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Article: The story of Fatima.(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- National Catholic Reporter
- Article date:
- May 26, 2000
- Author:
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The 20th century's best-known series of Marian apparitions began on May 13, 1917, when three small Portuguese children claimed to have been visited by a "lady in white" whom they recognized as the Virgin Mary.
The events in Fatima unfolded against a backdrop of religious persecution in Portugal. After the overthrow of the monarchy in 1908, the country was ruled by anti-clerical factions, which, by some counts, killed as many as 1,700 priests, nuns and monks between 1911 and 1916.
On June 13, 1917, the children M Francisco Marto, then 8, his sister Jacinta, 6, and their cousin Lucia dos Santos, 9 -- said they were again visited by the lady, who told them ...