On May 13, 1917, three children named Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta were grazing their family’s flock of sheep when the Virgin Mary appeared to them atop a small oak tree. She came to them with a message: their prayers and sacrifices could help stop World War I and rescue people who were suffering because of their own sins. What a beautiful and hopeful message!

The apparitions of the Blessed Mother continued for six months, always occurring on the 13th of the month. When Lucia, the oldest of the children, asked Our Lady what she wanted of them, her reply was simple – pray the Rosary every day for peace and an end to the war. From the very first encounter, Our Lady of Fatima’s words also had an eternal dimension to them. Lucia, speaking for the other children, asked if each of them would go to Heaven. Mary replied that both Jacinta and Lucia would, and that after saying many rosaries, Francisco would too. When Lucia asked about two of her friends who had died, she learned that one had gone to Heaven but the other was in Purgatory...