Aljustrel is one of the places which composes the Parish of Fátima, and where the three Little Shepherds were born. Among the few houses that still remain from that period, even though restored, there are two which now belong to the Shrine and where the little Shepherds were born and raised. These houses deserve to be visited as they take part in the history of Fátima.
THE HOUSE OF THE SANTOS FAMILY
It was built in 1885 and restored in 1987. Lúcia de Jesus, daughter of Maria Rosa and António dos Santos, was the youngest of six children. She was born in this house on March 22, 1907.
Lúcia died on February 13, 2005. She is buried next to Jacinta and Francisco, in the Basilica of the Rosary. At the age of 14 (after the death of her cousins Francisco and Jacinta), Lúcia was sent to Porto, to a convent school called Asilo de Vilar. In 1925, when she was 18, she chose the religious life and entered the Institute of S. Dorothea in Tuy and Pontevedra, Spain.
THE HOUSE OF THE MARTO FAMILY
This house was built in 1888 and restored in 2000. Here Francisco and Jacinta, the children of Olímpia de Jesus and Manuel Marto, were born. They were the youngest of nine children.
Francisco was born on June 11, 1908. The spirit of love and reparation for the offenses against God was noticeable in his life.
He was a contemplative and spent hours “thinking about God”.
He died in this house on April 4, 1919, at 11 years of age, victim of pneumonia.
Jacinta was born on March 5, 1910. She was full of the spirit of sacrifice. She offered everything as a sacrifice saying: “Oh Jesus, it is for love of You and for the conversion of sinners, for the Holy Father, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
Before she went to the hospital in Ourém, Our Lady appeared to her in this house and asked if she wanted to convert more sinners with the sacrifice of her sickness. She died at the age of nearly 10 on February 20, 1920 in the Estefânia Hospital in Lisboa. On May 13, 2000, John Paul II came to Fátima to beatify Francisco and Jacinta.
THE APPARITIONS OF THE ANGEL (Loca do Cabeço)
In the spring and autumn of 1916, the Angel of Peace’ appeared to the three little Shepherds. In the first apparition he taught them the prayer, “My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You.”
I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love you.”
On the third apparition (the 2nd was at the ‘Poço do Arneiro’) the Angel held up a chalice and a host, prostrated himself in adoration of the Most Holy Trinity, and prayed with the three little Shepherds:
“Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I adore you profoundly, and offer you the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the Tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference with which He is offended. And through the infinite merits of his Most Sacred Heart and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners.”
After that, He gave them communion saying, “Take and drink the body and blood of Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by ungrateful men. Make reparation for these crimes and console your God.”
The second apparition took place at the back of Lúcia’s family home in the summer of 1916. The Angel told them, “I am the Guardian Angel of Portugal. Offer all that you do, to the Most High, as prayers and sacrifices.”