CONTINUE TO PRAY THE ROSARY IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE END OF THE WAR

September 13th, 1917

TEXT TAKEN FROM THE BOOK IN LUCIA’S OWN WORDS

As the hour approached, I set out with Jacinta and Francisco, but owing to the crowds around us we could only advance with difficulty. The roads were packed with people, and everyone wanted to see us and speak to us. There was no human respect whatsoever. Simple folk and even ladies and gentlemen, struggled to break through the crowd that pressed around us.

No sooner had they reached us than they threw themselves on their knees before us, begging us to place their petitions before Our Lady. Others who could not get close to us shouted from a distance:

“For the love of God, ask Our Lady to cure my son who is a cripple!” Yet another cried out: “And cure mine who is blind! … and cure mine who is deaf!… “To bring back my husband, my son, who has gone to war!… To convert a sinner!… To give me back my health as I have tuberculosis!”

All the afflictions of poor humanity were assembled there. Some climbed up to the tops of trees and walls to see us go by, and shouted down to us. Saying yes to some, giving a hand to others and helping them up from the dusty ground, we managed to move forward, thanks to some gentlemen who went ahead and opened a passage for us through the multitude.

Now, when I read the New Testament about those enchanted scenes of Our Lord’s passing through Palestine, I think of those which Our Lord allowed me to witness, while yet a child, on the poor roads and lanes from Aljustel to Fatima, and on to the Cova da Iria!

I give thanks to God, offering Him the faith of our good Portuguese people, and I think: “If these people so humbled themselves before three poor children, just because they were mercifully granted the grace to speak to the Mother of God, what would they not do if they saw Our Lord Himself in person before them?” Well, none of this was called for here! It was a distraction of my pen, leading me away where I did not mean to go.

At last, we arrived at the Cova da Iria, and on reaching the holm oak we began to say the Rosary with the people. Shortly afterward, we saw the flash of light, and then Our Lady appeared on the holm oak.

“Continue to pray the Rosary in order to obtain the end of the war. In October Our Lord will come, as well as Our Lady of Dolors and Our Lady of Carmel, Saint Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus to bless the world. God is pleased with your sacrifices. He does not want you to sleep with the rope on, but only to wear it during the daytime.”

“I was told to ask you many things, the cure of some sick people, of a deaf-mute…”

“Yes, I will cure some, but not others. In October I will perform a miracle so that all may believe.”

Then Our Lady began to rise as usual, and disappeared.