THE SIXTH APPARITION - THE GREAT DAY

[Saturday, October 13th 1917]

October 13th was to be the decisive day.  For it was on this day that the Lady had promised:

[I] to say who she was and what she wanted 

[ii] to work a great miracle that all might believe in her apparitions.  The predictions were now known throughout the country, and all, both believers and scoffers, were thrilled by this bold prediction which promised a great miracle for a definite time and place.  It was an easy and effective way of verifying the reality of the apparitions of Fatima.  All Portugal awaited, with an understandable curiosity, this conclusive proof of October 13th.

In proportion as the popular enthusiasm for the miracles of Fatima grew, the hostility of the Freethinkers increased.  One day three men went to the homes of the children.  After an insulting examination they left saying.

“You must make up your minds to tell the secret for otherwise it has been decided to kill you”

“How good that would be!” cried the intrepid Jacinta.  “I love Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary so much.  We shall go to them more quickly!”

Other visitors spread more sinister rumours that the children and their parents would be brought before the tribunal for seducing the people; that bombs would be placed near the tree to blow it all up, etc.

Frightened by all these threats, Jacinta’s parents thought of sending their children away from Fatima, but they refused saying  “It does not matter if we are killed; we shall go to heaven all the sooner” 

On October 11th, one Fr. Formigan asked Lucia:

“Do you not fear the anger of the people if the promised miracle is not worked?” 

“No,” replied the girl frankly, “I have no fear on that score”

On October 12th, Lucia’s mother, very anxious about these rumours, suggested going to confession so as to be ready for anything.

“If you want to go to confession”, the child answered quietly, “I shall go with you willingly, but I have not the slightest fear.  I am sure the Lady will do as she promised”.

In the face of such calm assurance, the mother spoke no more of confession but none of these measures of intimidation and mockery had any effect on the crowd.  From the eve, October 12th, all the roads to Fatima were already packed with carriages, bicycles and an immense crowd of pilgrims reciting the Rosary and singing hymns on their way to the site of the apparitions, where they were going to spend the night in the open.  It might be called a general mobilization to go and hear the message from Heaven, and to see the promised miracle, which was to authenticate the message.   Though no one knew in what the miracle would consist, each was determined to see it at first hand.

The morning of October 13th was disappointing, for contrary to all expectations, it was wet, gloomy and cold.  It seemed as if heaven wished to test the faith and devotion of the pilgrims and to make them merit, by a hard sacrifice, the honor of witnessing the promised miracle.  But the bad weather did not check in any way the crowd that gathered from everywhere, even from the extreme limits of the country; while reporters and photographers from the big newspapers were there to get the facts.

The continuous rain had transformed the place of the apparitions, which is a hollow, into a vast mud-pit, and all pilgrims or curious, were drenched to the skin or frozen with the cold.  Shortly before midday, an observer estimated the crowd at about seventy thousand.

“We left home fairly soon” reported Lucia, “since we excepted to be delayed along the way.  There were multitudes of people [70,000] despite the torrential rain.  My mother, fearful that this would be the last day of my life, her heart pieced by the uncertainty of what might happen, wanted to accompany me.  On the road, the scenes of the previous month, only even more moving, people knelt down before us humbly and beseechingly in spite of the mud on the road.

When we reached Cova de Iria, next to the Holmoak and following an inner voice, I asked the people to close their umbrellas in order to say the Rosary. They obeyed and in the pelting rain recited the Rosary.  Shortly afterwards, Lucia gives a slight start and cries:

“There is the lighting.”

Then raising her hand she adds:

“See, she is coming!  She comes! Do you see her?”  “Look well my child! Take care not to be mistaken” says her mother who, kneeling beside her, is clearly troubled about the issue of this gripping drama; Lucia no longer hears, she is in ecstasy.

Some pious people, with dedicated attention, have decorated the tree with flowers and ribbons.  In acknowledgement of this act of loving homage the Lady places her feet on these ornaments.  Meanwhile, the rain has ceased, and the crowd can see a light white cloud, which, like the smoke of incense, forms round the little seers, rises to a height of about fifteen feet, and scatters in the air.  This phenomenon occurs three times, as if an invisible priest was there incensing the heavenly apparition liturgically.

Lucia then asks the question the Lady had promised to answer on that day.

“Madam, who are you and what do you want of me?”

“I am Our Lady of the Rosary” answers the Lady;  “I want a chapel built here in my honour.  Continue to say the Rosary every day.  The war is coming to an end and soldiers will soon come home”.

Preoccupied by all the commissions given her by the people, Lucia interrupts:

“I have so many favours to ask you:” The Blessed Virgin answers that she will grant some, but not all, and immediately continues the message:
 “Men must amend their lives, and ask pardon for their sins.”
Then, with a look of grief and in a suppliant tone of voice:

“Men must not offend God any more for He is already very much offended”