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Our Lady of Fatima

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Between May and October of 1917 the Blessed Virgin appeared to three children at Cova da Iria near Fatima, Portugal. The oldest of the children, Lucia Abobora was only ten years old at the time but had the wisdom of someone much older and instructed her younger cousins Francisco and Jacinta Martos that they should tell no one of their experience. Young Jacinta however decided to tell about their visitor and this led to much ridicule and persecution for the three young mystics. Our Lady had told them they would suffer greatly and that they should offer up their suffering for all of the sinners of the world. The fact that they were helping to save sinners by their suffering gave these children much comfort in their sufferings and this was especially true of Francisco and Jacinta since Mother Mary had informed them that she would take them to heaven soon. In less than three years both of these children were dead.

The Church was, as is prudent, slow to accept the miracle at Fatima but has now fully accepted what happened there and millions of Catholics have an extra prayer at the end of each decade of the Rosary because of it. Those who refuse to believe in miracles still can't fully explain the actions of the Sun during the Virgin's last visit in October 1917 that was witnessed by over 70,000 people at the site and hundreds of others who were miles away from Cova da Iria. It is especially interesting to note that Socialist newspaper men who were there in order to inform their readers that the whole thing was a hoax had to admit that they had seen the miracle also.

William Walsh first published this book in 1947 after extensive interviews with the surviving child and others that were involved. He also made careful study of Lucia Abobora's journals of the events that she had written well after the fact at the insistence of a Bishop. This careful research and the interviews along with many visits to the sight of the visitation have enabled the author to write what still may be the best book available on the subject. The writing is a little lax grammatically at times but more than makes up for that with style. This is a very easy to read and clear account of the events at Fatima and even someone with no Catholic background at all will be able to follow the story with no problem. Even those who refuse to believe will I think find this book enjoyable and will if nothing else be able to see the life of early twentieth century Portuguese peasants as they lived through the upheavals going on all around them.

Since this story continues to unfold this book does show it's age to some extent For example, the secret the children would not tell to anyone has long since been revealed. Also, since the death of the last child only this past February, the Vatican has sealed her cell (she became a nun) and a team of investigators will be going through her papers to see what else might be revealed. There may indeed be much more of this story to be told and the events of Fatima still cause controversy so this book is over fifty years behind, but for a basic understanding of the appearance of Our Lady of Fatima this book is hard to beat. I seriously doubt that a better basic account will ever be written.

After reading and searching for the past 5 years about the information about Fatima this book is by far the best. Everything you ever wanted to know about fatima from the begining to the present is all here.

I've read many books on Fatima, and this is the best--hands down. William Thomas Walsh's writing is truly magnificent. Fatima literally comes alive in these pages, with rich descriptions, and a truly exciting prose style.

I must disagree with a previous reviewer that said that the book's age is beginning to show. The apparitions of Fatima occurred in 1917. The fact that the book was written closer to the time-frame of the occurrences there is an asset, not a detriment. And yet the book and it's well regarded message could not be more current. This one is not to be missed.

This is one the very best books on the subject. The author is truly gifted in telling the story of Fatima. ...[The] apparitions at Fatima have been the most thoroughly investigated in history, and anyone who knows the rigourous standards that the Catholic Church places on such investigations knows it does not advance such venerations as it enthusiastically does such as for the Apparitions of Fatima without it's full belief that these events are valid. In fact, many newspaper reporters were present on the day of the Miracle of Sun, some very unfriendly to the subject of "supposed apparitions" occurring in a remote village in Portugal, which at that time was controlled by socialistic forces. These newpapers (which are documented in the book) came to witness what they thought would be a non-event, and were in the end forced to corroborate the veracity of some very unusual happenings having taken place there--astonishing ones. So to say that they didn't take place because a reviewer below said that the New York Times didn't report it, is just stupid. There were very many witnesses and a great deal of testimony taken from Fatima that this book thoroughly details.... Start with this book. In it you'll find a rich vein of history, spirituality, and truth.

I recently converted to Catholicism so I really didn't know that much about the apparations of Our Lady. After reading this book my only reaction was, "Why didn't anyone tell me about this?" This book reads like a novel but is informative about the events of Fatima as well. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in learning about this miraculous event.

I bought this book because I love reading about Marian apparitions, and I have always believed in what took place at Fatima in 1917. This book goes into full detail about the children and their lives. It describes their daily life, their family, and the events that led up to the apparitions. It really gives you a clear understanding of what all took place during the apparitions, and give you the true story of what the children experienced and suffered during this time. This book also continues to tell us what happened to the children and fanilies after the apparitions, which was very interesting. The descrition of the Oct. 13th apparition is extraordinary! It will WOW you! This is a terrific book about Fatima. If you want the full story of what happened, then get this book!

Fatima was the apparition that got me interested in Mary and her apparitions in the first place and I have read many books on the subject and this is THE best, and the most complete book on this subject.

In 1917, Blessed Mother Mary appeared to Lucia and her two cousins, siblings Francisco and Jacinta at the Cova da Iria in Fatima, Portugal. During Mary's early appearances, only the girls were able to see her. Francisco would, after praying many Rosaries per the Blessed Mother's instruction, would eventually see her in time.

Mother Mary revealed the Blessed Secrets to the three children; she warned of danger and wars in future times. Lucia would later enter a convent and become a nun. Her two younger cousins died in childhood as Mother Mary decreed.

Jesus, Son of Mary and Stepson of St. Joseph, was a shepherd. He tended sheep as well as serving as a Divine Shepherd to His flock -- humans. He is called the Good Shepherd and the image of a loving, watchful protector is often associated with Jesus. It is interesting to note that Lucia and her cousins were shepherds; they tended the flocks. They were also devout Catholics who vowed to live and serve the Blessed Mother and impart her teachings through prayers.

In 1964 the Visions in Fatima were officially recognized and accepted by the Catholic Church.

This wonderful book will bring Mary and the Holy Family into the lives and hearts of all who encounter it. It is truly a loving, gentle reminder of the nearness of Mother Mary.

Wonderful Catholic historian William Thomas Walsh here relates the amazing and true story of the three peasant children who were witnesses to the apparation of Our Lady of Fatima. They were first visited by the Angel of Peace, Archangel Michael. Later, on the 13th of each month, they were visited by the Blessed Mother of God. On the final visitation, October 13,1917, she performed a miracle, witnessed by thousands. It was "the day the Sun danced".

Reading Walsh's beautiful and appealing manuscript, one is taken right back to Portugal in the days of the Great War. We come to indentify with the peasant children, with their awesome spirituality, and their amazing courage. Careful reading of this wonderful book would seem to compel us all to pick up a rosary, to pray, to console, and to work for peace with all our might. In this, the work is timeless; and we hope it will always be read by seekers after the truth.

Walsh ends this magnificent little book by recording his personal interview with the only surviving witness, Lucia, then a nun. The picture is awesome and riveting, this most Catholic of modern historians, this most gentle and humble of sisters. It is quite beautiful enough to change our fallen world. Read this. And be richly blessed by the experience.

Our culture has a remarkable talent for ignoring events that don't fit in well with the prevailing worldview. Many people don't know anything about many of the most important events in recent history. The visions at Fatima, which changed the history of Portugal and the world at large, are one such event. Though I'd heard the words 'the miracle of Fatima' occasionally throughout my life, until recently I had no clue what they meant. William Thomas Walsh's book "Our Lady of Fatima" fills a necessary gap by telling what the author describes as "one of the strangest and most beautiful stories I have ever heard".

Though the book is wholly about the visitation and it's aftermath, one of the best parts is the opening section. Walsh's description of the life of the three young children has a haunting beauty in the way it describes their simple faith, as demonstrated by daily prayer, devotion, and uncommon intelligence. People who know nothing about rural life in Portugal a century ago--a category that includes most of us, I'd wager--would value the book for this reason alone, that it paints of picture of a culture so very different from our own.

Most of the book, however, is dedicated to a straightforward story of what took place in 1917, when the three children had their visions of the Virgin Mary. Events are told in chronological order, beginning with the first vision, including the skeptical reaction of parents and the at-first hostile response from the local clergy. Walsh does an excellent job of portraying the grand scheme of events surrounding the visions as pilgrims began arriving, first by dozens, then hundreds, then thousands. He's particularly good at placing the event within the context of Portuguese history. After the overthrow of the monarchy in 1908, Portugal's Republican government had vowed to make atheism the law of the land. Thousands of Catholics were killed or imprisoned, clergy were attacked, and the press was heavily censored in an attempt to stamp out the traditional religion of the country. Needless to say, official were not happy when news of the Fatima vision spread. The three children were arrested and threatened with torture if they didn't admit to making up their story.

Despite the violence, the attempt to silence the visionaries failed, and the visions continued. Walsh devotes a chapter to the final vision, when tens of thousands of pilgrims witnessed the Miracle of the Sun. He carefully documents the events of that day, including skeptical officials and reporters who testified to them and other people many miles away who also saw the solar miracle. He also covers a great deal more evidence for Fatima, especially fulfilled prophecies and miraculous healings that took place in the months following. Especially valuable is his detailing of the reaction among the Portuguese for years after the events, including a mass pilgrimage of almost a million people. By holding on to the story of three little children, they demonstrated solidarity and faith in God in the face of oppression, and played a vital role in winning their country's eventual freedom from tyranny. "Our Lady of Fatima" truly is one of the most amazing true stories ever told.