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Our Lady of Fatima MARY’S STORY OF THE MONTH

Age level: All ages Recommended time: 15 minutes What you need: Our Lady of Fatima (page 13 in the students' activity book) and crayons, markers, and/or colored pencils

Activity Read aloud Mary’s story of the month to your students. While you are reading or sometime the next day, have them complete the coloring page on page 13 of the students' activity book.

Marian Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima

THREE SHEPHERD CHILDREN were Almost eight months after the angel’s watching their flock in the hills near final visit, the three children were on a Fatima, . The children were slope called the Cova da Iria with their Lucia, who was nine, and her two cousins, flock. They were praying the , when Francisco, age eight, and Jacinta, age a flash in the clear sky startled them. They six. It was spring 1916, and a drizzle of thought a storm was coming and began rain sent them to a nearby olive grove. A leading their flock home. As they passed a strong wind stirred the trees, and when large tree, there was another flash of light. the children looked up, they saw an angel On the tree was a beautiful lady, shining so bright he was transparent as crystal brilliant as the sun. It was Our Lady. She in the sun’s rays. The angel said not to told them in Portuguese not to be afraid be afraid, and that he was the Angel of and that she came from Heaven. Her Peace. He appeared to them three times, presence filled the children with joy. Our and, on the last visit, he gave them Holy Lady asked them if they were willing to Communion. Little did the children know suffer to make up for the sins that offend that the angel’s visit was preparing them God and for the conversion of sinners. for an even greater visit, one from the The three children said yes. Our Lady Queen of Peace, Mary, the Mother of God. promised that she would appear to them

© SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS MAY

on the 13th of the month for the next six When October came, thousands of months. Then she would reveal what she pilgrims visited the Cova to see Our Lady’s most desired. Before she left, she told the promised miracle, even though it was three children to pray to end the raining and water soaked the ground. Our terrible war that was raging in Europe at Lady appeared and asked for a chapel to that time, which later became known as be built at the Cova. She told them that she World War I. was the Lady of the Rosary, and that they Lucia told the other two children should pray the Rosary every day. Then to keep silent about the apparition. But she lifted her hand up to the dark sky. The Jacinta was only seven, and she could sun burst through the clouds, shining and not contain her joy. She told her mother spinning like a silver disk. The crowd gasped all about Our Lady, and soon the whole as the sun spun and danced. Suddenly it town heard about the apparitions. Lucia’s seemed to fall from the sky, and the people mother, in particular, was very upset with shrieked and fell to their knees. They Lucia, believing her daughter a liar. The thought the world was ending. The sun children visited the Cova every month. returned to the sky, and the people found Our Lady told them to pray for sinners. that the soaked earth was now completely She showed them a frightening vision dry. While all this was happening, the of hell, where poor sinners go—many children saw a different vision. Jesus, because no one prayed for them. Every Joseph, and visions of Our Lady of Sorrows month crowds followed the children. No and of Carmel appeared, and Jesus blessed one could see Our Lady, but some saw a the whole world with the Sign of the Cross. strange light, others a gray cloud. Some Today Fatima is a famous pilgrimage site believed the children, and some did not. that spreads Mary’s message to pray the Our Lady promised the children that, in Rosary for the conversion of sinners and October, she would perform a miracle so peace in the world. The Feast Day of Our that others would believe. Lady of Fatima is May 13.

CHRISTIAN PRAYER, MAY Our MayLady 13 ~ Our Ladyof of Fatima