Feast of Jacinta and Franciso Marto

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Taken from the Our Lady of Fatima Chapel Bulletin:

Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto
Feast Day Today - February 20th

Jacinta de Jesus Marto and Francisco de Jesus Marto were siblings from Aljustrel, a small hamlet near Fátima, Portugal, who with their cousin Lúcia dos Santos witnessed three apparitions of the Angel of Peace during 1916 and several apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Cova da Iria during 1917.

It is most appropriate that today’s feast so often falls either on the verge, or in the early days of the Holy Season of Lent. There's also little doubt that these saintly children would take great consolation that their feasts should be celebrated in a traditional penitential spirit. For, when it comes to the practice of mortification and sacrifice, what inspiring lessons are given to us in the brief lives of Jacinta and Francisco Marto.

Today, let us confidently invoke these highly favored children of the Immaculata, and beseech their powerful intercession for the special graces of courage and strength that are so necessary amidst the many crosses, toils and disappointments of this life. May the imitation of their heroic spirit of reparation and sacrifice be our steady guide through this diabolical Crisis of Faith and Tradition in Holy Mother Church.

The death of both children within two to three years of the Blessed Virgin's visitations fulfilled her June, 1917 prophecy: “I will take Jacinta and Francisco soon.” The remarkable and heroic holiness of both seers reminds all Catholics that sanctity is possible - even for children. They were canonized on May 13, 2017 and are interred in Our Lady of the Rosary Basilica at the Cova di Ira in Fátima.

In honor of today’s feast, we provide this link to the beautiful essay presented at the '06 Fatima Conference by Mrs. Cornelia Ferreira; her talk highlights the wonderful transformation of God's grace in the children's souls through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Also, here is another link to the heroic story of Jacinta's last days that will both edify and inspire its readers.

Jacinta was born in Aljustrel on March 11, 1910. Sr. Lucia always said that Jacinta was the most highly favored of the three children. During and after the visitations of Our Lady, Jacinta showed a maturity beyond her years. Her great desire was to offer her suffering for the conversion of sinners. After a long and painful illness, she died alone in a Lisbon hospital on February 20, 1920. When her body was exhumed in 1935 and again in 1951, she was found incorrupt.

Francisco was born on June 11, 1908 in Aljustrel as well. During and after Our Lady’s visitations to Fatima, his particular spirituality was to “console Our Lord” and directed his prayer and penances to that end. He constantly prayed before the Blessed Sacrament to console the "hidden Jesus" for all the sacrilege, outrage and indifference that so offends Him. He died a saintly death at home on April 4, 1919.