Our Lady of Fatima

Marian Apparition

Feast Day

May 13

The Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima commemorates the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three shepherd children, Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, at the Cova da Iria in the parish of Fatima, Portugal. The apparitions occurred on six occasions on the thirteenth day of each month from May 13 to October 13, 1917, with a brief substitution of the August date.

Mary identified herself to the children as the Lady of the Rosary, calling them to the daily Rosary, to penance for the conversion of sinners, and to consecration of the world to her Immaculate Heart. The final apparition on October 13, 1917, was accompanied by the Miracle of the Sun, witnessed by an estimated 70,000 people.

The local ordinary, Bishop Jose Alves Correia da Silva of Leiria, declared the apparitions worthy of belief on October 13, 1930. Pope Saint John Paul II credited Our Lady of Fatima with saving his life during the assassination attempt on May 13, 1981, and consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, 1984. Pope Francis canonized Francisco and Jacinta Marto at the Shrine of Fatima on May 13, 2017, the centenary of the first apparition. The Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima was extended to the General Roman Calendar by Pope John Paul II.