Jacinta Marto
Jacinta Marto was a Portuguese Catholic saint, known for witnessing apparitions of the Virgin Mary alongside her brother Francisco and cousin Lúcia. She is remembered for her deep piety, her commitment to penance and sacrifice for sinners, and for being one of the youngest Catholic saints not to die as a martyr.
- Century
- 20th century
- Country Or Region
- Portugal
Key Facts
- ›Born March 5, 1910, and died February 20, 1920.
- ›Reportedly witnessed apparitions of the Angel of Peace in 1916 and the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1917 in Fátima, Portugal.
- ›Suffered greatly during the 1918 influenza epidemic and later developed purulent pleurisy.
- ›Canonized by Pope Francis on may 13, 2017, the centennial of the first apparition.
- ›She is the youngest Catholic saint who did not die a martyr.
- ›Jacinta and her brother Francisco are buried at the Basilica of our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima.
About Jacinta Marto
Jacinta de Jesus Marto (1910–1920) was a Portuguese Catholic child who, with her brother Francisco and cousin Lúcia dos Santos, became known for reporting a series of apparitions in Fátima, Portugal. These reported visions, which occurred in 1916 and 1917, are central to the devotion of Our Lady of Fátima and have made the Sanctuary of Fátima a major site of Catholic pilgrimage.
Life and Historical Context
Born in Aljustrel, a small hamlet near Fátima, Jacinta and her brother Francisco were the youngest children of Manuel and Olimpia Marto. They were illiterate, typical of Portuguese village children of their time. According to the memoirs of their cousin, Sister Lúcia, Jacinta was affectionate with a sweet singing voice and a gift for dancing. Following their experiences with the apparitions, their fundamental personalities remained unchanged, though Jacinta was deeply affected by a terrifying vision of Hell shown to the children. This vision convinced her of the urgent need for sinners to be saved through penance and sacrifice, as the Virgin Mary had instructed.
Apparitions and Devotion
While tending their families' sheep in the fields of Fátima, Jacinta, Francisco, and Lúcia reported seeing several apparitions of an angel in 1916, from whom they learned prayers. The first reported apparition of the Virgin Mary occurred on May 13, 1917. At the time, Jacinta was seven years old. During this apparition, Mary reportedly asked the children to pray the Rosary and make sacrifices for the conversion of sinners, and to return to the same spot on the thirteenth of each month for the next six months.
Illness and Death
Jacinta and Francisco were among those affected by the great 1918 influenza epidemic. In October 1918, Jacinta reported that Mary had appeared to her and promised to take them to heaven soon. Both siblings endured prolonged illnesses. Jacinta was moved to Ourém Hospital and later to the Orphanage of Our Lady of Miracles in Lisbon in an attempt to save her life, though she believed this to be futile. She developed purulent pleurisy and underwent surgery. She died on February 20, 1920, alone, as she had often predicted.
Beatification and Canonization
The cause for the siblings' canonization began in 1946. Jacinta's face was found to be incorrupt when exhumed in 1935, though decomposition began later. In 1979, a petition was made to Pope John Paul II to make an exception for the canonization of minors, given the heroic virtue displayed by Francisco and Jacinta. Over 300 bishops supported this petition, citing the children's positive influence and the pastoral necessity for their canonization. In 1989, they were declared venerable by Pope John Paul II. On May 13, 2000, they were declared "blessed." A second miracle attributed to their intercession was validated in 2013, leading to their solemn canonization by Pope Francis on May 13, 2017, the centennial of the first apparition. They are recognized as the youngest Catholic saints who did not die as martyrs, with Jacinta being the youngest of the two.
Legacy
Jacinta Marto's profound piety and commitment to penance, particularly her desire to save sinners through sacrifice, have made her a significant figure in Catholic devotion. Her canonization, alongside her brother Francisco, underscores their unique witness as child saints who experienced profound mystical encounters and lived lives of exceptional virtue, especially given their young ages and the circumstances of their deaths.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were Jacinta Marto and her brother Francisco?
Jacinta and Francisco Marto were siblings from Aljustrel, Portugal, who, along with their cousin Lúcia dos Santos, reportedly witnessed apparitions of the Angel of Peace in 1916 and the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1917. They are venerated as Catholic saints.
Why are Jacinta and Francisco Marto important?
They are important as witnesses to the apparitions at Fátima, which led to the title Our Lady of Fátima and the establishment of the Sanctuary of Fátima as a major pilgrimage site. They are also significant as the youngest Catholic saints who did not die as martyrs.
What was Jacinta's role in the Fátima apparitions?
Jacinta, along with her brother and cousin, saw multiple apparitions of the Virgin Mary. She was particularly affected by a vision of Hell and became deeply committed to prayer, penance, and sacrifice for the conversion of sinners, as the Virgin had instructed.
How did Jacinta Marto die?
Jacinta Marto died on February 20, 1920, from complications of purulent pleurisy, an illness she contracted during the 1918 influenza epidemic. She died alone in Queen Stephanie's Hospital in Lisbon, as she had predicted.
When were Jacinta and Francisco Marto canonized?
Jacinta and Francisco Marto were canonized by Pope Francis on May 13, 2017. This ceremony took place at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima in Portugal, marking the centennial of the first apparition.
Related Saints
Giovanni Leonardi
Giovanni Leonardi was an Italian Catholic priest and the founder of the Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of Lucca. He is remembered for his dedication to the Christian formation of adolescents, his work with the poor and imprisoned, and his role in establishing a religious order focused on restoring Church discipline. Leonardi was canonized in 1938 and is celebrated for his miracles and religious fervor.
Francisco Marto
Francisco Marto was a Portuguese boy who, along with his sister Jacinta and cousin Lúcia dos Santos, reported witnessing apparitions of an angel and the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fátima, Portugal, in 1916 and 1917. He is remembered for his deep piety and self-mortifications, and was canonized as one of the youngest Catholic saints.
Beatrice of Silva
Beatrice of Silva was a Portuguese noblewoman who founded the monastic Order of the Immaculate Conception. After experiencing an apparition of the Virgin Mary while imprisoned, she dedicated her life to establishing a new religious order. She is honored as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church and is chiefly remembered for founding the Conceptionist nuns.