Saints Francisco and Jacinta Marto
Two child shepherds of Fatima who died of influenza soon after 1917
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Young saint, Layperson
- Life
- 1908 – 1920
- Era
- 20th century
- Feast
- 20 February
- Countries
- Portugal
Life story
Francisco was born on 11 June 1908 and Jacinta on 11 March 1910 in the village of Aljustrel, in the parish of Fatima, Portugal. Their parents, Manuel Pedro Marto and Olímpia, were farmers. The two children herded sheep in the fields near the village with their cousin Lucia dos Santos. They grew up in a large family with little schooling.
In 1917, according to the three children, a Lady appeared to them several times between May and October at the Cova da Iria. Francisco said he saw her but did not hear her words, while Jacinta and Lucia heard them. The children met with doubt from their families and local authorities, and were briefly arrested at one point. After these events, thousands of people began coming to Fatima on pilgrimage.
From late 1918 both children fell ill with Spanish influenza. Francisco died at home on 4 April 1919. Jacinta developed pleurisy, was taken to hospital in Lisbon, and died on 20 February 1920. They were beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000 and canonised by Pope Francis on 13 May 2017 at Fatima. They are the youngest non-martyred children ever canonised by the Church.
Their cousin Lucia dos Santos lived much longer, became a Carmelite nun and died in 2005. Today the tombs of Francisco and Jacinta lie in the Sanctuary of Fatima, and they are commemorated together on 20 February.
Works and witness
- Herded sheep at Aljustrel with their cousin Lucia
- Reported with her the apparitions at Cova da Iria in 1917
- Both caught Spanish influenza; Francisco died in 1919
- Jacinta died in Lisbon in 1920; both canonised in 2017
Saints from the same country
References
- Martyrologium Romanum
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
- Sanctuary of Fatima – historical documentation (Documentação Crítica de Fátima)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.