The Third apparition: July 13, 1917
At the third apparition, a small gray cloud hung over the holm oak tree, the sunlight darkened, and a refreshing breeze blew in the mountains. It was the middle of summer. Manuel Marto, the father of Jacinta and Francisco, as he puts it, heard something which sounded like flies buzzing in an empty jar. The visionaries saw the already familiar gleam of light, and a moment later saw the Blessed Virgin Mary over the small holm oak tree.
LUCIA: What does Your Grace want from me?
MOTHER OF GOD: I want you to come here on the thirteenth of next month and continue to pray the rosary every day in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary, in order to obtain world peace and the end of the war, because only she will be able to help you.
LUCIA: I would like to ask you to tell us who you are and to perform a miracle so that everyone will believe that Your Grace actually appears to us.
MOTHER OF GOD: Still come here every month. In October, I will tell you who I am and what I wish and I will perform a miracle that everyone shall see so as to believe.
Then Our Lady added:
O Jesus, I am doing this out of love for Thee, for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
And then Our Lady of Fatima revealed Three Secrets to the visionaries.
The Fourth Revelation: August 19, 1917
On August the 13th, the day on which the fourth apparition was to take place, the seers could not go to the Cova da Iria, because they were abducted by the Mayor of Vila Nova de Ourem, who wanted to force the secrets from them. This children bravely held fast to the secrets.
At the Cova, at the usual time of the previous apparitions, people had gathered expecting the children to be there. Thunder and lightning occured at first and then the awaiting spectators noticed a small white cloud floating for several minutes on the holm oak tree. Witnesses noted the phenomenon of coloration whereby everything was stained with different colors - on human faces, on clothes, trees and the earth. Our Lady had certainly arrived, but she did not find the children at the expected place.
However, Our Lady returned a few days later, at Lucia's cousin's estate at Valinhos. Similar atmospheric changes happened as a few days before, so Lucia sent for Jacinta. Our Lady appeared over a green oak, similar but only slightly higher than the oak from the Cova da Iria.
LUCIA: What does Your Grace wish of me?
MOTHER OF GOD: I want you to continue to come on the thirteenth day of the month to Cova da Iria and to pray the rosary every day. On the last month, I will perform the miracle for all to believe.
LUCIA: What does Your Grace want done with the money that the people leave in the Cova da Iria?
MOTHER OF GOD: Have two portable stands made.You and Jacinta with two other girls, dressed in white, carry one of them, and let Francisco with three other boys carry the other one. The portable stands are for the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The money that is left over should go towards the chapel that they shall build.
LUCIA: I would like to ask you for the healing of some sick persons.
MOTHER OF GOD: Yes, I will cure someduring the year.
And, becoming sadder, she again instructed the children to practice mortification:
Pray, pray much and make sacrifices for sinners, for many souls go to hell because there is no one to sacrifice and pray for them.
And, as usual, she began to rise toward the east. The children obediently cut boughs from the shrub over which Our Lady appeared to them, and carried them home. The boughs gave off a uniquely sweet fragrance.
