In the year of 1916, in the village of Fatima, Portugal,  three shepherd children, Lucia dos Santos, age nine and her two cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, age eight and six, tended their parents flock of sheep. The children played as the sheep feasted on the grass.

Suddenly there was a change in the weather. A steady drizzle fell and the breeze was chilling from a northwest wind. Quickly gathering the sheep they lead them to a small wooded area where they took shelter in a cave. The drizzle proved to be just a passing shower.

While still at play without warning a light whiter than the driving snow appeared. As it approached, the light took the shape of a transparent young man. He began to speak, "Fear not. I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me." The figure of light knelt on the ground, bowing low and three time recited this prayer: "My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You. I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You." Then he arose and said: "Pray this way. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications." Then the transparent young man disappeared.

The man of light appeared to the children three time. On the second visit the children were playing as usual when they were startled by a voice saying, "What are you doing? Pray, pray a great deal. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy for you. Offer unceasingly to the Most High prayer and sacrifices."

Lucia asked, "But how are we to make sacrifices?" "Offer up everything within your power as a sacrifice to the Lord in reparation for the sins by which he is so much offended and of supplication for the conversion of sinners. Thus bring down peace upon your country. I am the Guardian Angel of Portugal. More than all else, accept and bear with resignation the sufferings that God may send you." On the third visit the Angel came holding aloft a chalice with a Host suspended above it. From the Host drops of blood fell into the chalice cup.

Leaving both chalice and Host suspended in air, he prostrated himself upon the ground and three times prayed:

"Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly and I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference by which He Himself is offended. And by the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of you the conversion of poor sinners."

The Angel arose and gave Lucia the Host and the contents of the chalice was given to Francisco and Jacinta. Again he spoke: "Take and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by ungrateful men. Make reparation for their crimes and console your God."

Once more the Guardian Angel of Portugal prostrated himself upon the ground and again recited three times the Holy Trinity, than disappearing once again.

The first apparition, May 13, 1917

On May 13, 1917 the children were tending the sheep on the same piece of land known as the Cova da Iria. They had finished praying a Rosary, ate some lunch and were beginning to play. Abruptly there was a brilliant flash of light. Fearing a storm they excitedly herded the sheep to head for shelter. Again, there was another flash of light and there before the children appeared the vision of a beautiful Lady. The Lady majestically floated above the branches of a small oak tree. She was all dressed in white and was as radiant like the sun.

The children first impulse was to run away but the Lady beckoned them to draw near:

"Do not be afraid, I will not hurt you." (Lucia) 'Where do you come from?' "I come from Heaven." (Lucia) 'And why have you come down here?' "Because I want you children to come here on the thirteenth of each month at the same hour. In the month of October I shall tell you who I am and what I want you to do." (Lucia) 'Do you really come from Heaven, and shall I go to Heaven too?' "Yes, you will go there." (Lucia) 'And Jacinta?' "Yes Jacinta will go to Heaven, too" (Lucia) 'And Francisco?' "Yes Francisco, too, will go to Heaven, but he will first have to say many Rosaries."

Lucia now confident asked about two childhood playmates. "One is in Heaven, and the other is in Purgatory." (Lucia) 'And Amelia?' "Amelia will be in Purgatory till the end of the world. Do you wish to offer yourselves to God in order to accept all the suffering he wishes to send you, in reparation for sin and for the conversion of sinners?" (Children) 'Yes, we are willing.' "Than you will suffer much but the grace of God will be your comfort."

Here the children receive rays of penetrating light coming from the Lady's hands and as Lucia writes, "it penetrated our hearts and the innermost depth of our soul making us see ourselves in God, Who was that light, more clearly than we see ourselves in the best of mirrors." After this the children fell to their knees repeating over and over, "O most Holy Trinity, I adore You! My God, my God, I love You in the most Blessed Sacrament!"

After a few moments the Lady spoke again saying, "Pray the Rosary, every day, in order to obtain peace for the world, and the end of the war." The Lady drifted off to the East and disappeared.

In the following days and months there was great concern in the little village of Fatima. People from near and far poured into the tiny village. As news of the apparition spread it reached authorities of the communistic ruled government. The three shepherd children were beginning to experience the sufferings the Lady had spoken of.

The second apparition, June 13, 1917

Our Lady told Lucia: "I wish you to come here on the 13th of next month, to pray the Rosary every day, and to learn to read. Later, I will tell you what I want. Lucia asked for the cure of a sick person. "If he is converted, he will be cured during the year." (Lucia) 'I would like to ask you to take us to heaven.' "Yes, I will take Jacinta and Francisco soon, but you are to stay here some time longer. Jesus wishes to make use of you to make me known and loved. He wants to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart." (Lucia) 'Am I to stay here alone?' "No, my daughter. Are you suffering a great deal? Don't lose heart. I will never forsake you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God."

Once again the children were to receive the ray of light as before. Lucia writes: Jacinta and Francisco seemed to be in that part of the light which rose toward heaven, and I in that which was poured out on the earth. In front of the palm of the Lady's right hand was a heart encircled by thorns which pierced it. We understood that this was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, outraged by the sins of humanity and seeking reparation.

The third apparition, July 13, 1917

Our Lady told Lucia: "I want you to come here on the 13th of next month, to continue to pray the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war, because only she can help you."  (Lucia) 'I would like to ask you to tell us who you are, and to work a miracle so that everybody will believe that you are appearing to us.'  "Continue to come here every month. In October, I will tell you who I am and what I want, and I will perform a miracle for all to see and believe". Here Lucia makes some requests which she does not recall. The Lady said "it was necessary for such people to pray the Rosary in order to obtain these graces during the year. Sacrifice yourselves for sinners, and say many times, especially whenever you make some sacrifice: O Jesus it is for the love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in the reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

Fatima Secret 1st Part: The Vision of Hell -  At this time the Lady opened her hands once more and Lucia writes; and the rays of light seemed to penetrate the earth, and we saw as it were a sea of fire. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning embers all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in the conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames that issued from within themselves together with great clouds of smoke, now falling back on every side like sparks in huge fires, without weight or equilibrium, amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fear. (It must have been this sight which caused me to cry out, as people say they heard me.) The demons could be distinguished by their terrifying and repellent likeness to frightful and unknown animals, black and transparent like burning coal. Terrified and as if to plead for succors, we looked up at the Lady, who said to us, so kindly and so sadly:

Fatima Secret 2nd Part: Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary - "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 what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. The war is going to end; but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the pontificate of Pius Xl. When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given you by God that he is about to punish the world for its crimes, by means of war, famine, and persecution of the Church and of the Holy Father. To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she shall be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world. In Portugal, the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved; etc... ( etc.. is the 3rd part below). Do not tell this to anyone." (Lucia) 'To Francisco?' (Francisco was only able to see the Lady not hear her words) "Yes, you may tell him. When you pray the Rosary, say after each mystery:

The Fatima Prayer: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are most in need of your mercy".

After this there was a moment of silence, (Lucia) 'Is there anything more that you want of me?' "No I do not want anything more of you today". Then, the Lady ascended towards the East and disappeared.

The fourth apparition, August, 1917

The apparition did not take place on the 13th as the children were taken into custody by the local authorities. Lucia recalls the date as being August 15. At the time of the apparition the children were tending sheep on a piece of land called, Valinhos.

Our Lady told Lucia: "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." (Lucia) 'What would you want done with the money that the people leave in the Cova da Iria?'  "Have two litters made. One is to be carried by you and Jacinta and two other girls dressed in white; the other one it to be carried by Francisco and three other boys. The money from the litters is for the festal of Our Lady of the Rosary, and what is left over will help towards the construction of a chapel that is to be built here." (Lucia) 'I would like to ask you to cure some sick persons.'  "Yes, I will cure some of them during the year" Than looking very sad she 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". And the Lady disappeared as before

The fifth apparition, September 13, 1917

"Continue to pray the Rosary in order to obtain the end of the war. In October Our Lord will come, as well as our Lady of Dolours and Our Lady of Carmel, Saint Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus to bless the world. God is pleased with your sacrifices. He does not want you to sleep with the rope on, but only to wear it during the daytime".  (Lucia) 'I was told to ask you many things, the cure of some sick people, of a deaf-mute….'  "Yes, I will cure some, but not others. In October I will perform a miracles so that all may believe". And the Lady disappeared into the East as usual.

The sixth and final apparition, October, 13, 1917

Our Lady told Lucia: "I want to tell you that a chapel is to be built here in my honor. I am the Lady of the Rosary. Continue always to pray the Rosary every day. The war is going to end, and the soldiers will soon return to their homes".  (Lucia) 'I have many things to ask you: the cure of some sick persons, the conversion of sinners, and other things…'  "Some yes, but not others. They must amend their lives and ask forgiveness for their sins".  Looking very sad Our Lady said, "Do not offend the Lord our God any more, because He is already so much offended". Lucia write: Then, opening her hands, she made them reflect on the sun, and as she ascended, the reflection of her own light continue to be projected on the sun itself.

After Our Lady had disappeared into the immense distance of the firmament, we beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands. When, a little later, this apparition disappeared, I saw Our Lord and Our Lady; it seemed to me that it was Our Lady of Dolours. Our Lord appeared to bless the world in the same manner as St. Joseph had done. This apparition also vanished, and I saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Carmel.

The promised miracle of Oct. 13, 1917

A Woman Clothed with the Sun! Gradually the sun grew pale, lost its normal color, and appeared as a silver disk at which all could gaze directly without even shading their eyes. Then, to the astonishment of all present, rays of multicolored light shot out in every direction; red, blue, yellow, green, every color of the spectrum. Meanwhile, the very heavens seemed to be revolving as the sun spun madly on its axis like a gigantic wheel of fire, painting the rocks, the trees, the faces of the people with sunshine such as human eyes has never seen before. Three times it stopped and three times the mad dance was resumed. Then, while the crowd went to its knees in abject terror, the sun suddenly seemed to be torn loose from its place in the heavens. Down it hurtled, closer and closer to the earth, staggering, "drunkenly" as it zigzagged through the skies while from all parts of the now terrified multitude arose cries of repentance and appeals for mercy.

Suddenly, as if arrested in its downward plunge by an invisible Heavenly hand, it poised from a moment and then, in the same series of swirling motions it began to climb upward till it resumed its accustomed place in the heavens. Gone was the silver disk with the brilliant rays. It was once more a ball of fire at which nobody could look directly with unshaded eyes.

During that day drenching rains had left an estimate 70,000 pilgrims soaking wet. The apparition site, was a pit of mud. After the miracle the weather was beautiful. While the people looked at one another, still trembling from their terrifying experience and not yet sure that some further disaster would not overtake them, a cry of astonishment was heard on every side. The rain-sodden garment had suddenly dried, and the muddy pit of land was also dry.

Fatima Secret 3rd Part Revealed:

The main message of Fatima was penance, to pray the Rosary every day, and to consecrate the world and oneself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in order for God to save many souls. Since then, the Popes, as well as Pope John Paul II, have consecrated the world and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In June 2000, the Vatican has released the unrevealed Secret of Our Lady of Fatima as stated by Lucia. The word "etc.." above was that which concerns this part.

Lucia writes: After the two parts which I have already explained, at the left of Our Lady and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand; flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendor that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand: pointing to the earth with his right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: ‘Penance, Penance, Penance!’. And we saw in an immense light that is God: ‘something similar to how people appear in a mirror when they pass in front of it’ a Bishop dressed in White ‘we had the impression that it was the Holy Father’. Other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious going up a steep mountain, at the top of which there was a big Cross of rough-hewn trunks as of a cork-tree with the bark; before reaching there the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins and half trembling with halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way; having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the big Cross he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him, and in the same way there died one after another the other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions. Beneath the two arms of the Cross there were two Angels, each with a crystal aspersorium in his hand, in which they gathered up the blood of the Martyrs and with it sprinkled the souls that were making their way to God.

Lourdes, Fatima, and Medjugorje apparitions, all constitute one loop of great Divine love and mercy, preparation, protection, warning, Divine just judgment, hope, and glory. The 2nd and 3rd Parts of Fatima message reflect fulfilled and unfulfilled prophesies. A period of peace was granted to the world after world war II but the world went from bad to worse after the war, instead of learning for the better. Some of the fulfilled prophesies were the second world war and the rise of communism. Portion of the 2nd Part, and the 3rd Part, reflect that is yet to come as revealed in the Scriptures: deception, falling away from the faith, coming of Antichrist, the Church will go through persecution, the world will go through turmoil and destructive confrontations and wars, ending with the coming of the King of Peace, as we pray daily: "Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.", and as St. Louis de Montfort has prophesied: "Mary being the way by which Jesus came to us the first time, she will also be the way by which He will come the second time... to extend his empire over the impious and unbelievers". Knowing that all Vanities of this world are passing away, are we prepared and living a Holy Christian life according to the Holy Bible and Our Lady messages? "The day of the Lord shall come as a thief, in which the heavens shall pass away with great noise, and the elements shall be melted with heat, and the earth and the works which are in it, shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things are to be dissolved, what manner of people ought you to be in holy conduct and piety?". (St Peter - 2Peter 3:10-11). "Come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty... You shall be holy, for I Am holy."

The consecration of oneself and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, praying the Rosary, devotion to the Virgin Mary, devotion to the Divine Mercy, wearing the Cross, the Rosary, the Scapular, and the Miraculous Medal, praying to the Saints and for their intercessions and protections, and other devotions, as revealed from Above, and through the Holy Spirit who Governs and Inspires and Teaches and Leads the Church; are but an act of love, humility, submission, and obedience toward God, through which God can act with a great mercy toward a soul. This is one face of Piety. Through Piety and sincere devotions, practiced with the Sacraments especially the Holy Eucharist, one can attain Sanctity and Union with God. In many Bibles today, we can not find the word Piety, but it is translated into other words. One of them is Godliness. Godliness is a great word which can mean religiousness, devoutness, holiness, goodness, saintliness, righteousness, and even piousness. Godliness is general, but Piety by itself is the absolute of all these virtues and include all and the mean to reach all, which will lead to union with God. The Bible and the Church teach us that Piety is essential in our faith. True and false apparitions are distinguished by reason of piety and highness vs. Satan vulgarity and lowness. Satan can never imitate piety. When a sincere soul starts its journey with God, God cultivates and nourishes piety in that soul, while other souls lose that virtue along the way, and other souls do not possess it. The apparitions of Our Lady in Lourdes, Fatima, and Medjugorje, the conversations, and the fruits of the apparitions, all reflect true piety. They mirror the greatness and magnificence and high-above, the very being of the Most High, and His infinite wisdom,  gentleness, and mercy.  When that greatness is cultivated in the soul, the soul becomes to be elevated, inundated by love and grace, to reach sanctity and union with God. St. Paul states: "Evidently great is the mystery of piety"  and "If any man consent not to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to that doctrine which is according to piety, he is proud, knowing nothing.(1Tim3:16 - 6:3,4). The Mass, the Holy Eucharist, the Rosary, and Devotions, kindle and nurture the fire of piety in us. The act of love, humility, and obedience toward God, practiced in piety, is what makes God pleased with us. It is vital to note here that the Angel taught the children, and again reminded the world, that in the Holy Eucharist, bread and wine are truly transformed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, as Our Lord have instituted it "He who eats My Body and drinks My Blood has eternal life" (St. John6:54).

Satan imitated the true apparitions and messages and has done great damage in many souls. But certainly his false apparitions and messages are far below the true apparitions and messages, even though one might be deceived by them for a time. Our Lady messages in Medjugorje, as in Lourdes and Fatima, reflect the message of the Bible of piety, leading to sanctity and union with God. When the apparitions of Jesus or of Our Lady ceases for someone, that soul continue soaring in a highly elevated and deep spiritual state. But when Satan stops his false apparition, that soul becomes miserable and empty, or in a false or strange spiritual state, because what was given him was physical, material, and through Satan perverted power and sorcery. All these are reflected in the human spirit, feeling, and behavior, whether they come from above or below. A soul illuminated by the splendor of the Eternal Light, as in the case of Saints, shines for generations and all eternity, and the image of God is reflected in that soul. A soul illuminated by the false light from below, can't even stand for the time being. It has become a great burden on the Church today, the overwhelming amount of false apparitions and messages and confusions, besides the apostasy and liberalism and unholy movements and other disorientations that have infiltrated into the Church. But our great Shepherd does not slumber nor sleep in keeping the flock. For instance, despite the great signs, wonders, miracles, ecstasies, and promises of the apparitions in Garabandal, Spain, these apparitions are missing piety and the fruits of the apparitions. And the supposed lady had uncovered and long hair, long face and noise, her fingers and nails are too long, and her face does not reflect the face and the usual heavenly radiation and beauty of Our Lady... and other strange facts. Never in her apparitions, Our Lady had uncovered hair, the sign of her piety, chastity, purity, modesty, submission, and humility. On the other hand, Volumes of allegedly heavenly messages have been circulated worldwide, deceiving many, yet all are missing the heavenly essence and include doctrinal errors, besides lies and false prophesies. One of these deceptive messages "True life in God" given allegedly by Jesus to Vassula, for a long period of time, were translated to many languages, and taken as authentic by many, and so many other deceptive messages, such the ones received by Fr Stephano Gobi the founder of "The Marian Movement of Priests", allegedly coming from Our Lady, and compiled in a book called "The Blue Book", they contain many theological errors and false prophesies and dates about the Second Advent, and false signs by the Priests; this movement has heavily penetrated into the Church with its many Priests. And many of these  deceptive messages have infiltrated into the Church and are distributed in Catholic bookstores! We are starting to see now our Lord Jesus warning "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall show great signs and wonders, and shall seduce many, and if it were possible, even the elect".

During her life, sister Lucia had other apparitions from Our Lady and from our Lord Jesus. When Lucia was much asked about the Secrets, she pointed out to read the Scriptures and the Book of the Apocalypse (Revelation). Lucia has written a book called "Fatima in Lucia's own words" as she was instructed to do so by her superiors; the book is most enlightening. Lucia died in 2005 as a Carmelite closeted nun in Coimbra, Portugal. Francisco and Jacinta were taken to heaven shortly after the apparitions, after they went through sufferings, just as Our Lady had promised. Medjugorje is a continuance of what Our Lady has started in Fatima, as she also said in her message August 25 1991, that the secrets she has started in Fatima may be realized through our prayers, in saving many souls, and that we grasp the importance of her coming here and the seriousness of the situation. Medjugorje has surpassed all other apparitions by length of time and messages, as it has never been in history since the beginning of the world, and will continue until the appointed time, along with many world signs and events.

Fatima Message & Reparation on the five first Saturdays

Recite the Rosary devoutly every day.
Pray and make sacrifices for the conversion of sinners.
Sin, sacrileges, and outrages that are committed against God greatly offend Him.
Vision of Hell granted to the children.
God’s desire to spread devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Chalice and Eucharistic Host suspended in mid-air, with blood dropping from the Host into the chalice.
Our Lady holding the Brown Scapular.
Consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Call for communion of reparation on the five first Saturdays for the blasphemies committed against the blessed Virgin Mary.

Devotion to the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, was always an essential part of the Catholic Faith. It is an unprecedented effort on heaven’s part in these present times to point the world to the Holy Eucharist, the Rosary, and penance for sinners. It is a great act of mercy by God to show us the path of world peace and eternal salvation for all. Devotion to Mary’s Immaculate heart is promised as a means to save sinners from hell. On the other hand, this Devotion will protect the children of Mary, teach them and root them in the deep Catholic Faith and piety and holiness, and keep them from all forms of diabolical assaults including illusions, loss of faith, apostasy, false signs... Mary is a Mother, and Mediatrix of all graces, sharing her Son in our redemption, always looking for the best interests of her children.

In subsequent apparitions to Lucia in 1925 and afterward, Our Lord Jesus and Our Lady gave to the religious sister Lucia details including the five first Saturdays devotion. These are in reparation for the five kinds of offences and blasphemies committed against Our Lady which require reparation as revealed to Lucia.

The five Offences are:

Blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception
Blasphemies against her Perpetual Virginity
Blasphemies against her Divine Maternity, and refusing to recognize her as Mother of Men
Blasphemies by those seeking to alienate children from her
The offences of those who insult her in her sacred images

The Holy Virgin appeared to Lucia, and by her side, elevated on a luminous cloud, was the Child Jesus. The Holy Virgin rested her hand on Lucia 's shoulder, and as she did so, she showed her a Heart surrounded with thorns, which she was holding in her other hand.

At the same time, the Child Jesus said:

"Have compassion on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother, covered with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment, and there is no one to make an act of reparation to remove them".

Then the Holy Virgin said:

"Look, my daughter, at my Heart, surrounded with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment, by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Do you at least try to console me, and announce in my name that I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to confession and receive Holy communion, recite the Rosary, and keep me company for a quarter hour while meditating upon the mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation". (Confession may be made earlier if not available on Saturday)