Friday Saints of the Day

 The Saints of Fatima

Feastday: February 20
Patron: of bodily ills; captives; people ridiculed for their piety; prisoners; sick people; against sickness
Birth: 1910
Death: 1920
Beatified: May 13, 2000, Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Fatima, Portugal, by Pope John Paul II
Canonized: May 13th, 2017, Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Fatima, Portugal by Pope Francis

Feastday: February 20
Patron: of bodily ills; captives; people ridiculed for their piety; prisoners; sick people; against sickness
Birth: June 11, 1908
Death: April 4, 1919
Beatified: May 13, 2000, Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Fatima, Portugal, by Pope John Paul II
Canonized: May 13, 2017, by Pope Francis

Francisco & Jacinta Marto were young shepherds from Fatima, Portugal. They witnessed the appearances of Mary in 1917 alongside their cousin Lucia. The Blessed Virgin entrusted to them messages of prayer, sacrifice and devotion culminating in the famous “Miracle of the Sun”. They were young yet they embraced suffering for the salvation of sinners, before succumbing to the Spanish flu.

 They were canonized in 2017 by Pope Francis, becoming the youngest non-martyr saints in the history of the Church. On May 13, 1917, in the countryside of Fatima, as they tended sheep in Cova da Iria while praying the Rosary, they witnessed a sudden flash of light and saw the beautiful lady, dressed in white, identifying herself as the Blessed Virgin Mary. For 6 months, she appeared to them on the 13th of the month, sharing messages of peace, penance, devotion to the Rosary, and the need for world peace. The local mayor literally arrested them so they were unable to meet with Mary on August 13th. The mayor wanted to silence their claims.

 Mary revealed three secrets to them; warning of war, the need to repent, and a vision of hell. She promised them heaven but warned of upcoming sufferings. They practiced acts of penance for the salvation of sinners. One day, with 70,000 pilgrims present the “Miracle of the Sun” took place. Confirmed by believers and skeptics alike, this event led to the devotion of Our Lady of Fatima.

 Francisco, ill from the Spanish flu, died on April 4, 1919 at the age of 10. Jacinta died on February 20, 1920 at the age of 9. They were beatified by St. John Paul II in 2000 and canonized by Pope Francis on May 13, 2027. Their devotion, coupled with continued miracles and conversions at Fatima has made their legacy a lasting source of faith for millions around the world. Saints Francisco & Jacinta, pray for us!