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Jacinta's
Last Days
During her short stay in the hospital, Jacinta was
favoured with new visits of Our Lady, who told her the day and hour she would
die. Four days before taking her to heaven, the Blessed Virgin took away all
her pain.
On the days prior to her death, someone asked her
if she wanted to see her mother. Jacinta answered: "My family will remain
a short time on earth and soon will meet in heaven.... Our Lady will appear
again, but not to me, because I will surely die as she told me."
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On 20 February 1920, Our Lady came to take
Jacinta. She was buried in the cemetery of Vila Nova de Ourém.
On 12 September 1935, Jacinta's mortal remains
were transferred to the cemetery of Fatima, where they were deposited in a tomb
built especially for her and her brother. The tombstone bore a simple epitaph:
"Here lie the mortal remains of Francisco and Jacinta, to whom Our Lady
appeared".
Later (in 1951 and 1952 respectively), their
precious remains were taken to the Basilica of Fatima, where they remain to
this day.
The preparatory canonical processes for the
beatification of the two seers of Fatima were officially begun in 1949. On 28
June 1999 the decree that recognised the authenticity of the necessary miracle
for beatification was issued. Finally, on 13 May 2000, His Holiness John Paul
II personally travelled to Fatima where he proceeded to solemnly beatify, in
the presence of some 400 thousand people, the Servants of God Francisco and
Jacinta. Their feast will be celebrated annually, “in the places and according
to the proper norms, on 20 February” (Voice of Fátima, 13-6-00).
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