Fatima
Located in the West of central Portugal, in the region of Leiria and approximately 50km and just 35 minutes from Casa Rosden, is the small town of Fatima and one of the most visited Marian shrines in the world today. The santuary of Fatima dates only from early in the 20th century.In 1916 and 1917 a series of apparitions were seen by three young children that were to profoundly alter both their own lives and the atmosphere of the peasant village of Fatima.
May 13th 2010 marks the 92nd anniversary of the date in 1917 when three shepherd children reportedly saw, and heard prophecies from, the Virgin Mary, the first of six reported apparitions that followed over the following six months.
The Shrine of Fatima, built on the site of the visions, is one of Catholicism’s most visited sanctuaries, and sees up to 5 million pilgrims visiting every year.
Pope John Paul II credited the Madonna of Fatima with saving his life after he was shot in St. Peter’s Square on May 13, 1981-the 64th anniversary of the first reported apparition.
In 2000, John Paul beatified two of the visionaries, the sister and brother Jacinta and Francisco Marto, placing them one step from sainthood.
Their cousin Sister Lucia de Jesus dos Santos, who died in 2005 at age 97, is currently being considered for the same distinction. In Feb. 2008, Benedict exempted her from the usual five-year waiting period between a death and the start of the process toward beatification.’
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