Feast of Our Lady of Fatima: Celebrating the Apparition and Patron Saint
A Day of Devotion and Remembrance
On May 13, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, commemorating the anniversary of the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in the small village of Fatima, Portugal. The Virgin Mary, known as Our Lady of Fatima, has become a beloved figure and patron saint of countless Catholics worldwide.
The Apparitions at Fatima
From May 13 to October 13, 1917, Our Lady appeared to the three children, Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto. During these apparitions, the Virgin Mary shared messages of peace, hope, and repentance, urging the children to pray and perform penance for the sins of humanity. She also showed them visions of heaven, hell, and the upcoming war and persecution of the Church.
The apparitions at Fatima have been recognized by the Catholic Church as authentic. In 1930, the Church officially approved the devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, and the feast day was established in her honor.
On December 10, 1925, Our Lady appeared again to Sister Lucia, now a nun, in her convent. This time, she held out her heart, surrounded by sharp thorns. She explained that these thorns represented the sacrifices made by those who followed her, but that her Immaculate Heart would triumph in the end.
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