It was a Lady “whiter than the Sun”
The Story of Fátima
It was a Lady “whiter than the Sun”
Story
The story of Fátima can only be understood through the story of the apparitions of Our Lady to the three Little Shepherds: Lúcia, Francisco and Jacinta. The first apparition took place on 13 May 1917 and was followed by an apparition on the 13th of the six following months. The only exception was August: the seers had been taken to Ourém by the head of the local government and, as such, the apparition occurred on 15 August. Our Lady asked the children to pray the Rosary every day.
“I want to tell you that a chapel is to be built here in my honour. I am the Lady of the Rosary" (First Memoir of Sister Lúcia). In 1919, the Chapel of Apparitions was built in Cova da Iria. Since then, the Sanctuary has been expanded to accommodate the significant increase in the number of pilgrims that visit the site from all over the world.
Story
The story of Fátima can only be understood through the story of the apparitions of Our Lady to the three Little Shepherds: Lúcia, Francisco and Jacinta. The first apparition took place on 13 May 1917 and was followed by an apparition on the 13th of the six following months. The only exception was August: the seers had been taken to Ourém by the head of the local government and, as such, the apparition occurred on 15 August. Our Lady asked the children to pray the Rosary every day.“I want to tell you that a chapel is to be built here in my honour. I am the Lady of the Rosary" (First Memoir of Sister Lúcia). In 1919, the Chapel of Apparitions was built in Cova da Iria. Since then, the Sanctuary has been expanded to accommodate the significant increase in the number of pilgrims that visit the site from all over the world.
1916
Apparitions of the Angel: Spring, Summer and Autumn
1917
Apparitions of Our Lady in the Cova da Iria: 13 May, June, July, September and October; 19 August in Valinhos.
04-04-1919
Death of seer Francisco Marto in Aljustrel.
28-04-1919
Construction begins on the Chapel of the Apparitions.
01-07-1919
Jacinta is admitted to hospital in Vila Nova de Ourém, until 31 August.
31-07-1919
Death of Lúcia’s father, António dos Santos.
02-02-1920
Jacinta is admitted to Estefânia hospital in Lisbon.
20-02-1920
Death of seer Jacinta Marto in Estefânia hospital in Lisbon.
16-06-1921
Lúcia goes to Porto to the Vilar school (Archdeacon Van Zeller Institute) run by the Sisters of Saint Dorothy and takes the name of Maria das Dores.
13-10-1921
Mass is celebrated for the first time near the Chapel of the Apparitions.
06-03-1922
The Chapel of the Apparitions is partially destroyed in an attack, and restored a year later.
03-05-1922
Opening of the canonical process on the events in Fátima.
24-02-1924
10-12-1925
Apparition of Our Lady to Lúcia, asking for the Devotion of the Five First Saturdays, in Pontevedra, Spain.
15-02-1926 (e 17-12-1927)
Apparition of the Child Jesus, insisting on the Devotion of the Five First Saturdays, in Pontevedra, Spain.
26-06-1927
The Bishop of Leiria presides, for the first time, over an official ceremony in the Cova da Iria.
13-05-1928
Laying of the first stone of the Basilica.
13-06-1929
Lúcia has a vision of the Most Holy Trinity and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, with her heart surrounded by thorns, asking the Holy Father for the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in union with all the bishops of the world, in Tuy, Spain.
13-10-1930
In his Pastoral Letter “Divine Providence”, the Bishop of Leiria declares “the visions of the children in the Cova da Iria worthy of belief” and officially permits worship of Our Lady of Fátima.
13-05-1931
First Consecration of Portugal to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, performed by the Portuguese Episcopate, according to the Message of Fátima.
12-09-1935
Transfer of the remains of Jacinta Marto from the cemetery in Vila Nova de Ourém to Fátima.
13-05-1938
Renewal of the Consecration of Portugal to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, performed by the Portuguese Episcopate.
13-05-1942
Major pilgrimage to mark the 25th anniversary of the Apparitions.
16-07-1942
Death of Lúcia’s mother, Maria Rosa.
13-10-1942
Portuguese women offer a precious crown to Our Lady in thanks for Portugal being kept out of the Second World War.
31-10-1942
Pius XII, in a radio broadcast, consecrates the World to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, with a veiled reference to Russia, according to Our Lady’s request.
08-12-1942
Renewal of the Consecration of the World to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, performed by Pope Pius XII in Rome.
13-05-1946
Coronation of the statue of Our Lady of Fátima in the Chapel of the Apparitions (crown offered by Portuguese women) by Cardinal Masella, Papal Legate.
22-05-1946
Lúcia returns to the place of the Apparitions of the Angel in Loca do Cabeço (1st and 3rd Apparitions) and the well at Arneiro (2nd Apparition).
13-05-1947
The International Pilgrim Statue begins travelling to the countries of Europe destroyed by the war.
25-03-1948
Lúcia joins the Carmelite Convent of Saint Teresa in Coimbra, taking the name Sister Maria Lúcia of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart.
30-10-1950/01-11-1951
Pius XII sees the sun dance in the Vatican gardens.
01-05-1951
Transfer of the remains of Jacinta Marto from the cemetery in Fátima to the Basilica of the Rosary, in the Shrine.
13-10-1951
Close of the Universal Holy Year in Fátima by Cardinal Tedeschini, Papal Legate.
13-03-1952
Transfer of the remains of Francisco Marto from the cemetery in Fátima to the Basilica of the Rosary, in the Shrine.
07-07-1952
Consecration of the People of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pope Pius XII.
07-10-1953
Consecration of the Church in Fátima Shrine.
11-11-1954
Pope Pius XII grants the title of minor Basilica to the Church in the Shrine.
13-04-1956
Death of Francisco and Jacinta’s mother, Olímpia de Jesus.
13-05-1956
Cardinal Roncalli, Patriarch of Venice, future Pope John XXIII, presides at the International Anniversary Pilgrimage.
13-05-1956
Renewal of the Consecration of Portugal to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, performed by the Portuguese Episcopate.
03-02-1957
Death of Francisco and Jacinta’s father, Manuel Pedro Marto.
13-05-1957
Renewal of the Consecration of Portugal to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, performed by the Portuguese Episcopate.
01-01-1960
Beginning of permanent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacred Lausperene, at Fátima Shrine.
21-11-1964
When closing the 3rd session of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pope Paul VI announced before 2,500 council fathers the granting of the Golden Rose to Fátima Shrine.
21-11-1964
Renewal of the Consecration of the World to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pope Paul VI.
13-05-1965
Presentation of the Golden Rose by Cardinal Fernando Cento, Papal Legate, during the International Anniversary Pilgrimage.
13-05-1967
Pope Paul VI travels to Fátima on the fiftieth anniversary of the Apparitions.
13-05-1975
Renewal of the Consecration of Portugal to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, performed by the Portuguese Episcopate.
10-07-1977
Pilgrimage to Fátima by Cardinal Albino Luciani, Patriarch of Venice, later Pope John Paul I.
13-05-1981
Renewal of the Consecration of Portugal to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, performed by the Portuguese Episcopate.
07-06-1981
Renewal of the Consecration of the World to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, by Pope John Paul II.
08-12-1981
Renewal of the Consecration of the World to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, by Pope John Paul II in Rome.
12/13-05-1982
Pope John Paul II comes to Fátima on a pilgrimage and consecrates the Church, the Men and the Peoples, with a veiled reference to Russia, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
13-05-1983
Renewal of the Consecration of Portugal to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, performed by the Portuguese Episcopate.
16-10-1983
Renewal of the Consecration of the World to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, by Pope John Paul II in Rome.
25-03-1984
In St Peter’s Square in the Vatican, before the statue of Our Lady of Fátima, expressly brought from the Chapel of the Apparitions, John Paul II once again consecrates the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in union with all the bishops of the world.
26-03-1984
Pope John Paul II offers the bullet that wounded him in the attack in Rome on 13 May 1981 to the Shrine.
12/13-05-1991
Pope John Paul II visits Fátima for the second time, as a pilgrim, on the 10th anniversary of his attack, presiding over the International Anniversary Pilgrimage.
13-05-1992
Renewal of the Consecration of Portugal to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, performed by the Portuguese Episcopate.
12/13-05-1996
Cardinal Ratzinger, future Pope Benedict XVI, presides over the Anniversary Pilgrimage ceremonies.
13-05-2000
Beatification of Francisco and Jacinta Marto, on the occasion of the third visit of Pope John Paul II to Fátima. Disclosure of the third part of the “Secret of Fátima”.
26-06-2000
Publication of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith document on the apparitions and on the “Secret of Fátima”.
08-10-2000
Consecration of the Millennium to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Pope John Paul II, in St Peter’s Square, in the presence of the statue from the Chapel.
06-06-2004
Laying of the first stone of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity.
13-02-2005
Death of Sister Lúcia.
02-04-2005
Death of John Paul II.
19-02-2006
Transfer of Sister Lúcia’s body from the Convent of Saint Teresa in Coimbra to the Basilica in Fátima Shrine.
12-10-2007
Dedication of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, by Papal Legate Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State of the Vatican.
13-02-2008
Pope Benedict XVI authorises the waiver of the canonical waiting period in order to open the beatification process for Sister Lúcia. The announcement was made by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
01-05-2009
Blessed Francisco, for his great love of the Eucharist, is proclaimed Patron of the Acolytes of Portugal.
12/14-05-2010
Pilgrimage to Fátima by the Holy Father Benedict XVI, who presented the 2nd Golden Rose to the Shrine.
19-06-2012
The Church of the Most Holy Trinity received the title of Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity.
13-05-2013
Consecration of the Pontificate of Pope Francis to Our Lady of Fátima.
12/13-10-2013
Statue of Our Lady of Fátima was brought to Rome to take part in the Marian Day ceremonies at the request of the Pope. Pope Francis entrusted the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
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Apparitions
Apparitions of the Angel
The Angelic cycle, three apparitions of the Angel in 1916,
receded the Marian cycle apparitions in 1917.
Prayer, sacrifice, the Eucharist. These are the requests of the Angel.
receded the Marian cycle apparitions in 1917.
Prayer, sacrifice, the Eucharist. These are the requests of the Angel.
Apparitions of Our Lady
Fátima is considered to be the most prophetic of
modern apparitions.
modern apparitions.
The Secret of Fátima
The so-called “Secret of Fátima” consists of three parts.
The first two parts of the “Secret” were written by Sister
Lúcia in 1941, in a letter to Pope Pius XII and later
published in her Third and Fourth Memoirs.
The first two parts of the “Secret” were written by Sister
Lúcia in 1941, in a letter to Pope Pius XII and later
published in her Third and Fourth Memoirs.
The Secret of Fátima
The so-called “Secret of Fátima” consists of three parts.
The first two parts of the “Secret” were written by Sister
Lúcia in 1941, in a letter to Pope Pius XII and later
published in her Third and Fourth Memoirs.
Learn moreThe first two parts of the “Secret” were written by Sister
Lúcia in 1941, in a letter to Pope Pius XII and later
published in her Third and Fourth Memoirs.
Message of Fátima
The “Lady brighter than the sun” brought a message of prayer and penance to the world in Fátima. She spoke of sin, the poor sinners, the offences against God and appealed for daily prayer and sacrifice. But it is also a message of hope, illuminated by the invitation to conversion, leading to the Gospel.The appeals made by Our Lady are for prayer, sacrifice and conversion. The specific requests are based on saying the rosary every day, going to communion and confession on the five first Saturdays (in a row) and consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Message of Fátima
The “Lady brighter than the sun” brought a message of prayer and penance to the world in Fátima. She spoke of sin, the poor sinners, the offences against God and appealed for daily prayer and sacrifice. But it is also a message of hope, illuminated by the invitation to conversion, leading to the Gospel.The appeals made by Our Lady are for prayer, sacrifice and conversion. The specific requests are based on saying the rosary every day, going to communion and confession on the five first Saturdays (in a row) and consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The three little Shepherds
Jacinta
Learn more
Francisco
Learn more
Lúcia
Saber mais
The Shrine
The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima is a fulfilment of the request made by Our Lady of the Rosary on 13 August 1917 and expressly indicated in the apparition of 13 October the same year to Lúcia de Jesus, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto: “I want to tell you that a chapel is to be built here in my honour. I am the Lady of the Rosary" (First Memoir of Sister Lúcia). The little chapel was built in 1919 at the site of the apparitions in 1917 in the Cova da Iria. Since then, more building has been done in the Shrine area in response to the significant number of pilgrims visiting.Fátima Shrine is a place of pilgrimage, recalling the event behind it, the apparitions of Our Lady to the three little shepherds. Pastoral care of the pilgrims is a fundamental part of its mission.
Fátima Shrine is the keeper of the message of what happened in Fátima. Its mission is to study and spread this message, using it as a means to evangelise Portugal and the world.
Fátima Shrine is a National Shrine, by express wish of the Apostolic See.
Parish Church of Fátima
and of the Little Shepherds
and of the Little Shepherds
Its patron saint is Our Lady of Prazeres and the Parish Church of Fátima
and of the Little Shepherds is where the three children, Lúcia, Francisco
and Jacinta, were baptised. Fátima Parish was annexed by the Collegiate of
Ourém in 1568.
Scheduling Massesand of the Little Shepherds is where the three children, Lúcia, Francisco
and Jacinta, were baptised. Fátima Parish was annexed by the Collegiate of
Ourém in 1568.
Parish Church of Fátima
and of the Little Shepherds
and of the Little Shepherds
Its patron saint is Our Lady of Prazeres and the Parish Church of Fátima
and of the Little Shepherds is where the three children, Lúcia, Francisco
and Jacinta, were baptised. Fátima Parish was annexed by the Collegiate of
Ourém in 1568.
Learn moreand of the Little Shepherds is where the three children, Lúcia, Francisco
and Jacinta, were baptised. Fátima Parish was annexed by the Collegiate of
Ourém in 1568.
TV Fátima
You can see the Little Chapel of the Apparitions live
in the silence of your own home.
Watch herein the silence of your own home.
TV Fátima
You can see the Little Chapel of the Apparitions live
in the silence of your own home.
Watch herein the silence of your own home.
Begin your journey with us
Find out about the new routes, far from the national roads, learn how to prepare,
what you should take with you and what you'll find when you get to Fátima.
The Roads to Fátimawhat you should take with you and what you'll find when you get to Fátima.
Begin your journey with us
Find out about the new routes, far from the national roads, learn how to prepare,
what you should take with you and what you'll find when you get to Fátima.
The Roads to Fátimawhat you should take with you and what you'll find when you get to Fátima.