Our Lady of Fatima

It happened 98 years ago - three young children, Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia were doing what most children do in their free time - play. But at one time they also knelt down in a field to pray the Rosary. It was in a place called Cova d’Iria in Fatima, in Portugal. The Blessed Mother appeared to them above a tree saying to them “Pray the Rosary - and come back tomorrow to see me.” No one believed them, but Mary appeared to them again, and again. She also told them a few secrets which they kept to themselves.
They told their parents and then eventually their local priest, who questioned them and at first would not believe them.....the police found out, and they had them arrested. They were threatened, and of course the children were afraid they would end up in prison. But they did not change their story.

Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta

The first time Mary appeared was on May 13, and she appeared every month on the 13th. On August 13, the police arrested them and put them in prison. On the last time Mary appeared, October 13, close to 100,000 people were present and a miracle took place where the sun appeared dancing or swirling - everybody saw it, and therefore all started to believe the children. Those secrets were revealed later - the war would end soon - World War I, and Russia would be converted, because it was a Communist country, and in 1989, Communism started to decline from Russia, and the people started to change, and now even churches are open for people to pray. However Mary predicted another war, World War II, between 1939 and 1945 where thousands f people were killed. Jacinta and her brother Francisco died within 2 years of the apparition, because of the Spanish Flu, an illness that killed many thousands of people in Spain and Portugal. Lucia became a nun, and lived until she was over 90, dying in 2005. Millions of people visit Fatima every year, and 2 years from now there will be great celebrations because it will be 100 years since Mary appeared in Fatima.