September 7, 2017 // Special

100th Anniversary of Fatima Apparitions

Todays Catholic

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady to three shepherd children at Fatima, Portugal. The Blessed Mother appeared once each month to the children from May 13 until Oct. 13, 1917.

The fifth apparition:
Mary promises a miracle

On Sept. 13, very large crowds began to converge on Fatima from all directions. Around noon the children, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta arrived. After the customary flash of light, they saw Mary on the Holm oak tree. She spoke to Lucia: “Continue to pray the rosary in order to obtain the end of the war. In October Our Lord will come, as well as Our Lady of Dolours and Our Lady of Carmel. St. Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus to bless the world. God is pleased with your sacrifices. He does not want you to sleep with the rope on, but only to wear it during the daytime.”

Lucia then began to put forward the petitions for cures, to be told: “Yes, I will cure some, but not others. In October I will perform a miracle so that all may believe.” Then Our Lady began to rise, as usual, and disappeared.

The story of Fatima has been provided by the World Apostolate of Fatima, U.S.A., Our Lady’s Blue Army.