Clarification:
When the Church gives its approval to an apparition it simply states that all evidence supports that something unusual apparently occurred and their is nothing contradictory to Church teachings and doctrine. It does not become an article of faith. In other words, Catholics are free to believe or free to not believe in the event. Belief in what happened at Fatima is not a requirement for salvation. The same holds true for all other purported apparitions of Mary - Guadalupe, Lourdes, and others.
The Church feels that all doctrine and teachings were revealed in scripture. Private revelation, such as at Fatima, while they can be significant events, as they are not scriptural in origin, belief is not required.
Our Lady of Fatima is not a saint in the traditional sense. The title refers to the Virgin Mary, who is believed to have appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. The Catholic Church recognizes these apparitions as authentic and has approved devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, but she herself is not a saint like the canonized individuals in the Church.
There were only six apparitions at Fatima.
Yes, Lucia dos Santos, one of the three children who witnessed the apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal in 1917, was later beatified by the Catholic Church. She is now known as Blessed Lucia of Fatima. For her to be canonized as a saint, one more authenticated miracle attributed to her intercession would need to be recognized by the Church.
The community was embarrassed at first, believing the apparitions a hoax but when they were verified and declared authentic by the Church, Fatima then became famous and a major pilgrimage site.
He was one of the three shephard children that saw the apparitions of Mary in Fatima in 1917.
Our Lady of Fatima refers to the Marian apparitions reported by three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. The Virgin Mary appeared to Lucia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto on six different occasions, delivering messages that called for prayer, penance, and devotion to her Immaculate Heart. The story of Our Lady of Fatima has become a significant devotion within the Catholic Church, drawing believers from around the world to the Sanctuary of Fatima.
Fatima was the town in Portugal where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in 1917 near the end of the First World War. The apparitions spread over six months with the first couple being of the angel of Portugal and the remainder being that of Our Lady. In her apparitions, she told that children that they should do penance, pray the rosary, and offer their sufferings up for the conversion of sinners. That if her wishes were granted, she would bring peace to the world, and Russia would be converted. If they were not followed, another world war would follow and the Church would be greatly persecuted. Every Pope since has promoted the Fatima message, and we can see the obvious results of not following her wishes. Please be very careful, Fatima tends to attract some of the more fanatical types, and most of the more fanatical proponents of Fatima are NOT approved by the Vatican. Below are two links which are approved of by the church.
Our Lady appeared at Fatima consecutively for 6 months: the 13th of May to the 13th of October.
: In 1917, three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, claimed to have witnessed a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary. During one of these apparitions, known as the Miracle of the Sun, witnesses reported seeing the sun "dance" in the sky, changing colors and appearing to approach the Earth
Desmond E. Stringer has written: 'Her plan for peace' -- subject(s): Apparitions and miracles, Devotion to, Fatima, Our Lady of, Our Lady of Fatima
The Church already revealed all of the prophecies of Fatima, as was confirmed by Sor Lucia, one of the child seers.
A. del Pinar has written: 'Da Fatima a Garabandal' -- subject(s): Apparitions and miracles