Today, 13th of May, we celebrate the 101st anniversary of the apparition of our Blessed Mother Mary in the Cova da Iria of Fatima, Portugal. It was spring time in 1917. The children – Lucia Santos, Francisco and Jacinta Marto – reported apparition of the angel and of the Virgin Mary, who the children described as the Lady more brilliant than the sun. The three were playing at Cova da Iria on May 13, 1917, when they saw two flashes like lighting after which they saw the Mother of God above an oak tree. She was, according to the description of Lucia, a lady dressed in white, more brilliant than the sun. Her face, indescribably beautiful, was neither sad nor happy, but serious, with an air of mild reproach. Her hands were joined together as if she were praying. A rosary was in her right hand. The children said that the woman told them to return to the Cova da Iria on June 13, 1917. When Lucia’s mother heard of this, she immediately sought counsel from the parish priest, Father Ferreira, who suggested she allow them to go. He asked to have Lucia brought to him afterward so that he could question her. The second appearance occurred on June 13, the Feast of St. Anthony, patron of the local parish church. On this occasion, the lady revealed that Francisco and Jacinta would be taken to Heaven soon, but Lucia would live longer in order to spread her message and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The lady told them to say the Holy Rosary to obtain peace and the end of the Great War. These three children also reported a prophecy that prayer would lead to an end to the Great War, and that on October 13, the Lady would reveal her identity and perform a miracle. Newspapers and other media reported the prophecies and many pilgrims began to flock to the site. The account of these three young children drew criticism from some secular and religious authorities. In fact, a provincial administrator briefly took the children custody, believing the prophecies were politically motivated in opposition to the officially secular First Portuguese Republic established in 1910. Lucia’s mother hoped the officials could persuade the children to admit that they had lied. She told the provincial administrator everything short of the secrets, and offered to ask the lady for permission to tell the official the secrets. Instead of the usual apparition in the Cova da Iria on August 13, the children reported that they saw the Virgin Mary on 19 August, a Sunday, at nearby Valinhos. She asked them again to pray the rosary daily, and the lady spoke about the miracle coming in October, and asked them to pray for sinners. The three children said they saw the Blessed Virgin Mary in six apparitions, between May 13 and October 13, 1917.