Definition of Virgin of Fatima

In the month of July 1917 in the Portuguese town of Fatima, three kids shepherds saw a picture surprising: a sudden glow appeared in the sky and then a beautiful woman arose and approached them.

One of the shepherds asked her what she wanted and the woman replied that they should return to that same place the following month and during that time pray the rosary in order to achieve the peace in the world.

The woman who appeared is, according to tradition Catholic, an invocation of the Virgin Mary and popularly known as the Virgin of Fatima. It should be noted that at that time the world was immersed in World War I and Russia was about to break out revolution communist.

The miracle of Fatima

After this episode there were new encounters between the Virgin of Fatima and the three children, who spread the news among their neighbors. In October thousands of faithful gathered in the town of Cova da Iria, very close to Fátima. It was raining torrentially, but suddenly it stopped raining and the Sun began to move strangely, like a gigantic ball of fire. Then the Sun returned to its normal position. Many of the attendees were sick and suddenly completely healed.

Then another astonishing event occurred: the I usually damp and the wet clothes of the attendees suddenly dried up. These miracles amazed the assembled crowd and the news went around the world.

The revelation of the three mysteries of Fatima

In the encounters that took place between the Virgin of Fatima and the three shepherds, the Virgin communicated three secrets to them, which were revealed by the Catholic Church in subsequent years (the third of them was known in 2000 during the pontificate of John Paul ll).

- In the first secret the three shepherds could see an image of hell and in it the humans were plunged into despair.

- The second secret had three sections: the prediction of the end of the First World War, the announcement of a Second World War if men did not stop offending God and the Virgin's wish that Russia would change course and abandon the communism.

- The last secret, which was transcribed in 1944 by one of the three shepherds and is the most complex in terms of its meaning, refers to the loss of faith in the world.

The most important Marian shrines are in Mexico, Spain, France and Portugal

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Spain, the sanctuary of Lourdes in France and the sanctuary of the Virgin of Fatima in Portugal are the four Marian places with the most visitors to the world.

Photos: Fotolia - GoneWithTheWind / Atlantis