On July 13, 1917, the Virgin of Fatima showed three shepherd children a vision of hell, revealing a message of prayer, sacrifice, and conversion.
Newsroom (13/07/2026 Gaudium Press ) Among the events associated with the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, none has generated more discussion, devotion, and controversy than what reportedly occurred on July 13, 1917, during the third apparition at Cova da Iria. According to the testimonies of the three shepherd children—Lucia dos Santos, Francisco Marto, and Jacinta Marto—the Virgin Mary revealed a vision of hell and entrusted them with a message that would later become known as part of the famous Secret of Fatima.
The event remains a defining moment in Catholic spirituality, centered on themes of repentance, prayer, sacrifice, and the salvation of souls.
A Turning Point in the Fatima Apparitions
As July approached, Lucia was reportedly struggling with doubts fueled by warnings from her parish priest, who feared the apparitions might be deceptive. Despite her uncertainty, she joined her cousins Jacinta and Francisco at Cova da Iria on July 13, where crowds had once again gathered to pray the Rosary.
According to the children’s account, the Virgin instructed them to continue returning on the thirteenth day of each month and to pray the Rosary daily for peace and an end to the First World War.
When Lucia asked for a sign that would convince others of the authenticity of the apparitions, the Lady reportedly replied that in October she would reveal her identity and perform a miracle so that all would believe.
The July apparition would become one of the most significant episodes of the Fatima story because it included what later came to be known as the three-part Secret of Fatima.
“Make Sacrifices for Sinners”
Before the vision, the Virgin reportedly emphasized the importance of sacrifice and prayer for the conversion of sinners.
According to Lucia’s account, she instructed the children:
“Make sacrifices for sinners, and say often, especially when making a sacrifice: O Jesus, this is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
This call to intercessory prayer and personal sacrifice would become a central element of the Fatima message and would influence the lives of the three young visionaries profoundly.
The Vision of Hell
The most dramatic moment of the apparition came when, according to Lucia’s memoirs, the Virgin opened her hands and rays of light appeared to penetrate the earth.
Lucia later described seeing what appeared to be a vast sea of fire. Within it were demons and human souls engulfed in flames, surrounded by smoke and cries of anguish. She recalled seeing figures resembling burning embers, blackened and suspended amid flames.
The experience was so terrifying that it reportedly left the children trembling with fear. Lucia believed the vision explained why witnesses heard her cry out during the apparition.
Father John de Marchi, in The True Story of Fatima, also recounts testimony from Ti Marto, Jacinta’s father, who remembered Lucia reacting with visible horror during the event.
According to Lucia’s narrative, after the vision ended, the Virgin addressed the children with compassion, explaining that they had seen hell, where souls who die unrepentant go. She then presented what she described as God’s desire to establish devotion to her Immaculate Heart as a means of helping save souls.
The First Part of the Secret
The vision of hell formed the first section of the Secret of Fatima.
After showing the children the vision, the Virgin reportedly told them:
“You have seen hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. It is to save them that God wishes to establish in the world a devotion to my Immaculate Heart.”
The message linked the fate of souls with prayer, conversion, and devotion. The children were told that obedience to these requests would help save many souls and contribute to peace.
Prophecies Concerning War and Russia
The message continued beyond the vision itself.
According to Lucia’s account, the Virgin stated that the First World War would end, but warned that if humanity did not cease offending God, another and more devastating war would follow.
She also spoke about Russia, requesting its consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the practice of reparative devotion on the First Saturdays of the month. The message warned that failure to respond to these requests would allow Russia to spread its errors throughout the world, resulting in wars, persecution of the Church, and suffering for many nations.
At the same time, the message concluded with a note of hope, declaring that in the end the Immaculate Heart would triumph and that peace would ultimately be granted to the world.
The Rosary Prayer Taught at Fatima
Following the vision, the children were instructed to add a prayer after each decade of the Rosary:
“O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of your mercy.”
The prayer has since become one of the most widely known devotions associated with Fatima and is recited by millions of Catholics worldwide.
A Lasting Impact on the Three Children
Father De Marchi wrote that the vision left a permanent impression on Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta. Far from fading from memory, it intensified their commitment to prayer and sacrifice.
According to accounts of their lives after the apparition, the three children devoted themselves more fervently to praying the Rosary and offering personal sacrifices for the conversion of sinners, believing they were responding directly to the requests of the Virgin.
A Secret That Sparked Worldwide Interest
The Secret of Fatima became a source of fascination and controversy in the years that followed. The first two parts remained undisclosed until Lucia recorded them in writing in 1941 at the request of Church authorities. The third part was later entrusted to the Bishop of Leiria and eventually forwarded to Pope Pius XII.
As public interest in the Fatima apparitions grew, both supporters and skeptics sought to uncover the contents of the secret. Civil authorities in Portugal, concerned about the growing religious movement surrounding Fatima, reportedly attempted to force the children to reveal what they had been told.
Yet the July 13 apparition remains remembered primarily for its spiritual message: a call to prayer, repentance, devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and concern for the salvation of souls.
More than a century later, the reported vision at Cova da Iria continues to stand as one of the most influential and debated episodes in modern Catholic history, shaping devotional practices and inspiring generations of believers around the world.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACI Prensa
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