Denver Catholic

5 DENVER CATHOLIC | MAY 13-26, 2017 JUNE 13, 1917 Our Lady appears the second time. She tells Fran- cisco and Jacinta that she will take them to heaven soon, but Lucia will live for a while to tell the story. JULY 13, 1917 Leading up to Our Lady's third visit, Lucia is troubled with doubt about the appari- tions because of her family and pastor's disbelief. After encourage- ment from Francisco and Jacinta, Lucia decides to visit the cove, where Our Lady reveals a vision of hell. AUGUST 19, 2017 Delayed because of being imprisoned by local authorities, the children meet the Lady days after their usual date of the 13th. She tells the chil- dren of her wishes that a chapel be built where the apparitions take place. SEPTEMBER 13, 1917 30,000 people gathered for Our Lady's fi fth visit. She promises a miracle at her fi nal sixth visit so that the world may believe. OCTOBER 13, 1917 Our Lady visits the last time, and a miracle takes place: to the children, a vision of Our Lady, St. Joseph with the Child Jesus, who blessed the world, and later, Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Carmel. The rest of the 70,000 spectators wit- nessed a "dancing sun." TOTAL GIFT OF SELF Jacinta Marto (1908-1919) was the youngest of the three shepherd chil- dren, and by many accounts, the young seer was bright and charming, although at times spoiled and self-centered. According to Sister Angela, Jacinta's encounter with Our Lady and the abun- dant graces she received transformed her into a mystic that had a particular love for the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Eucharist, and who had great compassion "for all forms of human su› ering." "When she saw hell, and the suf- fering of the war, people going hungry and the su› ering of the Church, she experienced compassion and a sense of responsibility and a role in salvation history," said Sister Angela. "Here we have the nucleus of Jacinta's spiritual- ity. She wanted to make herself like Our Lord, she surrendered herself without limits for the good of others." Jacinta also had a particular love for the Pope, and prayed intensely for the Holy Father. In fact, Saint John Paul II thanked her publicly for her prayers during her beatifi cation Mass. "I express my gratitude to Blessed Jacinta for the sacrifi ces and prayers o› ered for the Holy Father, whom she saw su› ering greatly," said the pope. "It was beautiful to see the Pope giving thanks in public to a 9-year-old girl," recalls sister Angela, who is also the vice-postulator of the cause of beat- ifi cation of their cousin, Sister Lucia of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart, who died in 2005 at the age of 97. GOD'S COMFORTER Francisco Marto (1908-1919), was a child "in love with God," as described by Sister Angela. "Since the angel's appari- tions (he appeared many times in 1916 before the children saw the Virgin), Francisco saw that God was sad and that it was important to comfort him," said the religious. "He had a contemplative tendency. He loved nature, the birds, the sun. He felt a special attraction to be alone, and to be fi lled with God's presence. He would spend hours in front of the Blessed Sac- rament. He could be three hours in the same position," said Sister Angela. ¡¡ "Francisco teaches us to capture what is essential in life, and to live our lives in accord with this," she said. Sister Angela point out how the shepherds had di› erent gifts and they received the Virgin's message in di› er- ent ways. At fi rst Francisco could not see her. Then he could see her, but could not hear her. Lucia could see, hear, and talk to her. Jacinta, on the other hand, could see and hear her, but never spoke to her. "Apparently, it seems that Francisco was the least favored, but for him that was not a problem. He did not felt deval- uated," said the postulator. "That was his role in the apparitions, just as the role of Jacinta and Lucia was di› erent. Each one accepted their condition with joy and humility." She said Francisco teaches us "to focus on the essential, to develop inti- macy with God, not to lose the horizon in life and to accept our condition of being loved by God and to feel that as the most important. To accept our gifts, how we are, our history, to know that we are loved by God and that this love invites us to love, and not to focus on ourselves." Sister Angela recounted a story from Francisco's deathbed, when Lucia gave him many intentions for the time he reached heaven. He answered with sin- cerity and his characteristic focus: "You better ask Jacinta, because I'm afraid of forgetting. When I see Jesus, I'm just going to want to comfort him." Carmen Elena Villa contributed to this report. Pope John Paul II presided at the beatifi ca- tion Mass on May 13, 2000, for Fran- cisco and Jacinta Marto at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. Pilgrims from all over gath- ered to celebrate.

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