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." ⁶⁰

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).