Life of Lucy of Fatima

March 22, 1907 – February 13, 2005

Lucy was born in Aljustrel. At the age of nine, she was sent with her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto to shepherd the sheep as usual. It was then that they received the visit of the Virgin in Cova da Iria. The Virgin told Francisco and Jacinta that they would go to heaven soon, but Lucy was to stay on earth to propagate her messages. This is precisely what happened.

A Plan for Lucy

Lucy showed great strength of character in resisting all efforts to make her reveal the Secret. She displayed humility when she might have taken pride over her part in bringing about the miracle of the sun. She gave Francisco and Jacinta continual support when they were ill, and showed selfless generosity in describing their virtues to others.

Religious Life

Lucy entered the Sisters of St. Dorothy in 1921. She was with them in Tuy and Pontevedra, Spain. In both cities she had important visits from Jesus and Mary. She received the Promises of the First Saturdays, the Vision of the Blessed Trinity and the petition to consecrate Russia in 1929.

In 1946 she returned to Portugal, and two years later entered the Carmel of St. Teresa in Coimbra, where she professed her vows as a Carmelite in 1949.

Memoirs

When asked to write her memoirs she was conscientious to a fault, displaying courage when the Devil seemed determined to interfere.

She was dogged in trying to persuade the Church authorities to publish the Third Secret, but accepted the authority of her superiors, just as she accepted the role given her by the Mother of God.

Sr. Lucy wrote six memoirs in two volumes, Fatima in Lucia’s Own Words and Fatima in Lucia’s Own Words II.

Glorious Cousins

The Holy Father John Paul II beatified Francisco and Jacinta Marto during the Jubilee Year 2000 in Cova da Iria, the Sanctuary of the Apparitions. Sr. Lucy had the joy of assisting at the ceremony honoring her little cousins.

Sr. Lucy died, appropriately, on February 13, 2005, just a month short of what would have been her 98th birthday. It was during the novena of Blessed Francisco and Jacinta, in her dear Carmel, where many believe that Our Lady still visited her.

The following day, thousands filed past her simple coffin in Coimbra’s cathedral. Portugal’s Prime Minister declared a national day of mourning.

One hopes she was already celebrating a joyful reunion with her two little cousins in Heaven, a meeting presided over by Our Lady of the Rosary.