An Unseen Crowd Gathers in 1917
In 1917, three children—Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto—reported six apparitions of a radiant woman in Cova da Iria, near Fátima, Portugal. Her final promise to perform a miracle drew tens of thousands to the site on 13 October.
Messages, Warnings, and Secrets
The children described the woman as “brighter than the sun,” holding a rosary and urging daily prayer. She delivered messages over several months, including predictions of war and calls for specific devotions. In July, she revealed three secrets, one of which was a vision of Hell.
The Miracle of the Sun
On 13 October 1917, before a crowd estimated at 30,000 to 100,000, witnesses reported seeing the sun spin, emit multicolored light, and appear to descend toward the Earth before returning to its place.
Recognition and Continued Pilgrimage
The Catholic Church declared the apparitions “worthy of belief” in 1930. The site became a major pilgrimage destination. Francisco and Jacinta died in the 1918 flu pandemic. Lúcia became a nun and reported later visions. She died in 2005. The Sanctuary of Fátima continues to receive millions of visitors annually.
