Blessed Jacinta Marto was born on March 11th, 1910. Her parents were poor farmers who lived in Fatima, Portugal. Jacinta also had a brother called Francisco, he was 2 years older than his sister, and Jacinta's very best friend was her cousin Lucia.
Everyday the children would go out and keep watch over their parents sheep, to make sure no harm came to them. They would often pack their lunch so they could eat while taking care of the sheep. This was a big job for the three little children, but so long as they were together, they didn't mind the work.
Little Jacinta loved to play games and make up stories as they watched over the sheep, and the three children often played games together.
Until oneday when Jacinta was 7 years old, an Angel appeared to the three children, at first Jacinta was frightened but the Angel reassured them he was from Heaven. The Angel told the children that the Blessed Mother would soon visit them and that all three children must be good.
Little Jacinta took this very much to heart, because she loved our Blessed Mother and Jesus, so she tried very hard to behave well and obey her parents in order to please Jesus. Jacinta listened to the Angel and so she would offer up little sacrifices so that God would show mercy to those who did not behave very good. Sometimes this meant that Jacinta would not eat desert or she would go without some delicious fruit for the sake of sinners.
All the children prayed the Rosary with alll their hearts, most especially Jacinta as she became very sorry for those people who did not live good lives. This troubled Jacinta as she longed for all people to be saved, so she kept praying much to our Lady and Lord for their salvation and offered up penances.
Jacinta was shown that those who offend God, made the Blessed Mother very sad, and also made Jesus very sad, so she kept praying very hard for them. As the Blessed Mother continued to visit the children, she taught them a very special prayer which is now known as the 'Fatima Prayer' and is included in the Rosary.
During one of the Blessed Mother's visits she told the children that both Jacinta and her brother, Francisco, would soon join her in Heaven. This did not frighten the children as both loved the Blessed Mother and God.
Jacinta Marto became very sick, and so before she went to Heaven Jacinta told her family this, "tell everybody that God gives graces through the Immaculte Heart of Mary. Tell them to ask graces from her, and that the Heart of Jesus wishes to be venerated together with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Ask them to plead for peace from the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for the Lord has confided the peace of the world to her."
Not long after she said this, God called Jacinta to Heaven so she could spend eternity in Heaven with Him and our Blessed Mother.
Copyright © 2006 Steve Smith. All rights reserved.
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