In 1916, on three separate occasions, Lucia dos Santos, and her two cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, began reporting apparitions of an angel in the region of Vallinhos. According to the children, these blessed visitations began on the 13 May 1917 when, while tending their family's sheep in Cova da Iria, they said they witnessed the apparition of what they later wholeheartedly believed was the Virgin Mary, and began doing penance and self-sacrifice to atone for sinners. Many flocked to Fátima and Aljustrel to witness these declared apparitions along with the children, but not before the children were jailed for being politically disruptive. These visitations culminated on the 13 October 1917 public Miracle of the Sun event, the children imparted that the apparition of Virgin Mary divulged three secrets to the children. Although the Miracle of the Sun marked the children's last claimed apparition, the region of Fátima continued to be a destination for pilgrims
Victims of the 1918 fly pandemic epidemic, both siblings, Francisco died on 4 April 1919 and Jacinta Marto died on 20 Feb 1920. Along with the Three Secrets of Fatima, their stories and that of Lúcia, would be linked to religious construction that followed in Fátima. A small chapel, the Capelinha das Aparições (Chapel of the Apparitions) was started on 28 April 1919 by local people.
Incorrupt body of Jacinta Marto
One of the three little pastors that the Virgin Mary appeared
in Fatima in 1917. Jacinta Marto died in 1920 at only 9 years old,
years later after exhumation in 1935 his body was still incorrupt.
Body of Saint Jacinta Marto incorrupt
Papa Giovanni Paolo II with Lúcia, she lived 97 years.
(28 March 1907 – 13 February 2005)
Final resting place of Jacinta and Lúcia
Final resting place of Francisco
Two doves on his grave stone.
