Fatima Apparitions in August---"I say to you: unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3

Fr. John DeMarchi

The most widely cited descriptions of the events reported at Fatima are taken from the writings of Fr. John John De Marchi, an Italian Catholic priest and researcher.  Fr. De Marchi spent seven years in Fátima, from 1943 to 1950, conducting original research and interviewing the principals at undisturbed length. He later helped build the Consolata Seminary in Fatima and his last years were devoted to meeting pilgrims that he met from all over the world during his years he spent in his mission work for Ethopia.

He wrote many books on Fatima most notable The True Story of Fatima.

 The Following details on the apparition of Our Lady at Vihinos on August 19th are taken from his writings and the Memoirs of Sr. Lucia; Fatima in Lucia's own Words

The Apparitions of Our Lady 

at Fatima in August

The 13th day of August had dawned and everyone  wanted to see and question the children, to recommend their petitions to them, so that we could transmit them to the most Holy Virgin… In the midst of all this commotion, an order came from the Administrator, telling them to go to their aunt's house, where the administrator  was waiting… When they arrived, he interrogated them there,wand made fresh attempts to force them to reveal the secret and to promise that we would not go back to the Cova da Iria… Finally in desperation he had the children arrested and taken to jail.  

Meanwhile, in the Cova at noon on the 13th the characteristic external signs of the Apparition appeared for the benefit of the crowd, the greatest crowd to that time. After they ceased the crowd dispersed, as yet unaware of the trickery of the government taking the children.

While in prison, Jacinta wept bitterly, for she was so homesick for her mother and all the family. Francisco tried to cheer her saying, "Even if we never see our mother again, let's be patient! We can offer it for the conversion of sinners. The worst thing would be if Our Lady never came back again! That is what hurts me most. But I offer this as well for sinners…" The children where once again heroic in their convictions not to betray the secrets that were given to them by the Lady.  The administrator tried bribes, threats of death and locking them in a cell with other "criminals" in order to get them to recant their story. It was to no avail. Despite their ages, their belief in the Lady and their courage was unshakeable.

© Original Drawing for Speramus-We Hope

Their cell mates visibly moved at the childrens plight offered to pray the rosary with them as the pinned a medal of Our Lady to the prison wall.

The children were returned to the doorsteps of the parish rectory on the 15th of August. On Sunday the 19th of August. They were with the sheep in a place called Valinhos. It  was located on the side of the same hillock opposite Aljustrel where the angel  had appeared twice to them in 1916.  Valinhos was  a little farther north and closer to thier home. Around 4pm they felt something supernatural approaching them in the breeze that enveloped them. Moments later, they saw Our Lady.

 August 19 
the Apparition at Valinhos

The Shrine built where Our Lady appeared August 19th.

"What do you want of me?" Lucia asked again

"I want you to continue going to the Cova da Iria on the 13th, and to continue praying the Rosary every day. In the last month, I will perform a miracle so that all may believe."

"What do you want done with the money that the people leave in the Cova da Iria?"

I want you to have two ardors [litters to carry statues] made, for the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. I want you and Jacinta to carry one of them with two other girls. You will both dress in white. And then I want Francisco, with three boys helping him, to carry the other one. The boys, too, will be dressed in white. What is left over will help towards the construction of a chapel that is to be built"

I would like to ask you to cure some sick persons," Lucia continued.

Some I will cure during the year." our Lady replied

Then, looking very sad, she  Lady said: "Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to Hell, because there are none to sacrifice themselves and to pray for them."

Having said that she departed as she had on the other occasions rising slowly towards the East.

  
 SACRIFICE YOURSELVES 
FOR SINNERS

YOU HAVE SEEN HELL 

WHERE THE SOULS OF POOR SINNERS GO  

"Sacrifice for sinners and repeat many times, especially when you make a sacrifice: O my Jesus, this is out of love for you, for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary!"  

© Original Drawing for Speramus-We Hope

The vision of hell in July by now had thoroughly absorbed the children with  Mary's plea for prayer and penance. They did everything they could to answer it. They prayed for hours while lying prostrate on the ground and went as long as they could without drinking, in the burning heat of the Portuguese summer. They also went without food, as a sacrifice for sinners, to save them from hell, the vision of which had so profoundly effected them. They even knotted some pieces of old rope around their waists as a form of mortification, not removing them day or night. 

In September Our Lady had to tell them that God did not want them to wear the rope at night.The rope was worn around the waist and It was one of the most painful mortifications the children offered for the conversion of sinners. Also, they did not eat snacks and abstained from drinking water. But the greatest sacrifices were the sacrifices the mission of Our Lady demanded: the humiliations, curiosity, annoyance of the people, unending visits, questions, persecutions, ridicule, and even prison. 

Photo taken after the July apparition the Children had seen a vision of Hell!

May these Blessed Children from Heaven intercede for us who have  sinned  much to obtain for us a part of their spirit of penance. Our eternity depends on it!  " I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish."   Luke 13:3

Francisco the Contemplative

 

 The Apparition at Valinhos was a  joy for Francisco. He had been tormented by the fear that she would never return because they missed their appointed time with Our Lady on the 13th. Lucia said in her writings that Francisco told her: "Most likely, she, (Our Lady) didn't appear on the 13th, so as to avoid going to the Administrator's house, maybe because he is such a bad man."