The Beginning Of The Story Of Fatima.
Much to Suffer
What would be your reaction if, some afternoon, your children told a story such as Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco had to tell? At first you would suspect them of telling a story merely for the fun of it. Then, if they persisted, you would demand to know the truth, and if they insisted the story was true, you probably would threaten to punish them if they didn’t stop lying. And if they didn’t change their story, you’d begin to suspect them of suffering hallucinations.
Young as they were, the three children of Fatima seemed to have realized these things. Before going home they discussed the apparition and decided to keep the events of the afternoon a secret.
But for little nine-year-old Jacinta, always bubbling over with enthusiasm and mischief, the memorable experience was too much to keep locked in her heart. At supper that evening she told her mother.
Repercussions were instantaneous. Jacinta’s brothers and sisters — all home for Sunday night supper — spread the story throughout the village next day, and the youngsters became the center of attrac- tion. But it was not the kind of attention they desired.
Relatives and friends gathered in their homes demanding to know why the children were telling such lies. Most critical was Lucia’s mother, who sent her daughter off to bed without supper the follow- ing evening for telling such stories. Within twenty- four hours after seeing the Lady, the prediction she had made —"You will have much to suffer”— started coming true.
In the weeks that followed, the children were called hypocrites, liars, rascals. Their families were abused and snubbed by the villagers, and even the local priest, Father Manuel Ferreira, shrugged off the reported apparition with a smile.
In their own family groups the children suffered even more, because their "lies” were bringing disgrace on all their relatives. Only one person really believed them. He was Ti Marto, father of Jacinta and Francisco. He did not think his children would lie to him and he became the first person to believe that wonderful things were happening at Fatima.
However, he wanted to make sure, so he visited Father Ferriera and asked his advice. Although the priest was doubtful, he suggested that since the Lady had said she would return the following month, they should wait and see what happened. “Let the children go to the Cova,” he advised, “then bring them to me and I’ll question them one by one.” But as he gave the advice, it was evident that he was as skeptical as everyone else.
Effect On Children
Despite what people said about the trio, a very definite change began to take place in the chil- dren’s lives. As usual they took the sheep into the hills every day, but they didn’t run and play as much as before. They were quiet and reserved and stayed away from the other children as much as possible.
This brought further censure, because some people thought they now considered themselves better than the other villagers. Actually, the children saw how much trouble they were bringing into the lives of everyone with whom they associated. To spare their friends, they ostracized themselves.
Very often, when they disappeared, their friends would find them in some secluded spot, praying their Rosaries as though their lives depended on it.
As June 13th approached, talk of the apparition began to fade and an air of new excitement rippled through the village. June 13 is the festival of St. Anthony, most popular saint in Portugal, and patron of the little church at Fatima. On that day great celebrations were held with both Catholics and non- Catholics participating.
The nucleus of the celebration was the village church in each district. There was a special Mass, a special sermon and a colorful procession. Little girls, dressed all in white, marched and sang hymns as a preparation for the final ceremony — distribution of "St. Anthony’s bread.” This was small loaves of white bread, much tastier than anything the peasants could ordinarily afford and the children, particularly, looked forward to the treat. After the feasting there was music and dancing, climaxed with fireworks in the evening.
Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco loved the festival, and their mothers knew it. A week before the celebration, the women announced calmly that the children would have to forego the visit of the Lady, and attend the festival with their families.
Many Scoffed
This was a blow to the children. Ever since the first appearance of the Lady, they had talked among themselves about the second visit. They begged to be allowed to go to the Cova, but for several days their mothers remained adamant. Jacinta’s mother was the first to relent. Perhaps Ti Marto had some- thing to do with her change of heart. In any event, she gave Jacinta and Francisco permission to go to the Cova. (In later years she admitted she thought that if the children were merely telling a story, they wouldn’t pass up the celebration to continue their hoax. ) Lucia’s mother, on the other hand, was more firm. She refused to release the girl until the moment to leave for the Cova arrived. Then, gruffly she relented and Lucia went with the other children.
When they arrived at the clearing about sixty villagers were on hand to greet them. For several minutes nothing happened, then suddenly Lucia exclaimed, "Our Lady is coming.” The children fell to their knees and started reciting the Rosary. Before they were finished Lucia repeated, "Our Lady is coming. I just saw the flash.”
The Lady Again!
The villagers pressed around the children, but they could see nothing except the top of the oak bend ever so slightly as though someone were standing on it. They also heard nothing, except Lucia’s voice, apparently in conversation with an invisible visitor.
"What does Your Excellency want of me?” Lucia asked.
"I want you” the Lady answered, "to come here on the thirteenth day of the coming month, to recite a third of the Rosary every day, and to learn to read. I will tell you later what I want.”
Then Lucia, showing her childish simplicity, said, “I should like to ask you to take us to Heaven.”
The Lady’s answer brought tears to Lucia’s eyes. "I will come soon, and take Jacinta and Francisco. But you must remain here for some time more. Jesus wishes to make use of you to have me acknowledged and loved. He wishes to establish in the world the devotion to my Immaculate Heart. To all those who embrace it I promise salvation and their souls will be loved by God as flowers placed by me before His throne .”
"Am I to stay here alone?” Lucia cried.
“No, my daughter. Don't be discouraged. I will never forsake you.” As she said these words the Lady opened her hands — they had been clasped on her breast — and bright rays seemed to come from the palms and envelop the children. In front of her right palm was a heart pierced with thorns. After several minutes, the Lady disappeared in the direction of the sun.
Years later Lucia wrote in her Memoirs, "We understood that it (the heart) was the Immaculate Heart of Mary outraged by the sins of humanity for which there must be reparation.”
After the Lady left, the children returned home slowly. They knew that an inquisition awaited them, especially when they would have to appear before the parish priest.
Priest Dubious
Father Ferreira was very unfriendly. Perhaps he had reason to be. The children were so frightened in his presence that Jacinta told him nothing, Francisco mumbled a few incoherent sentences at best, and Lucia gave only a very sketchy account of a few of the things they had witnessed.
The priest decided that the apparitions could be the work of the devil. To make matters worse in the village, the children decided not to talk any more about the Heavenly Visitor. So, whenever anyone questioned them, they merely muttered, "It’s a secret.”
This made the weeks preceding July 13— date of the next visit from the Lady — exceptionally bad. But they were mild by comparison with what the children had to suffer in the months that followed.
Early on the morning of July 13, Ti Marto went to the Cova. A large crowd had already gathered around the holm-oak tree. There were many who admitted they didn’t believe in the apparitions. But like the little boy who doesn’t believe in ghosts, but still whistles every time he passes a cemetery at night, they wanted to be on hand "just in case” supernatural things were happening in the Cova.
"Say The Rosary"
At noon the three children arrived, and soon the Lady was speaking to them. Again she requested their presence on the thirteenth of the following month. Then she said, " Continue to say five decades of the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain the end of the war and peace for the world. For she alone can save it.”
With this statement Lucia saw her chance to find out once and forever whether the Lady was actually from Heaven or if this were a trick of the devil.
"Dear Lady,” she said, "will you please tell us who you are. Will you work a miracle so that all the people will know that you really do appear to us?”
"Continue to come here every month” the Lady answered. "In October I will tell you who I am and will work a miracle so great that all will believe in the reality of the apparitions. Sacrifice yourselves for poor sinners and say this prayer very often: Oh, my Jesus, it is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for all the wrongs done to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
As she uttered these words, the Lady once more opened her hands, and again rays came forth as they had the previous month. But this time they seemed to pass through the earth, and the children saw themselves standing on the brink of a sea of fire.
Tossing about helplessly in the flames were souls with human forms. They were on fire within and without. Shrieks and groans of horror and despair filled the air. The souls seemed unable to control their movements, and to add to their suffering, devils tortured them ceaselessly. "The devils,” wrote Lucia later, "were distinguished by horrible and loathsome forms of animals, frightful and unknown, but transparent like black coals that have turned red-hot.”
When the vision vanished, the Lady said, " 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. If they (people) do what I will tell you, many will be saved, and there will be peace. The war is going to end. But if they do not stop offending God, another and worse one will begin in the reign of Pius XI.
"When you see a night illuminated by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign God gives you that He is going to punish the world for its crimes by means of wars, of hunger, and of persecution of the Church and of the Holy Father.
"There Will Be Peace”
“To prevent this l shall come to ask the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart and the Communion of reparation on the first Saturdays. If they (people) listen to my requests, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace. If not she will scatter her errors throughout the world, provoking wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, and various nations will be annihilated.
"In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and it will be converted and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world.
"Tell this to no one. Francisco, yes, you may tell him.”
Then the Lady revealed something else to the children. What it is has never been told. However, a few years ago on instructions from her bishop, Lucia wrote out this final secret and sealed it. It will be opened in I960 or at her death, whichever comes first.
When the children told the people after this apparition that they could not tell them what the Lady had said, the persecutions increased. Also, by now the story of strange happenings in Fatima were spreading far, and soon reached the ear of the Administrator of the Council of Ourem, head of the district to which Fatima belonged.
Early in August, an official messenger served the fathers of the children with formal notices. They were to present their children at the town hall on August 11 to stand trial — the charge: disturbing the peace.
So at last what everyone has feared would happen, did happen. The government stepped into the picture.