Italian
On May 13th, the Catholic Church celebrates the Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima, a title deeply connected to one of the most well-known Marian events of the 20th century: the apparitions of the Madonna in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. In a period marked by World War I and profound social and political upheavals, the Virgin Mary appeared to three simple shepherd children – Lucia Dos Santos, and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto – bringing with her a message of hope, conversion, and a call to faith.
PORTUGAL. The apparitions took place in a small rural village between May 13 and October 13, 1917. Mary appeared to the children six times, every 13th of the month, urging them to pray the Rosary every day, to offer sacrifices for the conversion of sinners, and to spread devotion to her Immaculate Heart. Her message, simple yet profoundly spiritual, was a call to all humanity to turn away from sin and return to God through prayer, penance, and a life of authentic faith.
One of the most well-known aspects of the apparitions is the so-called “secret of Fatima”, revealed in three parts and linked to historically and spiritually significant events, including the vision of hell, the prediction of the Second World War, and the assassination attempt on the Pope on May 13, 1981, which St. John Paul II interpreted as connected to Fatima.
Devotion to Our Lady of Fatima has spread rapidly throughout the world, giving rise to pilgrimages, communal prayers, and personal and national consecrations to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Sanctuary of Fatima is now one of the main international Marian centers, attracting millions of believers every year.
The memory of May 13th still invites us today to rediscover the heart of the message of Fatima: the call to personal conversion, the saving power of prayer, and the central role of Mary in the history of salvation. A message that is always relevant, continuing to speak to consciences and illuminate the path of the Christian faith.
