Our lady oF Fatima Series The Apparitions of the Angel Marienfried.com (Slides advance automatically or by a click)

The year was The world was locked in a bloody war that had no end in sight and had already claimed millions of lives. For years, Benedict XV, the “Peace Pope,” had been exhorting the Catholic world to storm Heaven for world peace.

That same year, three shepherd children – Lucia, age 9, and her cousins, Francisco, age 8 and Jacinta, age 6, were tending their flocks in Fatima, Portugal.

When there appeared to the children, an Angel, “more brilliant than a crystal.” “Do not be afraid,” the Angel said. “I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me.”

And kneeling on the ground, he prostrated himself until his forehead touched it, saying: “My God, I believe, I adore, I trust, and I love Thee! I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not trust, and do not love Thee!”

Three times he said the same words, while the children, as in a daze, repeated them after him. Then, arising, he said: “Pray thus. The hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications.” With that he disappeared…

The children remained kneeling for a long time. “It was so intense,” wrote Lucia, “that we were almost unaware of our own existence for a long space of time.” They kept saying the Angel’s prayer over and over… the words had been impressed indelibly on their minds.

A few weeks passed. The children were playing listlessly at the well behind Lucia’s house during the heat of the summer sun.

“What are you doing?” the Angel asked. “Pray! Pray a great deal! The hearts of Jesus and Mary have merciful designs for you. Offer prayers and sacrifices constantly to the Most High.”

“How must we sacrifice?” asked Lucia.

“With all your power offer sacrifice as an act of reparation for the sinners by whom God is offended, and of supplication for the conversion of sinners.”

“Above all accept and endure with submission the suffering which the Lord will send you.” The Angel then departed.

A few weeks later, while the children were praying, the Angel again appeared, “beautiful, resplendent, dazzling, hovering in the air before them.”

He held a Chalice in one hand and over it a Host in the other. These he left suspended in the air while he prostrated himself on the ground and prayed. After praying thus, he rose, took the Chalice and the Host, and kneeling on the flat rock, held the Host before him, saying:

“Take and drink the Body and the Blood of Jesus Christ, horribly insulted by ungrateful men. Make reparation for their crimes and console your God.” The Angel then gave them Holy Communion. He was never seen by them again.

The end. Thus did the Angel prepare the three children for the visitations of the Mother of God that would soon follow. Marienfried.com