Our Lady of Fatima

 Lucia Santos(10), Francisco (9), & Jacinta Marto (7) were playing at Cova da Ira [a small property belonging to Lucia's parents, about a mile & a half from Fatima] on May 13, 1917 when they saw two flashes like lightning, after which they saw the Mother of God above a holm oak.

She was, according to the description of Lucia, "a Lady dressed in white, more brilliant than the sun..." Her face, indescribably beautiful, was "neither sad nor happy, but serious," with an air of mild reproach. Her hands, joined together as if she were praying, were resting at her breast & pointing upward. A rosary hung from her right hand.

The seers were so close to Our Lady - about a yard & a half away - that they stood within the light that radiated from her

Our Lady asked them: "Do you wish to offer yourselves to God to endure all the sufferings that He may be pleased to send you, as both an act of reparation for the sins with which He is offended & an act of supplication for the conversion of sinners?"

Lucia responded: "Yes, we do."

Our Lady: "Well then, you will have much to suffer. But the grace of God will be your comfort."

Lucia later wrote, "It was upon saying these last words, 'the grace of God... that for the first time she opened her hands, which emitted a most intense light that penetrated our breasts, reaching the innermost part of our souls & making us see ourselves in God, Who was that light, more clearly than we can see ourselves in the best of mirrors.

Then, driven by a deep inspiration, we knelt down & repeated inwardly: 'O Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee! My God, my God, I love Thee in the Most Blessed Sacrament.'"

"A moment later, Our Lady added, 'Pray the rosary every day to obtain peace for the world & the end of the war.' She immediately began to rise serenely toward the east until she disappeared far into the distance.

The light that surrounded her was, so to speak, opening her way through the starry firmament."

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

(Caption taken from @americaneedsfatima)