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Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared six times to three poor shepherd children near the village of Fatima in west-central Portugal, approximately 110 kilometers north of Lisbon. Today Fatima is one of the most visited Marian shrines in the world.

"A Lady clothed in white"

On May 13, 1917, the three children took their flocks out to pasture in an isolated ravine known as the "Cova da Iria". After lunch they suddenly saw two bright flashes of lightening. They looked up and saw "a lady, clothed in white, brighter than the sun, radiating a light more clear and intense than a crystal cup filled with sparkling water, lit by burning sunlight." The children stood there amazed, as the Lady smiled and said: "Do not be afraid, I will not harm you."

Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta

Some of the vast crowd who witnessed the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima in October 1917 on the occasion of Our Lady's sixth and final apparition (Newspaper Photo of the time)

As the oldest, Lucia asked the woman where she came from. The Lady pointed to the sky and said: "I come from heaven." Lucia then asked her what she wanted: "I have come to ask you to come here for six months on the 13th day of the month, at this same hour. Later I shall say who I am and what I desire."