third apparition of the Virgin Mary in Fatima was especially relevant. The Virgin told the little shepherds very important things.
First of all, the Virgin Mary promised them that on October 13, during her apparition, she would perform a miracle so that no one would doubt that the Virgin Mary had appeared at Fatima.
He also asked them to continue praying the rosary daily. He asked them to pray after each mystery:
"Oh! My Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who need it most."
Finally, he revealed to them three important secrets, which in time would become known worldwide as the Three Secrets of Fatima:
- The vision of hell.
- The future of Russia and its consecration to the Sacred Heart of Mary.
- He known as The Third Secret of Fatima.
After these important revelations, the Virgin Mary again disappeared, summoning the seers of Fatima to the day of August 13, 1917.
Fourth apparition of the Virgin Mary in Fatima
The news of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the fields of Fatima reached the governor of the district, Arturo Santos. Arthur was known to be contrary to the teachings of Holy Mother Church.
To try to get the truth, he thought the best way was to be alone with the children and be able to pressure them into confessing. To do this, before August 13, he went to the house of Lucía, Francisco and Jacinta. Using tricks, he managed to keep the children alone and took them to the district headquarters, where the local jail was located.
When he had the three children at his mercy, he tried to get them to confess the falsity of his story by all possible means: he tried to pay them, he threatened them, etc… Despite the efforts of Arturo Santos, the three shepherds of Fatima remained faithful to the truth, they remained faithful to the Virgin. Despite being small in stature, they were great in faith. His devotion to the Virgin Mary was unwavering.
After two days of suffering pressure and torment, on August 15, the day of the Feast of the Assumption, a very celebrated date in Portugal, the three little shepherds of Fatima were released. The ruler had not managed to break the little shepherds of Fatima, but he had managed to make the three children miss their appointment with Our Lady of Fatima. This absence delayed the meeting, but on August 19, 1917, the Virgin appeared again to Lucía, Francisco and Jacinta.
The Virgin again asked the shepherds to recite the rosary with devotion. He also told them that they should use the offerings that the faithful left in the Cova de Iria to make litters that carried images . The offerings of the devotees of the Virgin of Fatima had grown exponentially. More and more people visited the place where the Virgin visited the seers.
Apparitions of the Virgin of Fátima, fifth visit of Our Lady to Cova de Iria
On September 13, continuing with the ritual that they had been following for months, the three shepherds of Fatima headed for the Cova de Iria.
When they got there they saw a huge crowd. According to some documentation from the time, it is believed that some 30,000 people were waiting for the seers in the Fátima field. The apparitions of the Virgin Mary had become a national affair, people from all over Portugal made pilgrimages to see the place of the apparitions of the Virgin.
Many people took advantage of the wait to say prayers. Many others carried rosaries and prayed the mysteries devoutly. The apparitions of the Virgin of Fatima and the faith of the children had inspired many Portuguese men and women.
Lucía, Francisco and Jacinta were looked at with respect and admiration. Those children of such a tender age had been chosen by the Virgin to make her Secrets known to the World.
The children told Our Lady that many people had made requests of them. Maria replied that she would attend to some of them, but not to others. Our Lady knew that some people should not see their requests fulfilled because the future that awaits them would be worse.
He also asked them, in addition to the two litters, to build a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary with the money that people donated.
Finally, to say goodbye, Our Lady of Fatima told the seers to keep their commitment to pray the rosary. The next time they saw each other, Ella would perform a miracle so that all of Portugal, so that the whole world, would know that the apparitions of the Virgin of Fatima were real.
Apparition of the Virgin of Fatima, the Miracle of the Sun (October 13, 1917)
On October 13, 1917, it dawned rainy in Fatima. This did not prevent a large crowd of people from heading to the Cova de Iria. The news of the apparitions had become a topic of conversation among Portuguese of all walks of life. The Portuguese press spoke of the children of Fatima and the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima. Portuguese men and women from all over the country made a pilgrimage to Fátima in the hope of being able to see the Virgin Mary.
Among the crowd walked the three children of Fatima, the three seers of the Virgin. Some recognized them and would have passed them, many other pilgrims walked by their side unaware of who Lucía, Francisco and Jacinta were.
When they arrived at Cova de Iria there was a crowd like they had never seen. They could only see people's heads whichever way they looked. The devotion for the Virgin in Fatima was felt in the atmosphere. Prayers could be heard from every corner.
According to the stories we have from the children of Fatima and the devotees who were there, on October 13, 1917, two momentous events occurred. On the one hand, the apparitions that the little shepherds of Fatima could see, and on the other hand, what the other people present there could contemplate, the one known as the Miracle of the Sun.
The apparitions of the Virgin on October 13, 1917, the vision of the children of Fatima
Then they could see the figure of Saint Joseph and the Child Jesus . Both made the gesture of blessing the world.
Later they could see Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lord who repeated the gesture that Saint Joseph and the Child Jesus had made before. The gesture of blessing the world.
Finally the image of the Virgen del Carmen appeared.
The apparitions of the Virgin on October 13, 1917, the Miracle of the Sun
Many are the testimonies collected among those present that October 13, 1917 in Fatima . It is estimated that around 70,000 people, most of them Portuguese, witnessed the so-called Miracle of the Sun in Fatima.
There are different versions but all agree that they witnessed a miracle. A miraculous event that dispelled all doubts about the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima.
As we know the day was quite cloudy. The sun was barely visible. Suddenly the clouds parted and the sun began to shine brightly. It illuminated the Cova de Iria with a clear, silvery light. Despite its powerful light, the pilgrims looked up and fixed their eyes directly on the solar star. The sunlight did not blind them.
After this the sun began to "dance" in the sky. The sun moved in a way never seen before, as if following the orders of a superior force. As if a puppeteer moved the strings of his dolls. The sun moved miraculously.
After this the sun fell from the sky. It seemed that the solar star was going to fall on the field of Fatima and consume all the pilgrims. A few minutes later the sun returned to its position. All the pilgrims knew that what had happened was a miracle. The Virgin Mary was present at Fatima and they had been witnesses.
The Angel of Portugal, first appearance in Fatima
The apparition of the Virgin of Fatima was announced by a heavenly Angel to the three little shepherds. The Angel, who appeared to the children, is known as the Angel of Portugal.
It was a spring day with a pleasant temperature. The children, as was customary, had led the flock of sheep to the lands near Fatima. They used to graze through those green Portuguese meadows. The day dawned with a light drizzle, so Lucía, Francisco and Jacinta decided to take the herd to a place where they could take cover from the water.
The rain did not last long, and soon a beautiful spring sun emerged from behind the clouds that had obscured Fatima during the morning. Suddenly the weather changed again and a powerful wind arose that surprised the little shepherds. Suddenly, the three children of Fatima could see an image surrounded by light coming towards them. He was a heavenly Angel, he was the Angel of Portugal.
Prayer at the first appearance of the Angel of Portugal
The Angel appeared before the three children and told them:
"Fear not. I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me."
After saying these words, the Angel of Portugal knelt down. Seeing that graceful gesture, the three little shepherds of Fatima also knelt down and began to pray, repeating everything the Angel said.
“My God, I believe in You, I adore You, I hope and I love You. I ask your forgiveness for those who do not believe, do not adore you, do not wait for you and do not love you.
The Angel of Portugal repeated this prayer three times. Then he told the three children:
“Pray this way. The hearts of Jesus and Mary are ready to listen to you”.
Saying this, the Angel disappeared. Again the fields of Fatima were calm. Lucía, Francisco, and Jacinta stood still, without speaking. Their young hearts were filled with divine joy but they could not put it into words.
Second Apparition in Fatima, Angel from Portugal visits the children again
After the first appearance of the Angel of Portugal, the children continued with their peaceful lives. The months passed and soon the summer of 1916 arrived. That summer was especially hot in Fatima.
The heavenly messenger told them:
"What are you doing? You have to pray! Pray! The hearts of Jesus and Mary have Merciful designs for you. You must offer your prayers and sacrifices to God, the Most High."
The Angel of Portugal spoke to them with a tone of reprimand. The little shepherds noticed that change in intonation regarding the words they had heard in the first apparition in Fatima. Lucia decided to ask the Angel what they should do to please the hearts of Mary and Jesus . The three children of Fatima were eager to bring joy to the Virgin Mary and her Son.
The Angel of Portugal told them that they should sacrifice themselves in every way they could. That they should sacrifice themselves for all those who offended God. Then he disappeared.
Third apparition in Fatima, the Angel prepares the children for the apparition of the Virgin
The children of Fatima followed the instructions that the Angel had given them. Every day they tried to recite the prayers that the Angel of Portugal had taught them.
One day while they were praying, the messenger of God appeared to them again. In this third apparition, he carried a sacred chalice in his left hand. Just above the Chalice, miraculously floating, was a Host.
The Angel of Portugal descended and knelt beside Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta. Once on his knees, he motioned for them to repeat what he was going to tell them. The next moment he began to say a new prayer:
“Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I deeply adore you, and I offer you the precious body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for ingratitude, sacrileges and indifference. by which He is offended. And for the infinite merits of his Sacred Heart and for that of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I humbly ask you for the conversion of poor sinners.”
When he finished, the Angel took the Sacred Chalice and the Host and gave them to the three children. Right after that, it disappeared, leaving the little shepherds in a state of peace and divine joy.
Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta still did not know it, but this third apparition of Angel of Portugal had been the preparation for the apparition of the Virgin Mary.
The last apparition of the Virgin of Fatima
In the year 1920 the Virgin Mary reappeared to Lucia. Just as Our Lady Jacinta and Francisco had announced, they had died shortly after the apparition on October 13.
In this last apparition, the Virgin of Fatima asked Lucia to dedicate her life to God. With his service to the Church and to Jesus, he would help save many souls from hell.
Our Lady of Fatima | Religious images of the Virgin in Brabander
Religious articles Brabander, as an online store selling religious imagery, has a wide variety of images and religious figures of the Virgin Mary.
The Virgin of Fatima is one of the most important figures in our catalogue. In the section of images of the Virgin Mary of our store you will find three models of Our Lady of Fatima. You have been able to see some of the figures throughout this post about the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal.
The figures and statues of the Virgin of Fátima can be accompanied by the three visionaries, the three courageous little shepherds that Our Lady chose to transmit her messages and secrets.
The three models that we are now talking about are pieces of Christian art from Olot . The figures of the Virgin of Fátima, like the other pieces of religious imagery available in our catalogue, have been made following 19th century craft processes.
In addition to the precious figures of the Virgin of Fátima , in Religious Articles Brabander we have other religious objects linked to the apparitions of Our Lady in Portugal. From Marian stoles with the image of the Virgin of Fatima embroidered, to souvenir paintings of the apparitions, through magnets, crowns for figures, etc...
If you have still been to our online store, we invite you to discover it, you will find a large number of Marian religious articles with the image of the Virgin Mary.