Remembering the Fifth Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima, September 13, 1917
Each year, Catholics recall September 13, 1917, the date of the fifth apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. On that day, the Virgin Mary appeared once again to three shepherd children near Fatima, Portugal. Lucia dos Santos, together with her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto, gathered at Cova da Iria as usual. However, this particular gathering proved far larger than earlier ones. Indeed, estimates suggest between twenty-five and thirty thousand people crowded the surrounding roads and fields. Consequently, the children could barely reach the site, pressed constantly by desperate pilgrims seeking prayers and cures.
Notably, tension had grown considerably since the previous apparition. In August, local authorities had briefly imprisoned the three children, hoping to force them into denying their visions. Despite this frightening ordeal, they remained steadfast and public interest only intensified afterwards. Therefore, by September, curiosity mixed openly with genuine devotion among the gathered crowds. Many pilgrims arrived hoping desperately for healing, conversion, or simply reassurance during wartime uncertainty.
When Our Lady appeared, her message remained simple yet deeply important. She asked the children to continue praying the Rosary daily, specifically for peace and an end to the ongoing war. Furthermore, she promised something remarkable for the following month. In October, she said, Christ himself would appear, alongside Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Additionally, Saint Joseph would appear too, blessing the world alongside the Child Jesus. This promise naturally heightened anticipation among believers preparing for the next apparition.
Interestingly, Our Lady also addressed a smaller, more personal detail. The children had been wearing rough cords around their waists as a form of penance. Gently, she instructed them to remove these cords at night, wearing them only during daylight hours. This small correction revealed her genuine maternal concern for their wellbeing, alongside her spiritual guidance. Meanwhile, Lucia relayed specific petitions from pilgrims, including requests for healing and conversion. Our Lady responded honestly, explaining that some requests would be granted, while others would not.
Perhaps most significantly, Our Lady promised a miracle would occur in October, convincing sceptics that these apparitions were genuine. This promise later proved remarkably significant, foreshadowing the famous Miracle of the Sun witnessed the following month. Unlike previous apparitions, however, no dramatic visible sign accompanied this particular meeting. Some witnesses did report subtle phenomena, including a dimming of daylight and falling white petals. Nevertheless, these experiences remained modest compared to what awaited pilgrims just weeks later.
Throughout this period, Lucia’s mother continued struggling with disbelief and social pressure from neighbours. She often doubted her daughter’s claims, fearing ridicule or worse from their local community. Despite this ongoing hardship, Lucia remained calm, trusting fully in what she had witnessed. Consequently, her quiet perseverance became, for many later believers, part of the broader Fatima testimony itself.
Today, the fifth apparition remains an important chapter within the wider Fatima narrative. It highlights themes of patience, sacrifice, and steady preparation for greater spiritual revelations ahead. Moreover, it reminds believers that faith often develops gradually, through small steps rather than sudden dramatic moments. For pilgrims visiting Cova da Iria today, this date continues offering quiet reflection alongside anticipation of the miracle still to come.
See EWTN and Fatima.org for further reading.
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