CHAPTER SIX
"PRAY THE ROSARY EVERY DAY!"
It had been a long and trying month for the children and particularly for Lucia, but now at last the morning of June thirteenth, the date laid down by the Lady for her second visit, had dawned.
It was the custom in that part of the world for a big celebration to be held in honour of St Anthony of Padua on this his annual feast day. Lucia loved such church feasts. Her enjoyment of beautiful clothes was fed by the combined efforts of her godmother and seamstress sisters to make her the most beautifully turned-out girl at the feast. Being aware of this, Maria Rosa and her daughters were unperturbed by the thought of Lucia's appointment with the Lady.
"We'd like to see you forego the feast in order to go and speak to that Lady at the Cova da Iria," they said before each of them went her own way.
For obvious reasons the parents of Jacinta and Francesco had selected this of all days to go to the market of Porte-de-Mos to purchase some oxen. The three children, thus left free to make their own arrangements, had taken their sheep out to graze at the crack of dawn and brought them home again. They had then set out for the Cova, where they were now kneeling down under the shade of a huge oak, fervently reciting their Rosary.
The sixty-odd people who were assembled, whether from curiosity or devotion it was uncertain, joined in their prayer. When they had finished praying, Lucia put her scarf around her head in the manner she used for going to Church and turned into an eastward direction to welcome the apparition.
"Is the Lady late?" someone asked.
"No," Lucia answered.
"Let's start another Rosary," Jacinta suggested.
"Yes, let's," Francesco affirmed, "There is still time."
But then they both fell silent as Lucia, her voice trembling, called out:
"We've seen the lightbeam already. Here the Lady comes!"
The children rushed down to the small holm oak of the first apparition.
The others present hurried after them, although they were unable to see anything out of the ordinary. As they looked at Lucia, they could see her facial expression turn to one of extreme joy, beautifying her features almost beyond recognition. Then they heard her say"
"What does Your Excellency desire of me?"
In vain they strained their ears to hear the reply. Only Lucia and Jacinta heard the tender, motherly voice, gently requesting:
"I desire you to come here on the thirteenth day of next month, to pray the Rosary every day and to learn to read. Later I shall tell you what I would like you to do."
Lucia obediently inclined her head before recalling a message that had been entrusted to her by the relative of a sick man in the village, who wanted her to request the Lady's aid to obtain his recovery. This she now did.
"Let him convert," the Lady replied, "and he will recover during the course of the year."
"I should like to ask you to take us to Heaven," Lucia requested hopefully.
"Yes," the Lady said, "I shall fetch Jacinta and Francesco soon. But you will still have to remain here. Jesus wishes to make use of you in order to make me known and loved. It is his desire to establish the devotion to my Immaculate Heart here on earth."
"Then do I have to stay here all alone?" Lucia sadly asked. The Lady gazed on her with motherly tenderness.
"No, my daughter. Are you greatly troubled? Don't lose courage. I shall never leave you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God."
Then Lucia and her cousins saw the Lady open out her hands. For the second time she revealed that shining light in which they beheld themselves bathed in the Light of God. Francesco and Jacinta were in the lightbeam that led towards Heaven, whilst Lucia stood within the radiance that spread itself across the earth. Simultaneously a heart, surrounded by thorns, appeared in front of the Lady's Right Hand. They somehow comprehended that this was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, lacerated by the many sins of the world, and requesting penance and atonement.
Those present would later tell their friends and relatives that this visit of the Lady's lasted for about ten minutes. Unable to see Her themselves, they had nonetheless been deeply impressed by the look of joy on the faces of the children as She conversed with them. If they still needed further confirmation of Her Presence, they received it as they observed the branches of the holm oak which were bent down as the Lady stood upon them. When the Lady departed, every person present noticed that the branches of the tree bent towards the East as Her Robe swept over them.
After the Lady had left, the children spoke briefly to the people around them. Then they managed to slip away. As on the previous occasion, Francesco had not heard the words of the Lady and Lucia had to explain everything to him. Right there and then the children started ocunting the days to the date of the next visit from the Lady.
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