St. Francisco Marto

St. Francisco Marto was born on June 11, 1908, in the small village of Aljustrel near Fátima, Portugal. He was the youngest son of Manuel and Olimpia Marto, and together with his sister Jacinta and their cousin Lúcia dos Santos, he would become one of the most famous children in Catholic history. Francisco was typical of Portuguese village children of that time - illiterate but with a rich oral tradition, and he worked with his family taking care of their sheep in the fields around Fátima.

According to Lúcia's memoirs, Francisco had a placid disposition and was somewhat musically inclined. He liked to be by himself to think, often preferring solitude to the company of others. This introspective nature would later serve him well in his spiritual life, as he developed a deep love for prayer and contemplation. Francisco was known for his gentle, peaceful character and his ability to find joy in simple things.

In 1916, when Francisco was just eight years old, he and his companions experienced three apparitions of an angel who identified himself as the Angel of Portugal. The angel taught them prayers and prepared them for the extraordinary events that would follow. These angelic visits were the beginning of a spiritual journey that would transform their lives and the lives of millions of people around the world.

The most significant events in Francisco's life began on May 13, 1917, when he was nine years old. On that day, while tending sheep with his sister Jacinta and cousin Lúcia, they witnessed the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady appeared to them as a beautiful lady dressed in white, more brilliant than the sun, holding a rosary in her hands. She asked them to return to the same place on the 13th of each month for the next six months.

During the apparitions, Francisco could see Our Lady but could not hear her speak. He would ask Lúcia what the Lady was saying, and she would relay the messages to him. This unique experience of being able to see but not hear the Virgin Mary would become a source of both joy and suffering for Francisco. He would often say that he wanted to "console Jesus for the sins of the world" and would spend long hours in prayer, especially after the apparitions began.

Following their experiences with the angel and Our Lady, all three children gave up music and dancing, believing that these and other recreational activities led to occasions of sin. Francisco, in particular, became deeply committed to prayer and penance. He would often be found praying alone, sometimes for hours at a time, and he developed a special devotion to the Eucharist and to making reparation for the sins of the world.

During the third apparition on July 13, 1917, the children were shown a terrifying vision of Hell, which deeply affected all three of them. Francisco, though he could not hear the words, was profoundly moved by what he saw. This vision, combined with Our Lady's request for prayer and penance for the conversion of sinners, led Francisco to practice stringent self-mortifications. He would often skip meals, go without water on hot days, and wear a rope around his waist as a form of penance.

Francisco's health began to decline in 1918 when he contracted the Spanish flu, which was ravaging Europe at the time. Despite his illness, he continued to pray and offer his sufferings for the conversion of sinners. He would often say, "I want to console Our Lord and Our Lady very much." His illness progressed, and he became bedridden, but he never complained and continued to offer his sufferings as a sacrifice.

Francisco Marto died on April 4, 1919, at the age of ten, just a few weeks before his eleventh birthday. His last words were, "Look, mother, at that beautiful light by the door!" He died peacefully, with a smile on his face, having lived a life of extraordinary holiness for one so young. His sister Jacinta would follow him to heaven less than a year later, and both would be beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 13, 2000. Francisco was canonized by Pope Francis on May 13, 2017, on the 100th anniversary of the first Fátima apparition.

Liturgical Celebration

The feast of St. Francisco Marto is celebrated on April 4th, commemorating the day of his death in 1919. This feast honors his life as one of the three children of Fátima, his witness to the apparitions of Our Lady, and his extraordinary holiness at such a young age. It is a day to remember his example of prayer, penance, and love for Jesus and Mary.

Historical Context

St. Francisco lived during a tumultuous period in world history, including World War I and the Spanish flu pandemic. His apparitions took place during a time when the world was in great need of hope and peace. The messages of Fátima, which Francisco helped to transmit, called for prayer, penance, and conversion, offering a spiritual solution to the problems facing the world. His canonization in 2017, on the 100th anniversary of the first apparition, emphasized the continued relevance of the Fátima message.

Devotional Practices

On his feast day, Catholics pray for his intercession, especially for children, for those seeking to grow in prayer and contemplation, for those who are suffering, and for the conversion of sinners. His example inspires us to develop a deeper prayer life, to offer our sufferings for others, and to have childlike trust in God and Our Lady. Many also pray the Rosary, which was so important to the Fátima message.