THE FATIMA STORY

On May 13, 1917, when Europe was in the tumultuous throes of World War I, three children were shepherding sheep near the town of Fatima in Portugal. Their names were Lucia (age 10) and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta (age 9 and 7 respectively). It was at noon, and the children were playing on their way while shepherding sheep. Suddenly there was a great flash of light, brighter than lightning. The children thought it was going to rain and they decided to head for home. As they walked down the slope, another flash of light illumined the area, and they saw standing on top of a Holm oak tree a lady (Blessed Virgin Mary) brighter than the sun with a white rosary hanging from her hands. The children were so close to the apparition, and the light radiated from her showered them. Blessed Virgin Mary asked the three children to pray for peace and to make sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. She also requested that they return to this same spot on the 13th of each month for five consecutive months.

Though people disbelieved them at first, crowds began to gather on this day every month until 13th October, 1917. On 13th October, 1917, over fifty thousand people had come together Our Lady appeared to declare herself Our Lady of the Rosary and the great Miracle of the Sun occurred. Many people including sceptical journalists who were there to report the event were converted. Less than three years later Francesco and Jacinta died, leaving Lucia to promote devotion to the Immaculate Heart.

Lucia lived until February 13, 2005, dying shortly before her 98th birthday while the messages of Fatima spread throughout the world. Sister Lucia is buried next to her cousin Jacinta in the Fatima Basilica. Through Fatima, Our Lady calls all people back to Jesus, she urges them to pray the Rosary, make reparations for the sins of the world, and she leaves us with this promise, "Finally, my Immaculate Heart will triumph".

Her message to the world is "Pray the Rosary every day, in order to obtain peace for the world". "I will be with you always and my Immaculate Heart will be your Comfort".

PRAYERS TO FATIMA

\ The message of Fatima is simple: Pray. Here are few requests in her own words!

Pray the rosary every day in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war. Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners, for many souls got to hell because there are none to sacrifice themselves and to pray for them. I am the Lady of the Rosary. Continue always to pray the Rosary every day. PRAYERS OF THE ANGEL

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You! Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly, and I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in ali the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges 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 of You the conversion of poor sinners. PRAYERS TAUGHT BY OUR LADY

Our Lady recommended: Sacrifice yourselves for sinners, and say many times, especially when you make some sacrifice: O Jesus, it is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

In the same apparition, Our Lady added: When you pray the Rosary, say after each mystery: O my Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fire of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are most in need. CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we consecrate ourselves, in an act of total entrustment to the Lord. By You we will be led to Christ. By Him and with Him we will be led to the Father. We will walk in the light of faith, and we will do everything so that the world may believe that Jesus Christ is the One sent by the Father. With Him we wish to carry His Love and Salvation to the ends of the earth. Under the protection of your Immaculate Heart, we will be one People with Christ. We will be witnesses of His Resurrection. By Him we will be led to the Father, for the glory of the Most Holy Trinity, Whom we adore, praise and bless forever. Amen.