Fatima, Portugal A Marian Shrine, and an important place of pilgrimage for Christians
Where is Fatima?
Fatima City
Why is it a place of pilgrimage? On the 13 th day of May 1917, 3 children had a vision of Our Lady Our Lady appeared 6 times, on the 13 th day of each month following
‘The little shepherds’ Lúcia Santos Jacinta Marto Francisco Marto 1917
‘The Miracle of the Sun’ The children were told that on her final appearance on October 13 th 1917, Our Lady would show a miracle so that all would believe Over 70,000 people came to see
What did they see? The sun rotating like a wheel and an array of changing colours People claimed that they could stare at the sun without hurting their eyes The children, at this stage were 10, 9 & 7
The 3 ‘Secrets’ of Fatima According to Sr. Lucia, the last of the 3 visionaries to die (2005) Our Lady revealed 3 ‘secrets’ to the children
Sr Lucia with Pope John Paul II
The 3 Secrets 1.A vision of hell 2.Our Lady appealing for the conversion of people to Christianity 3.A vision of the death of a ‘bishop in white’
What became of the 3 children? Jacinta and Francisco died in 1919 and 1920 from influenza Sr. Lucia lived until old age, having spent her life as a Carmelite nun, and died in 2005 In 2000, Pope John Paul II beatified Jacinta and Francisco
Pilgrimage On the feast days of May 13 and October 13 crowds of pilgrims (as many as 75,000) throng the small town of Fatima Approximately 4 million people visit Fatima each year
Pilgrimage On the days of the anniversaries, pilgrims gather and wave white hankerchiefs during a procession of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima through the central square In the evenings, pilgrims light candles at the Shrine of Fatima Many pilgrims approach the shrine on their knees
Pilgrimage
The Chapel of Apparitions - The exact spot is marked by a marble pillar on which the Statue of Our Lady is placed. The Basilica- its 15 altars are dedicated to the 15 mysteries of the Rosary. The Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus