Our Lady of Fátima — Key Bullet Points

• Refers to reported appearances of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in 1917.
• Took place near the village of Fátima in Portugal.
• The three children were:
  • Lúcia dos Santos
  • Francisco Marto
  • Jacinta Marto
• Apparitions were said to occur monthly from May to October 1917.
• Mary reportedly encouraged:
  • Prayer, especially the Rosary
  • Repentance and conversion
  • Peace in the world
• The apparitions included the “Three Secrets of Fátima,” concerning:
  • A vision of hell
  • Predictions related to war and Russia
  • A symbolic vision later interpreted by the Vatican
• The final apparition on 13 October 1917 included the reported “Miracle of the Sun,” witnessed by thousands.
• The Catholic Church officially recognized the apparitions as worthy of belief in 1930.
• Sanctuary of Fátima is now one of the world’s major Catholic pilgrimage sites.
• Francisco and Jacinta Marto were canonized as saints in 2017 by Pope Francis.
• The feast day of Our Lady of Fátima is celebrated on May 13 each year.