Day 9:  Saint Francisco and Saint Jacinta Marto

Just over one hundred years ago, a deadly virus spread throughout the world spreading death, fear, and panic.  In 1918 and 1919 the Spanish flu virus infected about 500 million people, one-third of the world population.  About 50 million people died during the pandemic, including 675,000 in the United States.  During this pandemic, most churches, businesses, and schools closed for several weeks in the United States. 

Two siblings from the small village of Fatima, Portugal were among the many who died from the virus.  Francisco Marto was 10 and Jacinta Marto was 9 years old.  In their brief lives, their spirituality had drawn worldwide attention and inspired many to return to the practice of the Catholic faith.  

Along with their cousin Lucia, they asked their local community in 1917 to gather monthly on a rocky cove where they encountered the Blessed Virgin Mary as they prayed the Rosary.  At first, the villagers treated their request with deep skepticism and hostility, but large crowds eventually formed for these special moments of prayer.  Some attended out of curiosity.  Others out of genuine spiritual desire.  Over 70,000 were present for the final gathering and experienced a supernatural “miracle of the sun” with the sun seemingly dancing in the sky on October 13, 1917.

The young children encouraged people to rediscover their Catholic faith.  To simplify their lives by focusing more on prayer and penance.  They spoke directly about the dangers of procrastination and putting off opportunities for spiritual conversion.  As the deadly virus spread through Portugal, Francisco and Jacinta practiced what they had preached.  They accepted the possibility that they might die from the virus, and spiritually prepared themselves for the possibility of death. 

They eventually caught the virus and suffered greatly.  Yet, they did not complain.  They said they were offering up their sufferings for the conversion of sinners.  They treated their suffering as a prayer, an act of love.  They united themselves with Jesus on the Cross who offered his painful sufferings as an act of love for humanity.  They chose to suffer and die as Jesus did, praying and loving.  Francisco died at home on April 4, 1919.  Jacinta underwent several interventions at hospitals, including a surgery without anesthesia, and then died alone in a children’s hospital on February 20, 1920.  They were both canonized saints on May 13, 2017.  The site where the children prayed the Rosary with large crowds is now the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, visited by millions of pilgrims each year.  Their feast day is February 20.

Questions for Reflection

Saint Francisco and Saint Jacinta spoke about the importance of not procrastinating and being ready to face death at any moment.  What areas of your life need conversion?  What important changes have you been putting off in your life that you should start making today?

These two young saints inspired the faith of many even though they were just children.  Are there times when you use your age as an excuse not to follow inspirations from God?   What other excuses stop you from following what you know of God’s plan for your life?

Prayer

Lord God,

You chose Saint Francisco and Saint Jacinta to help many people rediscover the Catholic faith.  Use our example and prayers to inspire others to return to the practice of the faith.  May this time of pandemic inspire many to conversion.  Be especially near the dying, that they might experience your mercy through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Francisco and Jacinta Marto, pray for us!