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Fatima: The Full Story
Book by Joao de Marchi, John De Marchi, I.M.C.
264 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1986
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September 23, 2024
AN ITALIAN PRIEST'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE BOOK ON FATIMA
John De Marchi (1914-2003) was an Italian priest of the Consolata Missionaries (I.M.C.) In 1943 he was sent to Portugal and there in Fatima he wrote many books about the events at Fatima. Later he was a Consolata missionary in the U.S.A., in Kenya and Ethiopia. In the last years of his life he returned to Fatima to minister to the many thousands of pilgrims there from around the world.
He wrote several other (earlier) books about Fatima: 'The True Story of Fatima: A Complete Account of The Fatima Apparitions,' 'Fatima from the Beginning,' 'The Immaculate Heart: The true story of Our Lady of Fatima,' 'The Shepherds of Fatima,' etc.
He notes, "The 13th of September was awaited by the children with more impatience than usual, for the heroic sufferings of the past month had deepened their desire to see the Lady who had put them to the test. The visits and questions of the curious did not diminish but rather increased. The children were continually mocked and even threatened as if they were criminals.
"The secret was still the object of intense curiosity on the part of large numbers of people, but all attempts to force the children to speak were as useless as ever. The continued disrespect for the Apparitions on the part of the people of Aljustrel was a particular source of trial for Lucia and the indifferent if not actually hostile attitude of the parish priest and his colleagues in the surrounding parishes was a torture for her sensitive heart." (Pg. 110)
A local priest interviewed Francisco: 'Do you hear what she says to Lucia?' 'No.' 'Did you ever speak to the Lady? Has she ever spoken to you?' 'No, I have never asked her anything. She only speaks to Lucia.' 'Who does she look at? At you and Jacinta or only at Lucia?' 'She looks at all three of us, but she looks longer at Lucia.' 'Did she ever cry or smile?' 'Neither, she is always serious.'... 'Does she carry anything in her hands?' 'Round the palm and the back of her right hand she carries a Rosary.'" (Pg. 116)
He notes, "On the 13th of October both Lucia and Jacinta affirmed that they heard from the lips of the Blessed Virgin the words: 'The war will end to-day.' Such a statement on the part of the seers could create very serious objections to the veracity of the Apparitions and it was for this reason apparently that Dr. Formigao decided to go back to Aljustrel and subject the children to yet another severe inquest." (Pg. 149)
He and Lucia said: "Did she say that the war would end on that day or shortly?' 'Our Lady said that the war would end when she arrived in Heaven.' 'But the war has not ended.' 'But it will end, it will.' 'When will it end?' 'I think it will end on Sunday.' ... The somewhat unsatisfactory interrogations of the 19th of October were thus concluded, and as can be seen the question of the end of the war is one of several contradictory or ambiguous statements. Did Our Lady really say that the war would end that day or did the children misunderstand her words, or, which is more likely, did the continuous questioning which was often prolonged into the night cause such excessive fatigue to the nervous systems of the children that they were unable to co-ordinate their ideas with precision and exactitude?" (Pg. 153-154)
Fr. De Marchi's books will be of keen interest to anyone studying Fatima and the attendant events.
John De Marchi (1914-2003) was an Italian priest of the Consolata Missionaries (I.M.C.) In 1943 he was sent to Portugal and there in Fatima he wrote many books about the events at Fatima. Later he was a Consolata missionary in the U.S.A., in Kenya and Ethiopia. In the last years of his life he returned to Fatima to minister to the many thousands of pilgrims there from around the world.
He wrote several other (earlier) books about Fatima: 'The True Story of Fatima: A Complete Account of The Fatima Apparitions,' 'Fatima from the Beginning,' 'The Immaculate Heart: The true story of Our Lady of Fatima,' 'The Shepherds of Fatima,' etc.
He notes, "The 13th of September was awaited by the children with more impatience than usual, for the heroic sufferings of the past month had deepened their desire to see the Lady who had put them to the test. The visits and questions of the curious did not diminish but rather increased. The children were continually mocked and even threatened as if they were criminals.
"The secret was still the object of intense curiosity on the part of large numbers of people, but all attempts to force the children to speak were as useless as ever. The continued disrespect for the Apparitions on the part of the people of Aljustrel was a particular source of trial for Lucia and the indifferent if not actually hostile attitude of the parish priest and his colleagues in the surrounding parishes was a torture for her sensitive heart." (Pg. 110)
A local priest interviewed Francisco: 'Do you hear what she says to Lucia?' 'No.' 'Did you ever speak to the Lady? Has she ever spoken to you?' 'No, I have never asked her anything. She only speaks to Lucia.' 'Who does she look at? At you and Jacinta or only at Lucia?' 'She looks at all three of us, but she looks longer at Lucia.' 'Did she ever cry or smile?' 'Neither, she is always serious.'... 'Does she carry anything in her hands?' 'Round the palm and the back of her right hand she carries a Rosary.'" (Pg. 116)
He notes, "On the 13th of October both Lucia and Jacinta affirmed that they heard from the lips of the Blessed Virgin the words: 'The war will end to-day.' Such a statement on the part of the seers could create very serious objections to the veracity of the Apparitions and it was for this reason apparently that Dr. Formigao decided to go back to Aljustrel and subject the children to yet another severe inquest." (Pg. 149)
He and Lucia said: "Did she say that the war would end on that day or shortly?' 'Our Lady said that the war would end when she arrived in Heaven.' 'But the war has not ended.' 'But it will end, it will.' 'When will it end?' 'I think it will end on Sunday.' ... The somewhat unsatisfactory interrogations of the 19th of October were thus concluded, and as can be seen the question of the end of the war is one of several contradictory or ambiguous statements. Did Our Lady really say that the war would end that day or did the children misunderstand her words, or, which is more likely, did the continuous questioning which was often prolonged into the night cause such excessive fatigue to the nervous systems of the children that they were unable to co-ordinate their ideas with precision and exactitude?" (Pg. 153-154)
Fr. De Marchi's books will be of keen interest to anyone studying Fatima and the attendant events.
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