JACINTA’S INFLUENCE

Among the three shepherd children of Fatima, Jacinta Marto is remembered for her extraordinary devotion, courage, and spiritual insight. Jacinta was only seven years old at the time of the apparitions, but she displayed a depth of prayer and compassion far beyond her years.

Jacinta took the messages of Fatima to heart with remarkable seriousness. She prayed constantly — for sinners, for peace, and for those suffering in the world. She embraced sacrifice not out of fear, but out of love. Her fervour inspired even adults who encountered her, as she spoke gently yet confidently about the things Mary had shown her.

HER ILLNESS

After the apparitions, Jacinta fell ill during the influenza pandemic of 1918–1920. She suffered intensely, yet offered her pain for others, believing that her suffering had spiritual value. Her carers often remarked on her peaceful acceptance and surprising maturity.

Her illness did not heal despite prayers, but the manner of her suffering and sacrifices made a deep impression. She endured pneumonia, pleurisy, and painful surgery without anesthesia to remove ribs. She died alone in 1920. When her small body was exhumed in later years — first in 1935 and again in 1951 — it was found to be incorrupt. This is not presented as proof in itself, but it is one of the many reasons she has become a symbol of purity, faith, and resilience.

Jacinta died at the age of nine, yet her influence endured. In 2017, she and her brother Francisco were declared saints by the Catholic Church on the centenary of the apparitions.

HER LEGACY

What is most striking about Saint Jacinta is not only the visions she witnessed, but the grace with which she lived afterward:

• her compassion for suffering humanity,
• her desire to pray for others,
• her acceptance of hardship,
• her unwavering trust in God.

Even for those who may not fully accept every aspect of the Fatima story, Jacinta’s life stands as a reminder that holiness is not limited by age, strength, or circumstance. Her courage and devotion encourage all of us to seek deeper faith and compassion in our own daily lives.

MY PERSONAL INSPIRATION

I have visited Fatima and the homes of the three shepherd children and am inspired by their story. When I was told that I had terminal cancer and had a limited time to live, I began to pray to God, Mary, and Saint Jacinta on a daily basis; Saint Jacinta being a patron saint of illnesses. I sincerely believe that my prayers have been heard and have contributed in no small way to my survival journey to date; without which these Blogs could not have been written. Though many may scoff at a notion that some people’s prayers may be answered and other’s not, for many reasons, it is relative that we recall the many healing instances recorded in the gospels of the bible. Conversely, my prayers for my mother’s survival but only if it were God’s will when she died in her 40’s, were not answered. God does have an ultimate plan for us all and it was her time to leave us.

Mike.

mike@acaseforgod.com

Post 24 of a 33-part series exploring the evidence for the existence of God.

---

Let us next examine the other ‘gods’ of the world – please see my next Blog.