Fátima - Miracle of Fátima

On May 13, 1917, and again on the 13th of each subsequent month until October in that year, the "Virgin of the Rosary" is said to have appeared to the three peasant children, Lúcia de Jesús and Francisco and Jacinta Marto. At first skeptical about these visions, on the last appearance, October 13, 1917, the Church saw over 70,000 people making the pilgrimage to Fátima where they are supposed to have witnessed not only the appearance of the Virgin but also an amazing natural phenomenon. In the pouring rain the sun suddenly began to revolve on its axis and throw out multicolored rays of light. There were also a number of miraculous cures in the days that followed. The Church authorities investigated the incidents for several years before finally giving the Fátima cult of the Madonna the official seal of approval in 1930.

Speculation continues to this day about the three "revelations" that the children who were seven, nine and ten at the time said had been vouchsafed them by the Virgin on July 13, 1917. The first two are public knowledge, the first being a description of "Hell", and the second prophesying a speedy end to the First World War, but also foretelling a dreadful war if the world did not cease offending God.

The third prophesy was confided in writing to the Vatican in 1941 by Lúcia, who had entered a convent in 1928, but she also stipulated it should not be made public before 1960 and to date no Pope has unveiled the secret.