Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, 3 Portuguese shepherd children from Aljustrel, received apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria, near Fatima. Europe was involved in an extremely bloody war and Portugal was in turmoil with the government disbanding religious organizations soon afterwards.
Jacinta de Jesus Marto was born on March 4, 1910, the youngest child of Manuel and Olimpia Marto. She charmed all who knew her, was pretty and energetic, had a natural grace of movement, and loved to dance. However she would pout when she did not get her way.
She had a marked love for Our Lord, and at the age of 5, melted in tears upon hearing the account of His Passion, vowing to never sin or offend Him anymore.
Like her brother Francisco and her cousin Lucia, she helped her family by shepherding sheep.
In 1916, as the children tended their sheep, an Angel appeared to them 3 times throughout the year, to pray with them, ask for penance, and to show them a bleeding Host over a Chalice in preparation of what was to come.
The following year, they received apparitions of Our Lady and as would be expected the 3 children changed. Jacinta, who was talkative sometimes to a fault, became quiet and withdrawn. Although they tried to keep it secret, Jacinta let slip all they had seen to her family, who then told the village. News received skepticism by many, with mockery by some.
Together the 3 said the rosary every day after lunch.
Jacinta was the most affected by a vision of hell given in the 3rd Apparition. To rescue sinners, she was in the forefront in voluntary penance. They were of constant mockery from unbelievers, badgered by skeptical clergy, and prodded to reveal the Lady’s secret.
When she came down with influenza, she was sent away to a hospital. She did not complain because the Blessed Mother forewarned her that she would suffer for the love of God in reparation for sinners and twice be sent to a hospital. She underwent painful treatments, was able to return home, developed tuberculosis, and then sent away to an orphanage. She attended Mass to see the Tabernacle and was happy, but her stay was short. As prophesized, she was sent to another hospital where she made her final offering dying alone at the age of 9, February 20, 1920.
“Tell everybody that God grants us graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary; that people are to ask her for them; and that the Heart of Jesus wants the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be venerated at his side. Tell them also to pray to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for peace, since God entrusted it to her.”
The Sanctuary of Fatima immediately became a major center of world Christian pilgrimage.
She is the patron saint of bodily ills, captives, people ridiculed for their piety, prisoners, the ill.
Her feast day is February 20.
For God’s Glory.
Lucia Santos, Francisco Marto, Jacinta Marto –
