On May 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children — Lucia dos Santos and Francisco and Jacinta Marto — near Fatima, Portugal, the first of six apparitions that continued through October of that year. She asked the children to pray the Rosary daily for peace and to trust in her Immaculate Heart. Francisco and Jacinta were canonized by Pope Francis in 2017, and Fatima remains one of the great Marian shrines of the world.
Our Lady chose to speak not to the powerful but to little children, showing that heaven bends close to the small, the simple, and the trusting. Her message at Fatima is one of hope: that prayer, especially the Rosary, is never wasted, and that a mother's heart watches over her children in every sorrow. She reminds grieving hearts that they are never alone.
Our Lady of Fatima, tender Mother, hold us close to your Immaculate Heart, and lead us and all our beloved children safely home to your Son, Jesus. Amen.