Between May and October 1917, in a Portuguese meadow called Cova da Iria, three shepherd children said they had seen the Virgin. More than a century later, Fátima is one of the most visited Marian shrines in the world. We tell you who the shepherd children were, what message they conveyed, and what it means today to wear their medal.
Khartes Medals
Carry the Virgin of Fátima with you
Virgin of Fátima medal with rubies, sapphires and burgundy enamel€69I want it
Virgin of Fátima medal with pearls and navy blue enamel€69I want it
Virgin of Fátima medal with turquoise, pearls and turquoise enamel€69I want it
Handcrafted in Spain · Free shipping from €65
The Three Shepherd Children
- Lucía dos Santos, 10 years old, the eldest. She later became a Carmelite nun and died in 2005.
- Francisco Marto, 9 years old, Lucía's cousin.
- Jacinta Marto, 7 years old, Francisco's sister.
Francisco and Jacinta died very young, during the flu epidemic of 1919 and 1920. Pope Francis canonized them in Fátima on May 13, 2017, on the centenary of the first apparition. They are among the youngest non-martyr saints of the Church.
The Apparitions, Month by Month
According to the children, the Virgin appeared to them on the 13th of each month, from May to October 1917 (in August, on the 19th, because the authorities detained them). She introduced herself as "Our Lady of the Rosary".
The last apparition, on October 13, 1917, is the most famous: tens of thousands of people gathered in Cova da Iria said they saw the sun move in the sky. It is known as the "miracle of the sun".
The Message of Fátima
What the Virgin asked for, according to the shepherd children, can be summarized in a few things:
- Pray the Rosary every day, for peace in the world.
- Prayer and penance for the conversion of sinners.
- Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Three Secrets of Fátima
In July 1917, the Virgin entrusted the children with a message in three parts, which Lucía wrote down years later. The first two were made public in 1941: a vision of hell and the request to consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The third part was kept in the Vatican and published in 2000, at the request of Saint John Paul II, who attributed the Virgin of Fátima with having survived the assassination attempt of May 13, 1981.
What It Means to Wear the Medal of Fátima
Whoever wears a medal of the Virgin of Fátima carries that simple message with them: pray, trust, and ask for peace. It is also a very cherished keepsake for those who have made a pilgrimage to the shrine, or a gift for a Fátima on her feast day, May 13. If you are unsure which one to choose, read how to choose your medal of the Virgin of Fátima and the history of the apparitions.
Our Virgin of Fátima Medals
We designed our Virgin of Fátima medals, Marian and Bárbara, and we make them by hand in Spain, piece by piece. Each one has an 18K gold plating, natural pearls, stones or hand-applied enamels, so no two are alike. They arrive with their 40 + 5 cm chain, gift-wrapped and within 24-72 hours. You won't find these medals in any other store.
- Luminous and classic: the Fátima medal with pearls and pearl-white enamel.
- Full of color: the one with rubies, sapphires and burgundy enamel.
- Elegant blue: the one with lapis lazuli and navy blue enamel.
- Fresh and cheerful: the one with turquoise, pearls and turquoise enamel.
The most beautiful medals in the world are at www.khartesmadrid.com. Follow us on Instagram: @khartesmadrid.