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Jacinta Marto: The Fatima Saint for Lent
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February 20: Feast of Sts. Jacinta and Francisco Marto
This morning, I woke up thinking about Lent and how I wanted to make a special effort this year to focus on reparation for sin. Spiritual Reparation is a sacrificial act of prayer or works that makes restitution for the damage caused by sin. For example: If I speak of someone and damage their reputation, I would confess that sin and make restitution by correcting what I said to the person I said it to. If time has passed and it is no longer possible to correct it with the parties I said it to, I could say special prayers for that person’s good whose reputation I damaged, or fast with sorrow for offending God and that person - again praying for their good.
It seems that each year I start with good intentions, making sacrifices to “give up” things or “take up” good acts like special prayers and charitable works. I believe I have often failed because I am not directing my intentions towards a higher good. This Lent I decided to do it in a way that is more intentional in helping my own soul, and those of others to obtain heaven. It is the Little Shepherds' Way as exemplified by the Fatima seers. To pray, sacrifice, and do penance in reparation. I have listened to so many who prepare, do, and fulfill a Lenten promise - but sometimes without prayer, or with a resolve to achieve a spiritual good that will remain rooted in their soul.
Reparation is to live and fulfill our daily duties by observing the Commandments given by God without complaint. It is to mortify our bodies and minds by denying our senses what makes us weak and leads us to fall into temptation (this would be specific to each of us). Folded in prayer and in the Sacraments, this way is to make everything with the intention of repairing the Hearts of Jesus and Mary from the sorrow of our sins. It is to accompany Mary in the way of the Cross and be with Jesus during His passion, owning our contribution to His death to save us.
I confess - I do reflect on this aspect quite a bit. I do not think I am being scrupulous because I do not have a need to confess my forgiven sins over and over - unless I have recommitted the same sin. I reflect on the pain I caused God, my Father, how Jesus suffered for me as my Brother and Savior, because God loves me and pursues me to return to Him. I want to "choose" to offer my daily sacrifices for the love of Him who died for me. Just as Jesus chose to die for me, I choose to die unto myself for Him. The truth is, I am choosing, but I don't know that I will achieve it. St. Jacinta, And St. Francisco. pray for me - pray for us.
Jacinta was seven when the Blessed Virgin Mary had appeared to her and the other two children (Francisco and Lucia) in Fatima, Portugal, in six apparitions. On the second apparition of June 13th, 1917, our Lady told the three children:
“I will take Jacinta and Francisco soon. But you (Lucia) are to stay here some time longer. Jesus wishes to make use of you to make me known and loved.”
Jacinta said, “Our Lady came to see us. She told us she would come to take Francisco to heaven very soon, and she asked me if I still wanted to convert more sinners. I said I did” (Fatima in Lucia’s own words, 59). Furthermore, when Francisco was near death, Jacinta told him, “Give all my love to Our Lord and Our Lady, and tell them that I’ll suffer as much as they want, for the conversion of sinners and in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary” (Fatima in Lucia’s own words, 60).
Within two years, in the Fall of 1918, both Jacinta and Francisco, who were siblings, became ill with influenza. Francisco died April 4, 1919, but Jacinta endured a longer suffering with influenza, dying on February 20th, 1920.
Jacinta, the youngest non-martyred saint in the history of the Catholic Church, had an abscess in her chest and underwent surgery to have two ribs removed with only local anesthesia due to her weak heart. She suffered immense pain. The surgery left a large wound that required daily and painful dressing, which she endured without complaint. She had predicted that she would die alone, which she did on February 20, 1920, at the age of nine years old.
Jacinta is the patron saint of the sick and prisoners. She is the patron of prisoners because, on August 13, 1917, during the children’s imprisonment by the local government to keep them from going to meet Our Lady, Jacinta placed a medal on the wall and secured the prisoners' cooperation to kneel and pray the rosary. The children were released on August 15, and Our Lady came to them on August 19th.
After Our Lady of Fatima showed them a vision of the suffering in hell, Jacinta devoted her prayers and many sacrifices to the conversion of souls, and Francisco would spend many hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament, consoling the Heart of Jesus. The Virgin of Fatima had told Lucia she would live much longer to promote devotion to her Immaculate Heart. Lucia lived until she was 97 years old and died on February 13, 2005.
During the final day of my pilgrimage/retreat in Fatima this past December, on my way to the airport, I made a recommended stop at the convent of the Poor Clares in Lisbon. It was formerly known as the Orfanato de Nossa Senhora dos Milagres (the Orphanage of Our Lady of Miracles). I was not disappointed.
When I arrived, a non-English-speaking nun answered the door and led me up a small wooden staircase to an area where I overheard an English-speaking sister. It was she who very kindly provided me with details of when Jacinta had spent two very painful weeks at the orphanage before going to the local hospital, where she eventually died. The room had a “holy presence”, and spending prayer time alone in this room was more than I ever expected.
I was even able to look out from the ledge in the hallway near her room, where Jacinta would visit Jesus in the Holy Mass or tabernacle. My mind and heart were stirred as I imagined what her prayers might have been.
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Her room was small, with only a wooden chair beside the bed where Jacinta endured so much suffering. Over time, the chair's legs had been damaged by visitors taking pieces of wood as souvenirs. This had been the chair where the Blessed Mother herself would sit to console and encourage Jacinta as she suffered for the conversion of sinners and for reparation for sin. Jacinta would speak of these visits to Sr. Mary of the Purification, one of her caregivers. The following was said to her by Jacinta. (taken from “Fatima or World Suicide” by Fr. William McGrath)
"And sin? Did Our Lady say anything more about it?" (Sr. Mary)
"Yes. She said that more souls were going to Hell because of sins of impurity than any other." (Jacinta)
"But child," added the Sister, "do you know what it means to be pure?"
"Yes. To be pure in body means to be faithful to the virtue of chastity. To be pure in spirit means to refrain from all sin, not to look at what is of no concern, not to lie or steal, always to be truthful regardless of the cost."
Years after the little seer's death, the Church, in investigating the life of this child saint, exhumed her body twice. Both times, in 1935 and 1951, Jacinta’s face was found to be incorrupt. The Church views incorruptness as an indicator of a person's holiness.
Mary's Immaculate Heart signifies the love she has for us, her children. She continues to appeal to us to turn our hearts to her Eucharistic Son, Jesus. The "Triumph" is her victory when she crushes the head of the serpent. Many souls will be saved from the grasp of evil. Mary's Immaculate Heart is the purest way to her Divine Son, Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Her Heart is a sure, secure way to true conversion.
The following prayer is the prayer taught by our Lady and recited by the children when making sacrifices in reparation for sin.
"O my Jesus, it is for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary". The sins against the Immaculate Heart are: The five primary sins (or blasphemies) against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, revealed to Sister Lucia of Fatima, are: blasphemies against Mary's Immaculate Conception, her perpetual virginity, and Divine Maternity (along with refusing to accept her as Mother of all men); sowing indifference, contempt, or hatred toward her in children's hearts; and directly outraging her sacred images.
In Christ's peace, and please pray the Rosary.
-Theresa
POST NOTE: After writing this blog piece yesterday, I found a writing by Deacon Bob Ellis, a member of the World Apostolate of Fatima. His insights on the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart surpass my own efforts in both clarity and depth. Deacon Ellis was called to meet Jesus on December 12, 2022. May he rest in peace.
