*We highlight these Saints to inspire our students and contribute to their growth in Catholic education by fostering understanding and appreciation for Catholic values and teachings. We encourage parents to share the stories of these Saints with their children to deepen their spirituality and motivate them to live their faith with conviction, following the examples of these admired role models.*
The apparition of Our Lady of Fátima has touched the lives of tens of millions from all across the world. Millions of pilgrims visit the site of the miracle each year and countless conversions have occurred due to this event in the past century. St. Jacinta is one of the three children who Our Lady of Fátima appeared to in the year 1917. She has served as an inspiration for many Catholics of all ages since her death in 1920.
Jacinta Marto was born in 1910 near the town of Fátima, Portugal. Growing up, she was very joyful and outgoing, exemplified by her love of dancing and flowers. She loved to find the beauty of God’s creation in nature. Jacinta displayed strong faith and was even once moved to tears when she heard the story of Jesus’ death at the age of five. Jacinta was very close with her cousin Lucia, and Jacinta and her brother, Francisco, were fond of playing games with their cousin and tending to sheep in the fields.
One day, when the three children, Francisco, Lucia, and Jacinta were out in the countryside, an angel appeared to them and asked them to pray with him. The angel appeared to them two more times to prepare them for the appearances of Our Lady in the coming months. Our Lady then appeared the Jacinta, her cousin, and her brother on the 13th of every month for half a year. Many townspeople, reporters, and government officials did not believe that the children had truly been talking to the Virgin Mary in Fátima, Portugal, but the children’s faith was unswayed. In fact, their faith only grew stronger and stronger after each apparition.
Although Jacinta had always been very talkative throughout her life, she became much more reserved and quiet after the apparitions began. During the final apparition, which has been called the Miracle of the Sun, around 70,000 people gathered along with Jacinta, Lucia, and Francisco to witness a sign that Our Lady had promised the children that she would give to the masses to strengthen their faith. In this moment, the crowds were astounded to see above them, the Sun moving, changing colors, and dancing across the sky. Many people’s hearts were changed, and they now believed that Jacinta and the two other children had truly seen Our Lady over the preceding months.
“Tell everybody that God grants us graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary; that people are to ask her for them; and that the Heart of Jesus wants the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be venerated at His side“
St. Jacinta Marto
St. Jacinta passed away in 1920. Before her death, she was very sick and experienced much pain during her last days, but she did not complain and instead, offered it up to the Lord as a sacrifice for the intentions of world peace, the Pope, and the conversion of sinners. Her body was found to be incorrupt many years after her death and burial, and she was canonized in 2017 on the 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Fátima’s first apparition. Her body is buried in the basilica in Fátima, and her grave and childhood home are visited by millions annually from across the globe.
FAMILY ACTIVITY: The lives of the Children of Fátima are a beautiful example of an intense faith in Jesus and love for his Mother. Honor them by encouraging praying a daily family rosary for the conversion of sinners (the intention Our Lady asked the children to pray for).