Our Lady of Fátima (1917)

Our Lady of Fátima refers to the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary who is believed to have appeared to three children in Fátima, Portugal on May 13, 1917. The three children Lúcia Santos (aged 10) and her two younger cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto reported not only seeing Mary, but claimed that the Blessed Mother revealed “secrets” to them over the course of six months through six different appearances, almost always on the 13th of each month. On the last manifestation on October 13, 1917, Our Lady of Fátima promised a miracle so all would believe. Over 70,000 people gathered on that day and claimed to have seen the ‘sun dance’. The three secrets were later revealed and have often been a source of controversy. The Catholic Church has recognized Our Lady of Fátima’s appearance as an event “worthy of belief.”