Our Lady of Fatima

by William Thomas Walsh

"The future of our civilization, our liberties, our very existence may depend upon the acceptance of her commands." --William Thomas Walsh

This was the conclusion reached by William Thomas Walsh, distinguished author, historian, and teacher, after he had thorougly investigated the miracle of Fatima. Here is the whole remarkable story of the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three simple children at an obscure Portuguese village in 1917. Her prophecies of World War II and the rise of communism, her plea to humanity to do penance, her promise that world peace and the conversion of Russia would take place if her messages were heeded -- these are some of the dramatic events in this fascinating account of a modern miracle.

Our Lady of Fatima is a magnificent re-creation of an event whose effects are still reverberating throughout the world -- the appearance in person of the Mother of God with a "peace plan from heaven."

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Nonfiction, History, Theology, Christianity, Faith

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

A graduate of Yale University, William T. Walsh was a Catholic historian, educator, and author. He received international attention for his biographies Isabella of Spain and Philip II. In 1941, he was given the Laetare Medal by the University of Notre Dame. In 1944, he was given Spain's highest cultural honor, the Cross of Comendador of the Civil Order of Alfonso the Wise, and also the 1944 Catholic Literary Award of the Gallery of Living Catholic Authors.

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

In October 2007 I was in Fátima Portugal for the 90th anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun—it was one of the greatest graces of my life and something I shall never forget. It completely changed my life. But actually, things had started changing for me 9 years earlier when I attended a Marian Conference in Spokane, Washington and heard about Our Lady’s appearances at the small town of Medjugorje. The movie Gospa was playing on the big screen when I walked in that Friday night, a dramatization of the events of the beginning of the Medjugorje apparitions. After that weekend I began to devour everything I could get my hands on about Marian apparitions, Divine Mercy and so much else in my Catholic faith that I had neglected for most of my life. I had a LOT to catch up on!

Back to 2007 and Fátima, it was the most peaceful place I have ever visited. Even though thousands had showed up for the anniversary celebrations—and I hate crowds as a rule—this crowd never bothered me. It was a gentle, quiet and serene crowd which filled the area from one basilica to the other, the new one opened that year. Families, individuals and/or casual groups sitting or milling around, waiting for Mass to begin, praying the rosary, soaking up the glorious fall sunshine, visiting, sleeping on the ground, reading or just sitting and watching.

Mass began with a procession of priests, and it seemed to go on forever, with priests of every age, size, shape and color. I have never seen so many priests all together in one place at one time. When they were all finally seated, you could see rows upon rows of white robes in the front of the crowd facing the old basilica. Communion reminded me of the feeding of baby birds; there was no orderly going up in rows like in our American churches. People just rushed forward with hands outstretched calling out each in his/her own language. Then as we each were fed, we returned to our tiny spot of ground and miraculously everyone found where they had been before—to me that was one of the many miracles of the day!

Since then, I have read many things (books, articles, etc.), seen movies and documentaries, visited the traveling statue of Our Lady of Fátima, celebrated every subsequent anniversary of the Miracle of Sun (especially with the dear friend who made the trip with me) have made numerous consecrations to Mary, most recently one to Our Lady of Fátima, but until now, I had never read this particular book.

So, how does it rate alongside everything else? It is very good! It tells the STORY of Fátima like a story and therefore for most people this is the perfect one book to read. It contains a lot of information about the apparition, the visionaries, their families, the immediate events and a bit about the subsequent after times and it relates things in an interesting and easy-to-read format. It is a good introduction to the Fátima-phenomenon and for most folks it will be enough. If I had read this first though I know it would have frustrated me as the footnotes refer to things said by individuals, but then without a bibliography, I am not sure where to go next to find this information. However, this book was published in 1954 and since then hundreds of things have been published, which would allow me to research and follow-up on whatever I wanted to know quite apart from this book, so this is really a minor criticism. This book serves the audience to whom it was written. Those who want to delve more deeply into the topic are better served reading Sr. Lucia’s Memoirs, which are referenced by Mr. Walsh, Church documents or other writings on the apparition and they are voluminous. I know I shall go on reading about this wonderful Gift from Our Lady for the rest of my life!

Thank you also and again too my dear friend, Dhanaraj, for this wonderful and inspiring read which I thoroughly enjoyed on my snow day! God bless you! bl+


January 31, 2022: Received this as Christmas gift from my dear friend, Dhanaraj. Having visited Fatima in 2007 for the 90th anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun, October 13th, this will always be my favorite Marian apparition and one which transformed my life. Although I have read many books about Fatima, I never read this and look forward to it eagerly! Thank you, Dhanaraj!

[Thadeus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, written of the people and the events surrounding the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, contains many rich and worthwhile pieces of wisdom. I learned much about the three children, Jacinta, Francisco, and Lucia, including things about their daily lives, their culture and the times in which they lived, as well as about their parents.

What I knew of Our Lady of Fatima prior to reading this book, was just that it is one of the major apparitions of Mary that are recognized by the Church. I wasn’t sure what to expect from reading it, but I can say that both my appreciation for the events, and my spiritual life have grown due to the contents of this book. Way beyond what I had expected!

Probably the most impact has been in how I view the effects of prayer. Sometimes it is difficult to believe, in the midst of all that happens in the world, that taking the time to offer prayers for persons, or to make sacrifices of penance can make a difference. Reading this book helped convince me of the importance of these two things and has helped me in practice as well.

One thing that struck me particularly was the quote from Benedict XV made in 1920 (p. 187-188) that spoke to the driving forces against marriage and family and toward a universal socialism that seems to have come to fruition in most of Europe and seems also nearly complete here in the United States of America in 2017. My hope is that there are many who have already read this book and those who will that will take up Our Lady’s call to pray and do penance for all those in need.

I can’t recommend enough for anyone wanting to grow spiritually and/or learn about Our Lady of Fatima.

[Jeremy Sienkiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to the apparitions. The writer is very talented and makes the account readable, almost in a novel form, but very true to the memoirs and offical accounts. He makes the visionaries come alive while making you feel you are a spiritual slacker compared to these 6, 8, and 9 year olds. Amazing story and wonderful message. Prayer and sacrifice for sinners! St. Faustina before St. Faustina.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book. I thought I knew a lot about history of Our Lady of Fatima, but I was mistaken. I learned a lot more about St. Francisco, St. Jacinta, and Sr. Lucia. I learned more about their family and their personalities. So happy I picket it up to read.
St. Francisco and St. Jacinta, pray for us!
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So amazing to read about the true events surrounding The Miracle of Fatima. The best book out there on the topic, that I have read. So amazing how three little kids ages 6-9 could
be so dedicated and prayerful amidst great struggles. They could all teach us a LOT about faith and sacrifice.

[Debbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing story of the poor shepherd children at such a traumatic time in Europe's history. Mary's messages retain their value and importance.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, it started with the book club at SpiritualDirection.com. I not only read the classic Our Lady of Fatima, by William Thomas Walsh (Image, 1947), I also wrote about it on alternating weeks.

Walsh actually traveled to Fatima and talked with the parents of the children and interviewed Lucia, one of the visionaries, more than once. He studied her writings, and went in-depth on things in a way that someone with years of journalistic experience will.

That makes this book quite a read. It seemed, at first, to be dry and a bit like a textbook, but as I continued on, it started unfolding in my mind like the drama it was.

Reading this book was a lot like reading the source material, being beside the witnesses who were beside the children. I noticed, in other books I read, that this book was highly referenced — and with good reason!

It also chronicles how the children’s spiritual lives developed — and how could they not? They were being visited by the Mother of God!

When you read this book, you travel through the history of the apparitions step by step, week by week. At the end, Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta were truly people to me, not just lumped together as the three children of Fatima.

I could picture Francisco’s hiding to pray (and bounding around like the little boy he was) and Jacinta’s intense care for the conversion of sinners. And Lucia’s rough relationship with her mother also struck a chord with me in a deeply personal way.

Their love for Jesus became something that inspired me in a special way: these children had an “in” to God, and they shared it in a beautiful way. Thanks to this book, we’re able to look deeply into their lives and allow them to help us grow closer to Christ.

[Bernadette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book (written in 1947) in preparation for my April trip to Fatima. The book was informative but read like a research paper. I learned a lot and was struck by the similarities between Lucia and Bernadette of Lourdes.

[Zacaro Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read while in Huston airport waiting to go to... FATIMA!

[Christina D’Astoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so important. All Catholics should read this book!

[Daniel Millard · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Thomas Walsh's is certainly the most exhaustive account that I've read of the Church-approved apparitions at Fatima, as well as one of the biggest page-turners that I've read recently. My understanding is that this is the premier historical accounting of the Fatima apparitions (at least, in English), as given by Sr. Lucia (then Sister Maria das Dores to the author after the end of the second world war - eighteen or twenty years after the apparitions, and also based upon numerous interviews and Sr. Lucia's manuscripts.

The recounting of the events of six months in 1917 is quite detailed and thorough, much involving the local families, clergy, and eventual enemies of the rural Portuguese children. Having mostly heard about Fatima as a source of belief and devotion within the Church, reading about the social and political implications of the apparitions at the time is somewhat stunning. Along with an account of the miracles, there is a strong undercurrent in this book which highlights, as in almost any historical account, the humility and strength of the impoverished the world around. In this particular case, it is the righteousness of the Portuguese peasants.

Fact-checking and miraculous proofs are not a part of this book - as those items are tackled formally by the Vatican, but Walsh's words definitely evoke the barren plains of central Portugal and the wonder felt by the common folk of that place in a way that's surprisingly detailed and gripping. More than anything, Walsh gives account of the lives of Jacinta, Francisco, and Lucia, and honor to their memories and their family's.

[Dave Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic! It is a well-researched, journalistic history of the events in Fatima in 1919 and beyond, with the author conducting first-hand interviews of many of the events’ principles and witnesses. Occasional well-placed soaring prose underscores the importance of these events on the world and on the lives of the central figures in this story. (“Wherever Lúcia walked, a dark silhouette between the moors and the sky, something reminded her of Jacinta or of Francisco. Every sheep, every star that twinkled into the night, every sunrise and sunset told her again that they would never return. The wind at Cabeço brought a dear imaginary voice saying ‘’I will never see you again, Lúcia… I am going to heaven, but you stay here – alone.’”)

Despite this being an excellent, well-written history, I found it hard to write a straight forward review of this book... Instead, I find myself focusing on the heroism, honor, and holiness of the three little kids that are the protagonists of this story -- against what seems like the whole world. Lúcia, Francisco, and Jacinta never falter – despite being patronized, ridiculed, mocked, kidnapped, threatened with torture and death, and ultimately, two of them dying. The voices of these kids stick with you because of their simple directness and honesty. (The purely fictional teenage-angsty figures of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasely pale in comparison!) I guess my bottom-line is that this book helps the reader appreciate and love little Saints Francisco and Jacinta and soon-to-be Saint Lúcia.

[Charlie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had heard about Fatima from internet articles (Wikipedia & EWTN) and Catholic fan sites....but this book....it solidified my love for these apparitions and the odor of truthfulness that the whole story carries. You can’t make this stuff up!

This book is not a technical treatment at all. Not an academic study. It is a well researched account, told in a narrative style from the perspective of being very close to the three little children who had visits with Our Blessed Lady.

William Thomas Walsh only produces beautiful, historical prose, which is a rarity. This book is no exception.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to place this as one of my most favorate reads. This was written by Walsh while hidding out in Portugal during WWII. It is about an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1917 to three little kids and ending up with the dancing of the sound. Walsh was a Jew yet wrote of a true account was all Catholic and wrote it with much passion. It is his writing of the story that is so impressive and memorable.

[Amanda Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book that really digs into the backstory of the miracle at Fatima. It gives a real feel for the local character in that part of Portugal, and it conveys how difficult the journey was for the children and how their account spread from place to place to become one of the most popular devotions in the Catholic Church.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me. It seemed a simple, innocent account. But I was taken, ready to weep and celebrate with the children as they met Mary, face to face.

Included in the "History and Culture" section of Fr. John McCloskey's 100-book Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan.

[Steven H · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE 1947 BOOK THAT BROUGHT FATIMA TO THE ATTENTION OF AMERICANS

William Thomas Walsh (1891-1949), was an historian, educator and author. He wrote in the Preface to this 1947 book, “No one who believes in God and the immortality of the soul should fine it incredible that the Mother of Christ… should have revealed herself to privileged persons at various crises in human affairs… But why should she have appeared in Portugal in 1917, and in such a deserted and inaccessible place…? … The Portuguese have an idea that they were favored partly… because their country has always been called ‘a terra de Santa maria’; and… the poor have clung for centuries unwavering devotion to the recitation of her rosary.” He also notes, “The book is not ‘fictionalized.’ I owed the conversations chiefly to the precise memory of Sister Dores.”

Lucia recalled, “‘I don’t know whether the facts I have written about my First Communion were a reality or a little girl’s illusion,’ she wrote modestly when her bishop commanded her to commit all her spiritual adventures to paper. ‘All I know is that they had a great influence in uniting me to God all my life.’” (Pg. 9)

Walsh notes, “There was nothing of self-conscious piety in the impulse of these children to sing songs about Christ and Our Lady, heaven and the angels. Christianity for them was not like a garment to be put on on Sundays. It was like the air they breathed, it was a part, and the most important part, of reality. And because they knew that all things were the creatures of God, they turned just as naturally from time to time to more secular and even profane songs…” (Pg. 31) He continues, “these three young shepherds must have seemed neither better nor worse than most other urchins of the Serra… when their bucolic routine was first interrupted, in the summer of 1916, by a tremendous and unpredictable experience.” (Pg. 33)

He records, “the form of ‘a transparent young man’ of about fourteen or fifteen years of age… he had features like those of a human being, and was indescribably beautiful… ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me … the hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications.’ With that he disappeared, as if he had been dissolved in sunlight.” (Pg. 36-37) “Whether it was splendid Michael that the children saw … or one of the other six who stand before the throne of God, the effect upon them was profound and lasting. The world could never be the same after such an experience. But this was not all. For the Angel appeared again to them, not merely once, but twice.” (Pg. 39) “Such is Lucia’s account of what happened to her and her cousins when she was nine, and they were eight and six respectively.” (Pg. 43) Walsh adds, “None of the children ever mentioned the Angel either at home or elsewhere..” (Pg. 44)

Lucia’s mother took her to see the local Prior, who interviewed her, and commented, “It doesn’t seem to me like a revelation from heaven… It may be a deception of the devil, you know! We shall see… We shall give our opinion later on.’ The devil! That was a possibility that had never occurred to Lucia or to her mother…” (Pg. 75)

Walsh recounts, “Everybody in Portugal seemed to have heard the news from Fatima. Catholic diocesan papers began to publish short articles in which a note of prudent reserve was evident… Editors of the Jacobin tradition of 1789 flatly accused the clergy, and particularly the Jesuits, of having invented the story to regain the prestige they had lost in the Revolution of 1910. A casual reader of the daily press might have concluded that that net result thus far had been to provoke a new and bitter attack upon the Church.” (Pg. 84)

After another visitation, “When they finally became capable of motion, they cut off the branches of the shrub on which the Lady had stood, and took them home. Ti Marto [father of Jacinta and Francisco] still remembers a fragrance that he can only call ‘magnifico.’ Even Maria Rosa had to admit that there was a a singularly sweet something that she had never before noticed. Clearly she was weakening a bit. But she still maintained that it was all nonsense about the Mother of God appearing to the likes of her Lucia.” (Pg. 121)

After yet another interview with the Prior, “when the attitude of a priest could be to distrustful and so menacing, it is not wonder that Maria Rosa was almost at her wits’ end with fear and weariness. She was convinced that Lucia was about to be exposed and punished at last… Was it not bad enough, reasoned Maria Rosa and her husband, that their child had begun the deception in the first place… but worst of all, that she had had the incredible effrontery to promise the whole world a miracle, no less, at a definite hour on a definite day, the thirteenth of October! And what would cheated people say and do when the miracle did not occur?” (Pg. 135)

On the fateful day, “All three children saw this first vision… The next vision, seen by Lucia alone, was one of Our Lady of Sorrows…Our lady then appeared in a third vision of glory, as Our Lady of Mount Carmel… The crowd saw nothing of this… What they all did see, however, was… The sun stood forth in the clear zenith like a great silver disk… the huge ball began to ‘dance’—that was the word all the beholders applied to it. Now it was whirling rapidly like a giant fire-wheel… Finally there appeared .. a border of crimson, which flung across the sky… Madly gyrating in this manner three times, the fiery orb seemed to tremble, to shudder, and then to plunge precipitately… toward the crowd… Then all saw the sun begin to climb, in the same zigzag manner. It became tranquil, then dazzling. No one could look at it any longer. It was the sun of every day. The people stared at one another in joy and amazement. ‘Miracle! Miracle! The children were right!” (Pg. 145-146)

He notes, “The fact has been established beyond any doubt. How is it to be explained?... On the very day and hour they had foretold, some 70,000 persons testified that they had the unique experience of seeing the dun spin round and seem to fall… The Administrator of Ourem still denies that anything miraculous happened. I suspect he would have denied it even if he had been there… He was removed from office following the coup d’etat of Sidonio Pais some two months after the miracle.” (Pg. 150)

He states, “There was no doubt that the peasants had taken the Fatima devotion to their hearts… Nevertheless the Government continued to persecute the Church in many ways; and it never relented in its efforts to stamp out the devotion at Fatima. Perhaps this partly explains why … Cardinal Mendes Belo, Patriarch of Lisboa, threatened to excommunicate any priest who spoke out in favor of the apparitions… He may have felt that when relations between Church and State were improving, it would be unwise to allow a new and untested devotion to disturb them.” (Pg. 172-173)

He concludes, “Jacinta, too, had returned to Fatima, as she had promised, long after hear death. It was in 1935 that her body was taken from the cemetery … and laid in a common gave with her brother’… Sister Maria das Dores [Lucia, after she became a sister] went back to her convent. A few days later the Bishop ordered evidence taken in the cause for the beatification of those who, if these efforts succeed, will one day be known as Saint Jacinta and Saint Francisco of Fatima.” (Pg. 217)

This book will be “must reading” for anyone seeking a beautifully-written (and sympathetic, and even ‘devotional’) account of the events of Fatima.

[Pablo Galiana]

Relato de las apariciones de la Virgen en Fátima. Expone muy bien el contexto en que vivían los tres pastorcillos portugueses (ambiente social y político, costumbres del lugar, etc.), que ayuda a comprender el sentido y alcance de los mensajes marianos.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This account of the apparitions at Fatima has been recommended to me by many as the best on the subject and now I know why. While I learned a few things that I hadn't read about in other accounts, I was mostly impressed by how well Walsh brought the children of Fatima to life.

[Leslie Moellering · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author talked personally to Lucia, one of the three children who were blessed with Mary's visits. This in-depth look at what happened in 1917 is inspiring and should cause you to pray and sacrifice even more for the salvation of souls.

[Jeanine]

still need to read

[Doris Raines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This. Is. A. Fantastic. Book.

[Orchid · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some time now, I have been meaning to borrow this book from my mom to read. I must say that I quite enjoyed learning more about Lucia, Jacinta, Francisco and the apparitions of Fatima!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reads like a novel! It completely captivated me and made me feel like I was standing there, watching everything happen. Highly recommended!

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkable book about the apparitions at Fatima, but more particularly the lives of Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco before, during and after the series of events. Glad I read it.

[LuAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thorough, readable, inspiring account of the apparitions at Fatima and the fates of the three children.

[Dennis Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jairo Fraga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livro muito bom.

Não conhecia muitos detalhes mais a fundo da história de Nossa Senhora de Fátima, e se aproximando da festividade de sua memória, li esse livro, que me trouxe muitos pontos de interesse, como a absorção completa da mensagem de Fátima pelos pastorinhos, que realmente viveram uma vida (breve para Jacinta e Francisco, e mais longa para Lúcia) de penitências e total conformidade com a vontade de Deus e pensando em qualquer situação na conversão dos pecadores.

Nos mostra que o espírito de mortificação pode estar presente mesmo em crianças, e que Nossa Senhora também mostrou o inferno, para crianças. E nos dias de hoje, vemos uma excessiva proteção quanto a mensagem da existência do inferno e das almas que para lá se precipitam, com um falso zelo de proteger até adultos de uma mensagem que inspiraria medo. Infelizmente, com isso vemos as almas tendo um norte cada vez maior para as coisas demoníacas, com todo o relativismo mundano.

Outro ponto de interesse é a obediência da irmã Lúcia, que sempre percebeu um caminho seguro para salvação na obediência e na humildade.

Tempo estimado de leitura: 8 horas

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly regarded book on the apparitions of Fatima.
Original publication in 1947 by MacMillan Company. This edition October 1954 Images Books publisher. The story told by Walsh focused on both the Devout side and the National/local politics surrounding the events. What strikes me is the simple, beautiful and short lives of Francisco and Jacinta. The messages of Fatima are well known in other publications, such as the booklet “Lucia Speaks” What this book gives is a full account of life at the time of the apparition and the years up to 1946. By which time the popularity of Fatima was drawing up to 700,000 pilgrims to the Cova da Iris on May 13th.

[Peggy Holtman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in preparation for a trip to Portugal which includes visit to Fatima. Walsh delivers a very factual and credible narrative with research that includes many interviews with those involved. While it can be painstakingly sequential and detailed, I was intrigued by the messages of the apparitions and the “third secret”.
What the three shepherd children endured was heart breaking; their steadfastness and courage to theirs beliefs was so admirable despite being reproached by some family members and even imprisoned.