Blessed Jacinta and Francisco Marta, Shepherds of Fatima

God of infinite goodness

who loves the innocent and exalts the humble
grant that, in imitation of blessed Francisco and Jacinta,
we may serve you with purity of heart
and so be worthy to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Today, February 20, we celebrate the feast of Blessed Francisco (1908-1919) and Jacinta (1910-1920) Marta, two of the three child visionaries to whom Our Blessed Mother appeared to in 1916 and 1917, at the town of Aljustral, outside of Fatima, Portugal. Jacinta, Francisco and their cousin Lucia dos Santos were visited by an angel, graced by visitations form the Blessed Virgin Mary, were recipients of messages for the world, and witness to miracles. Today, Fatima is a major pilgrimage site for Catholic faithful from all over the world.

During her appearances to the children at Fatima, Our Blessed Mother identified herself as the Lady of the Rosary, and urged prayer and penance for the reparation of the sins of the world. She said, “Continue the Rosary, my children. Say it every day that the war may end.”

For more on the lives of Blessed Francisco and Jacinta Marta, see my previous post here.

For the text of the Beatification Homily delivered by Pope John Paul II, see here.

For more details of the Fatima Apparitions, visit:

Our Lady of Fatima: The First Apparition

Our Lady of Fatima: The Second Apparition

Our Lady of Fatima: The Third Apparition

Our Lady of Fatima: Prelude to the Fourth Apparition

Our Lady of Fatima: The Fourth Apparition

Our Lady of Fatima: The Fifth Apparition

Our Lady of Fatima: The Sixth Apparition

“Angel of peace” Prayer as taught  to the “Little Shepherds of Fatima”

Most Holy Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -
I adore You profoundly and i offer You
the most precious Body, Blood,
Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ,
present in all the tabernacles of the world,
in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges,
and indifferences by which He Himself is offended.


And by the infinite merits
of His Most Sacred Heart
and those of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I beg You for the conversion
of poor sinners. Amen.

Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Jacinta & Francisco

Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
I adore Thee profoundly with all the powers of my soul
and I thank Thee for the Apparitions
of the Most Holy Virgin in Fatima
which have made manifest to the world,
the treasures of her Immaculate Heart.


By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and through the intercession
of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I implore Thee if it should be for
Thy greater glory and the good of our souls,
to glorify in the sight of thy Holy Church,
Blessed Jacinta and Francisco Marto,
the Shepherds of Fatima, granting us
through their intercession the grace
which we now implore.
Amen.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins,
save us from the fires of hell,
lead all souls to heaven,
especially those in most need of your mercy.



Year 2: Day 51 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Penance for sinners; Faith of a child
Requested Intentions: Financial freedom (J); Successful passing of occupational examination (S); Healing and conversion, sale of house (L); Occupational success for employee and colleagues (J); Employment for a son (C); Successful attainment of an important appointed position (J); Recovery from cancer for a friend (Z); For a family’s freedom from sin (M); For a daughter with Diabetes (A); Reconciliation of a marriage (D); Assistance with a legal matter, financial freedom (R); Healing for a friend (M); For a son in medical school (H); Financial assistance (M); Successful employment (N): Freedom from mental illness for a friend (L); For successful marriage (N); For friends having and recovering from surgery; for the reduction of a brain tumor (L); For resolution of a housing crisis (P); For a brother who is struggling financially, for a son who is struggling academically (B); For financial security for a friend (C); Success in business; familial happiness and health (J); Health and recovery of a sister (I); Healing of a father following stroke (S).