Lucia was born on March 22, 1907, in Aljustrel, Portugal. She was the youngest of seven children. At 10 years old, she was the oldest of the shepherd children who witnessed apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary from May to October 1917. Her cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, were 7 and 9, respectively.
Shortly after the early deaths of her cousins, Lucia was sent to attend school with the Dorothean Sisters of Villar at age 14, and in 1928 she became a sister of St. Dorothy. In 1946, she transferred to the convent of the Carmelite Sisters of Coimbra, Portugal, and took the name Sister Maria Lucia of the Immaculate Heart.
More messages from Jesus and Mary
Throughout the rest of her life, Lucia is believed to have received several visions and messages from both Mary and Jesus. A vision she received in 1925 led to the First Saturday devotions, which include praying the rosary, receiving Communion and confession, and meditating on the first Saturday of the month for five consecutive months.
In 1943, Our Lord appeared to Sister Lucia and told her that what he desired was for people to fulfill their daily duties and to make sacrifices in accordance with his law.
A ‘jokester’