May 13 marks the optional memorial of Our Lady of Fátima, one of the most widely recognized and Church-approved Marian apparitions of the 20th century. Known globally for its mysterious “three-part secret,” the events at Fátima continue to stir faith and fascination. Here are nine essential facts about what happened and why it still matters:

1. What Really Happened in Fátima?

In 1917, three young shepherd children — Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto — reported a series of extraordinary visions near Fátima, Portugal. The apparitions began on May 13, when a luminous lady, whom they later identified as the Virgin Mary, appeared and promised to return on the 13th of each month for six months. During the July visit, Mary entrusted Lucia with a three-part secret. The final apparition on October 13 was accompanied by the Miracle of the Sun, witnessed by tens of thousands who saw the sun spin, pulse with colors, and defy natural movement.

2. What Followed After the Apparitions?

Shortly after the Marian visions, tragedy struck: the Spanish flu pandemic took the lives of Francisco (1919) and Jacinta (1920). Lucia later entered a convent and continued receiving visions. In 1929, she reported a divine request for the consecration of Russia to Mary’s Immaculate Heart. By 1930, the local bishop declared the Fátima apparitions worthy of belief.

3. How Was the Secret of Fátima Documented?

Between 1935 and 1941, Sister Lucia recorded four memoirs. In them, she described the first two parts of the secret and hinted at a third, which she said she was not yet authorized to reveal. The third part was eventually written in 1944 under episcopal order and sealed for future disclosure — not to be opened until 1960.

4. What Became of the Third Secret?

Held by the Vatican from 1957, the third part of the secret was read by several popes. Notably, Pope John Paul II requested to see it after surviving an assassination attempt on May 13, 1981 — the anniversary of the first apparition. He later credited Our Lady of Fátima for saving his life, saying it was “a mother’s hand that guided the bullet.”

5. Did John Paul II Consecrate Russia as Requested?

Yes — though not initially to everyone’s satisfaction. On March 25, 1984, John Paul II, united with bishops around the world, consecrated all peoples to Mary’s Immaculate Heart. Sister Lucia confirmed that this fulfilled Mary’s request, saying, “Yes, it has been done just as Our Lady asked.”

6. Is There a Link Between Fátima and the Fall of Communism?

The timing is remarkable. Just days after the last apparition in 1917, Russia experienced the October Revolution, leading to Soviet rule. Mary’s messages warned that unless Russia turned from its errors, it would cause global upheaval. After the 1984 consecration, the collapse of communism followed within a decade — events that John Paul II saw as aligned with the Fátima prophecies.

7. What Is the Core Message of Fátima?

According to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI), the heart of Fátima is a call to personal conversion, penance, and devotion to God. Each part of the secret is designed to awaken the soul to the urgency of returning to the path of righteousness.

8. What Is the First Part of the Secret?

The children were shown a terrifying vision of hell, underscoring the eternal consequences of sin and the importance of repentance. This vision was meant to shake complacency and stir action.

9. What’s in the Second Part of the Secret?

Mary explained that to save sinners, God desired devotion to her Immaculate Heart. She predicted a second, more devastating war (which became World War II) and warned that if her requests were ignored, Russia would “spread her errors” worldwide. Yet she also promised hope: “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”

Final Reflection

The story of Fátima is not just a tale from the past. It continues to inspire faith, provoke thought, and call for conversion. Its messages — on repentance, the dangers of moral decay, and the power of prayer — remain as relevant today as they were over a century ago. Whether one approaches it from faith or fascination, Fátima offers profound insight into the mysterious intersection of heaven and history.