The fourth apparition of Our Lady - August 19, 1917

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - back to “Prayer material”

On August 13, about 15,000 people gathered at the Cova da Iria, but the three shepherd children didn’t come to the appointment because they were arrested by the mayor of Vila Nova de Ourem, who didn’t love Our Lady and didn’t want people to believe in the apparitions. On the 15th, they were released and on the 19th, while they were grazing their sheep in a place called Valinhos (little valleys), they saw the beautiful Lady again.

«What do you want of me?» Lucia asked once more.
«I want you to continue going to the Cova da Iria on the 13th, and to continue praying the Rosary every day».
To Lucia, who begged Her once again to perform a miracle so that everyone may believe, the Virgin answered: «Yes. In the last month, in October, I will perform a miracle so that all may believe in my apparitions. If they hadn’t brought you to Vila Nova, the miracle would have been more sensational».

Then Lucia remembered the task that Mrs. Maria Carreira had entrusted her with and she asked: «What do you want us to do with the money and the other offerings that the people leave in the Cova da Iria?»
«Have two stretchers made. One is to be carried by you, Jacinta, and two other girls dressed in white; the other one is to be carried by Francisco and three other boys, dressed in white capes. The rest of the money is for the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary».

Then the little girl prayed for the sick people who were entrusted to her. «Yes, I will heal some of them by the end of the year, the Virgin said; and, with a very sad face, added: Pray, pray very much and make sacrifices for sinners; because many souls go to hell because there is no one to sacrifice themselves and pray for them».

Then the Lady began to ascend as usual towards the east, leaving the shepherd children with a great longing for Heaven and a desire, a real hunger for making sacrifices in order to open the doors of Paradise for many sinners.

THE ROSARY AND SINNERS

«Pray, pray very much for sinners…. Many souls go to hell because there is no one to pray and make sacrifices for them…» These are the precise words which Our Lady addressed to the shepherd children of Fatima. In each apparition she repeated: «Pray the Rosary every day».
To save sinners from eternal damnation, Our Lady asks for children’s prayers, and she specifies what kind of prayer She desires. What relationship exists between children who say the Rosary and the salvation of sinners? Let’s try to explain this.
Since, in Jesus, we all form one family, the prayers of small, innocent children can make up for the evil and blasphemies of adults. In the Hail Mary, when a child says to Our Lady «… pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death», a dying sinner, who may be desperate, sees his Mother next to him, smiling and saying: «Yes, my son, here I am, I have come to help you…»
«But I don’t know you, I didn’t call you!» answers the sinner, astonished and delighted. «An innocent child called me on your behalf, by praying the Rosary. It’s as if you called me: you are all my children, and I want you all in my Heart. Come on, ask forgiveness from God for the many awful things you have done, and come with me. Come into my Heart, I will bring you Home at last: I have been waiting for you for a long time!»