The Third Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to witness a miracle? To stand in a field and see the supernatural break into our world?
Today, we’re traveling back to July 13, 1917, to a small Portuguese village called Fatima—where three children experienced one of the most powerful and mysterious Marian apparitions in history.
What happened that day would echo across the world, shaping the faith and fears of millions.
Stay with us as we uncover the secrets, the warnings, and the hope of the Third Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima—and ask what her message means for us today.
It’s the height of summer—July 13, 1917. The sun beats down on the fields, but something unusual is about to happen.
Mr. Marto, father of two of the visionaries, Jacinta and Francisco, notices a small grayish cloud hovering over a holm oak. The sunlight dims. A cool breeze sweeps over the hills, and a strange buzzing sound fills the air.
Three children—Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco—are about to meet Our Lady for the third time.
As the children pray, a brilliant light appears, and Our Lady stands before them. Lucia, the eldest, speaks first:
“What does Your Grace wish of me?”
Our Lady answers, “I want you to come here on the thirteenth of next month, and to continue to pray the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.”
Lucia, thinking of the skeptical crowds, asks for a miracle so everyone will believe. Our Lady promises:
“In October, I will tell you who I am, what I wish, and I will perform a miracle that everyone shall see so as to believe.”
Our Lady urges the children to offer sacrifices for sinners, teaching them a simple but powerful prayer:
“O Jesus, this is for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
Then, suddenly, the children are shown a terrifying vision—a sea of fire, lost souls, and demons in forms too horrible to imagine.
Lucia would later write,
“Our Lady showed us a great sea of fire… demons and souls in human form, amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair… The vision lasted but an instant, but it marked us forever.”
Why did Our Lady show this to children? Not to frighten them, but to reveal the reality of sin—and the urgency of prayer and sacrifice for the salvation of souls.
Our Lady’s message was not just about the afterlife—it was a warning for the world.
“You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. The war is going to end, but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the Pontificate of Pius XI.”
She foretold a mysterious sign:
“When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign… that God is about to punish the world by means of war, famine, and persecutions.”
Our Lady spoke of Russia, asking for its consecration to her Immaculate Heart and the practice of the First Saturdays. If her requests were heeded, peace would come. If not, Russia would “spread her errors throughout the world”—a prophecy many believe referred to the rise of Communism.
Before departing, Our Lady entrusted the children with a secret and taught them a prayer that would be said by millions:
“O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy.”
This prayer—simple, direct, and full of hope—reminds us that, no matter how dark the world may seem, God’s mercy is always available.
It’s easy to look at the world today and feel overwhelmed—by conflict, division, or uncertainty about the future. But the message of Fatima is not one of fear.
It’s a call to prayer, sacrifice, and trust in God’s mercy.
Our Lady’s promise still stands: “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”
No matter what challenges we face, we are invited to be part of that victory—through faith, hope, and love.
The Third Apparition of Fatima reminds us that heaven is closer than we think, and that each of us has a role to play in the story of salvation.
So, the next time you pick up your Rosary, remember the children of Fatima—and the message of hope that changed the world.
Thank you for joining us. If you found this story meaningful, please like, subscribe, and share. And let us know in the comments: What does the message of Fatima mean to you?
