Marian Apparitions

Fatima

Apparitions of Fatima

Their families, dedicated to the work of the fields are humble but not miserable. The Madonna is a total of six times up to October and at the same date: the 13th of every month. Prior to these appearances, the boys had received preparatory appearances by an Angel. They will then, in addition to Madonna, other appearances and a heavenly vision of Hell. The visionaries receive messages from Mary and "secrets" of world importance. The Virgin asks for prayers and penance for the conversion of sinners and especially for Russia. His message was very timely and closely linked to historical and political events of the time and his prophecies, one by one realized.
These appearances have given rise to a great spiritual movement of masses of believers more and more. A great impressions raises the amazing miracle of the solar eclipse, given October 13 by many people. After a thorough examination by the Bishop J. Correia de Silva, October 13, 1930 the Fatima apparitions are recognized as authentic supernatural phenomenon.

During the years following the apparitions have been built a basilica and several convents. Fatima has become one of the most famous and important shrines in the world. Sister Lucia of the Immaculate Heart of Mary wrote, I remember (1935 and 1941), which merged with the voluminous records of the ecclesiastical investigation and questioning young visionaries to form a voluminous and detailed testimony of the events. In 1991 it is estimated that there were at Fatima about two million pilgrims.

Preliminary appearances before 1917
Lucia was born March 30, 1907, is the youngest of seven children of Maria Rosa and Antonio. Lucia in 1916, helped by three friends, leads the flock to pasture on the family property in Monte Cabaco called Chousa Velha. Lucia writes the same: "There we spent the day, even though the rain had stopped and there appeared a beautiful and bright sun. We had snack and recited the Rosary [...]. He was playing for some time and that is that a strong wind shakes the trees and makes us look up to see what was happening, because the day was sunny. It's time to come over the olive grove to us that figure that I have already spoken. Jacinta and Francisco had never seen and I do not care I had never spoken. As he approached, we could see the features: a young man of 14 or 15 years, more which if he were white with snow and the sun made it clear like crystal and a great beauty. Come near us told us: "Do not be afraid are the angels of peace. Pray with me. "And kneeling on the floor leaned his forehead to the ground and made us repeat these words: "My God, I believe, love, hope and love you! I ask forgiveness for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love you. "He spent a lot 'of time and a summer day that we went to take a nap at home, we were playing on top of a shaft, which had at the bottom of my garden and called Arneiro. Suddenly, we see around us the same figure, or Angel as it seems to me that it should be, and says: "What are you doing? Pray! Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy upon you. Offer prayers and sacrifices constantly".

He spent a long time and still went to the sheep in my parents 'property located on the slope of the mountain a bit' above Valinhos. It is an olive grove called Pregueira [...]. Just arrived we got on his knees with his face and began to repeat the prayer of the Angel [...] when we see above us shines a light unknown. We got up to see what was going on and see the angel who in his left hand a chalice, above which hung a wafer from which a few drops of blood fell into the cup. The Angel left the chalice suspended in the air, kneels next to us and makes us repeat three times: "Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore you and offer you the most precious Body, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrilege and indifference with which He Himself is offended. And through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners. "Then he got up, took the cup in the Host. He gave me the host and the chalice the split between Jacinta and Francisco, saying at the same time: "Take and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by ungrateful men. Reparation for their crimes and console your God. "And bowing to the ground again, we repeated three more times with the same prayer and then disappeared".

First appearance
(May 13)

After the Sunday Mass the boys wear the sheep at the Cova from Iria, at Cabaco, later became famous for the apparitions of the Angel. After eating a quick meal and reciting the Rosary, begin to play. At about 12, a blaze along the strange atmosphere in the serene sky, the kids think he's a flash and thus, providing a storm, gather the flock and drive him home. Turning next to some bushes of oaks, especially near a one meter high, are blinded by a clear white light at the center see the figure of a lady who calls them beautiful. It's Madonna. The robe of the Mother of God in the white snow, from the hands together at chest hangs a lovely rosary beads, ending with a cross of gold.
Our Lady imprinted on his face bears the signs of a deep sadness. With a friendly gesture keeps the kids and start them talking.
This first meeting is set out clearly by Lucia in his Memoirs, "Do not be afraid! I do not want to hurt you! "Where are you from?" I asked "I am in heaven." "And what do you want from me?" I came to you to beg me to return this place at the same date, 13 of every month, and at the same time. Then I will tell you who I am and what I want. I will come back a seventh time again "I will go to heaven too? "Yes" And Jacinta?". "Also" And Francisco? "But too many still must recite the Rosary".
I remembered to ask two girls who died recently who were my friends, "Maria Neves is already in heaven?" (Mary was 16 years old). "Yes".
"And Amelia?" (Amelia was 18 or 20 years, I forget). "I will wait the end of the world in Purgatory".
"Will you offer yourselves to God to carry out repair practices, atone for all the sins by which He is offended and for the conversion of sinners?" "Yes I do!" "You must suffer many things, but the Grace of God will be your strength".
Just finished speaking these words the Blessed Virgin Mary. She opened her hands and we passed a very strong light, like a reflection, that came out of his hands we felt that penetrate and burn in our chest to the deepest depths of our soul. Then we fell to his knees and recited the prayer inwardly Trinitarian. Then Our Lady exhorted us to the frequent recitation of the Rosary for world peace and the end of the war. These last words, Mary slowly began to climb towards the infinity of heaven. The l light around her to lead the way in the firmament of heaven. "Lucy writes in his memoirs that the boys had no fear even for a moment of apparition, but a likely time. Only later realized that the flashes were only a reflection of the light that surrounded the Holy Virgin has since learned that when the light showed was the next appearance of our beloved Lady.

Second appearance
(June 13)

Is the feast of St. Anthony, the patron saint of the parish of Fatima. After Mass, the boys accompanied by about forty people who had heard of the apparitions, are directed at the place of grace. So Lucia describes this appearance: "After praying the Rosary with Jacinta and Francisco, and other people present, we saw the reflection of light that was coming and soon after, the Madonna above the oak, as in the whole month of May.
"What do you want from me?" I asked. "I wish you the 13th of next month to return in this place, that every day you pray the Rosary. Then I will tell you precisely what I want from you." "We pray for the healing of the sick." "If you convert will be healed in this year." "I would ask you to take with you in Heaven." "Yes, I will take Jacinta and Francisco soon. But you'll have to stay here longer. Jesus wants to use you to let me know and love. He wants to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. Who will practice the promise salvation? These souls will be favored by God as flowers will be placed by me before His throne".

Third appearance
(July 13)

In this appearance Lucia writes: "Shortly after we arrived at the place and we prayed the rosary together with a multitude of faithful, saw the usual light darts and soon appeared in our beloved Lady...".
The essential message of this communication is the appearance of the first two parts of the famous known secret. After the Lady sent them the vision of hell so he says: "Did you see where they end up the souls of poor sinners. To save them God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If you do what I tell you many souls will be saved-and there will be peace.
The war will end, but if men do not cease offending God, in the reign of Pius XI will begin a worse one. When you see a night illumined by an unknown light know that the punishment of the next world is upon us. That is the great sign of God to mark the end of the world because of the crimes of humanity through war, famine and persecution against the Church and the Holy Father. To prevent this, I will come and ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart and the communion of reparation on the first Saturday of the month. If you listen to my demands, Russia will be converted and there will be peace. Otherwise, spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. Many good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated. Finally, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me. If this be converted, a pause for peace will be granted to the world. Portugal will always remain under the doctrine of the faith [...]. Do not say this to anyone, only to Frank but you can say".
The ellipsis omits the third part of the Fatima secret set forth below: then Mary, as Lucy writes, the message concludes: When you pray the Rosary after each contemplation say. O my Jesus, forgive us our sins keep us before the fire of hell, leads all souls to Heaven, especially those that needs most of your mercy. After a pause, I asked her: "You want something else from me?". No, today I do not want anything from you. Then Our Lady disappeared as usual in the infinity of the firmament of heaven toward the east.
Over two thousand people attended the apparition. There are also some relatives of the boys. A few days after the apparition, Lucia's mother brings the girl from the parish priest who appears to be relatively skeptical about the supernatural manifestations Marian, raised concerns about possible deception of the devil and decided to await developments after the unusual story of the first expression.

The secret of Fatima
In the transition from second to third millennium, Pope John Paul II has decided to make public the text of the third part of the "secret of Fatima, revealed July 13, 1917 in the Cova de Iria-Fatima:

I write in obedience to you, my God, who command me through his Ecc.za Rev.ma the Bishop of Leiria and through your Most Holy Mother and mine.

After the two parts which I have already explained, we have seen to the left of Our Lady and a little higher than an angel with a flaming sword in his left hand were flashing, it gave out flames that looked like the world on fire but they died out in contact with the splendor that Our Lady radiated from his right hand towards him: the angel pointing to the earth with his right hand, said in a loud voice: "Penance, Penance, Penance! And we saw in an immense light that is God: "something similar to how people appear in a mirror when they pass in front of" a Bishop dressed in White "we had the impression that it was the Holy Father".
Other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious going up a steep mountain, on top of which was a big Cross of rough-hewn trunks as if they were of cork bark, the Holy Father, before reaching through a big city half in ruins and half trembling with halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way, having reached the top of the mountain, his knees at the foot of the big Cross he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows, firearms, and in the same way there died one after another the other Bishops, priests, religious and various lay people, men and women of different ranks and positions. Beneath the two arms of the Cross there were two Angels each with a watering can glass in hand, in which they gathered up the blood of the Martyrs and with it sprinkled the souls that were making their way to God.

Fourth appearance
(August 19)

Fifteen thousand people converged on the site of Aug. 13, the date announced, however, they saw the Virgin Mary and even the visionaries, but only saw two lightning and thunder were heard. When all eyes turned towards heaven, they could observe with wonder that the clouds radiate bright colors of the rainbow.
That morning of August 13, the mayor of Villa Nova Ourem had confiscated the three visionaries to return them to their parents only three days later. The first time he had tried to wrest the secret of their mouth and using all means to terrorize and more violent.
The fourth appearance is therefore not in the same place but on 19 August. Lucy and Frank are on pasture with the sheep when they see flashing twice, then it is the Madonna. Mary recommended the students to pray for the sinners who go to Hell because they have no one think of them. Also predicts a miracle and some healing to strengthen the faith of the faithful. Then disappears as always to the east.

Fifth appearance
(Sept. 13)

From the memories of Lucia we read:
"When the time came, I Jacinta and Francisco passed between many people who squeezed, everyone wanted to know something, they had questions, to ask due to the Madonna. All they asked us to intercede with Mary for them. Who could not get to us, because of the huge crowd that pressed us and knelt at our feet, screaming with all his might to be heard? This scene took me back to the great events of the New Testament when Jesus walked the multitudes of Palestine. "What holds these people and asks what three poor guys who have the grace to speak with Mary. What would he do if he faced a new Jesus Christ?".
Such were the thoughts that crossed my mind while trying to get us space between the multitudes of faithful. Finally we managed to arrive at the place of grace in the Cova from Iria, at the oaks and then began to pray with the mass of the faithful and pray the Rosary. After a while we noticed the usual glow and lightning, then we saw our beloved Lord on oaks that so he said:
"Always recite the rosary for an end to the war. In October, will also be our Lord, our beloved Lady of Sorrows and Caramel, St. Joseph and Child Jesus, to bless the world. God is pleased with your atonement, brings the sackcloth only during the day. He does not want you to do it even while you sleep.
I was implored by many to fulfill many healings, particularly those of a sick person and a deaf-mute.
Some will heal, others not. In addition, I will work a miracle in October so that all may believe. "Having uttered these words went away into infinity".
On this day many people hover in the air and saw a ball of light on the horizon to the east. A white cloud enveloping the kids while they are seen to fall to Earth as a small bud-chi white flowers that melt on the ground.

Sixth appearance
(October 13)

It's a rainy day. Major newspapers have published the news of Lisbon that the Virgin will take a miracle. The news attracted to Cova from Iria more than fifty thousand people; all are kneeling in reverent waiting.
"We left the house early enough, taking into account the delays came. The people were out in force. The torrential rain. My mother, fearing that he was the last day of my life, with a broken heart for the uncertainty of what would happen, wanted to accompany me. Along the way, the scenes of the past month, more numerous and moving. Even the mud paths to prevent those people kneeling in the attitude of humble and appealing. Arriving at the Cova from Iria near ELC, driven by an inward movement, I asked the people to close their umbrellas to pray the Rosary. Shortly after we saw the reflection of light and now the Madonna holm-oak. "What do you want from me?" I want to tell you face a chapel in my honor, that Our Lady of the Rosary that we continue always to pray the Rosary every day. The war will end soon and the soldiers return to their homes. "I had a lot to ask, if some sick healed, if you convert some sinners." Some yes, others no. You need to be corrected, little question that the forgiveness of their sins. It takes on a sad, "Do not offend God Our Lord, who is already much offended." And opening his hands and made them reflect on the sun, while high, still a reflection of its light to project the sun. Here, Excellency, the reason why I cried out to look at the sun. My goal was not to draw attention to that part of the people, because I was not aware of his presence. I did so only because it carries an inner movement from which it pushed me".
The vision disappeared boys seen around the sun more blurred visions. Suddenly the ball starts to spin in a solar dizzying motion; it is the miracle of Our Lady announced some months earlier. In this motion, the sun casts on people dizzying colors of the rainbow in all directions.

By "memory" of Lucia, "Venerable Sir Bishop. Your Excellency knows well, like a few years ago God revealed this sign, that the astronomers wanted to call as "northern lights". I do not know, but I just think if he had carefully examined, then it would be recognized that both the shape and appearance for both in any case could be an aurora borealis. As he had learned, this was a sign from God to show that the sword of his justice was ready to fall on the guilty nations. Then I began vigorously to prepare the communion Expiatory the first Saturday of each month and prayers for the consecration of Russia. The aim was not only to ask God's mercy for the whole world, but especially for Europe.
God has granted me in his infinite mercy to make me feel awful the next war will be like and how many people will fall into Hell, Your Excellency already know these things so well, for I inform you of everything. I always say that the prayers and practices Expiatory in Portugal have not yet reached the harmony of divine justice because they are not accompanied by the improvement of the interior people and true repentance. We hope that Jacinta is accepted in heaven, and can help us. As I already wrote in the preface to the book Jacinta, I sent, she had already had the vision of some things that were revealed in secret. As the visions of Hell, the next war, the disbelief of the men, illnesses and so on.

In 1925 Lucia entered a convent of Dorothy, but moved in 1948 in the Caramel of Coimbra. With the arrival of the new bishop, from Silva, August 1920, the ecclesiastical commission of inquiry came from the attitude of reserve to a more open position. In 1930 surveys were completed, from Silva with the pastoral letter of October 13, 1930, he could declare the apparitions credible and recognized public worship.
Then all the Portuguese episcopate produced even more convincing evidence for the authenticity of the supernatural facts. By the will of the bishop of Leiria, Lucy wrote in 1935 the first part of his memory where the focus is Jacinta, for which he had already introduced the process of beatification. Then, again by the will of the bishop, in 1941 the visionary completed a new edition of the book explaining Jacinta several very important points.

The third secret was to be made public in 1960. He was sent to the Bishop of Leiria in 1943 in a sealed envelope will be Lucia for the SS. Virgin. He was to deliver it to the Holy Father.

The Great Promise
On December 10, 1925

The Blessed Virgin appeared to Lucy and, at his side, suspended on a bright cloud, baby Jesus. The Blessed Virgin placed her hand on Lucia's shoulder, and while he did it, I'll show you a Heart surrounded by thorns which he had in his other hand. At the same time, Baby Jesus said, "Have compassion on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother, which is covered with thorns which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment, without any one to make an act of reparation to remove them."
As a result, the Blessed Virgin said: "Look, my daughter, my Heart surrounded by thorns which ungrateful men at all times you post, blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, tries to console me, and say that all those who for five months, the first Saturday, we confess, receive Holy Communion, recite a Rosary and I will do fifteen minutes of company meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with intends to offer reparation, I promise to assist at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for their solution.