COURSE PLAN THE CHILDREN OF FATIMA AND OUR LADY S MESSAGE TO THE WORLD COURSE PLAN METHODOLOGY: by Mary Fabyan Windeatt is represented by the abbreviation CF. Each weekly assignment is summarized in the first lines of the week s daily course plan. The specific daily assignments are outlined in the following lines indicated by the MON, TUES, WED, THUR and FRI abbreviations. We suggest assigning the weekly written assignment at the beginning of the week to be completed by the following Monday. This will allow the student time to think about the assignment while he is reading. The chapter study questions, chapter vocabulary and glossary are located in the Literature Study Question booklets available for purchase from. Answers should be given in complete written or oral sentences. tells the compelling and true story of three young shepherd children to whom Our Blessed Mother chose to appear. Her message, including a terrifying vision of Hell for those who refuse to heed it, speaks of the urgent need for conversion, reparation, and the daily recitation of the Rosary. This serious subject matter is presented in a way that is undiluted, yet appropriate for and interesting to the younger audience for whom it is intended. Characters: Our Lady of Fatima This beautiful lady from Heaven appears on the thirteenth of the month to the visionary children, giving them messages and urging them to pray the Rosary. In the month of October, she reveals that she is indeed Mary, the Mother of God, under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary. The Angel Prior to the visits of Our Lady, an angel appears to the children, preparing them and giving them Holy Communion in a miraculous way. Lucia The eldest of the three shepherd children, and in many ways the group s leader. It is to Lucia that Our Blessed Mother directly spoke. Jacinta Lucia s cousin and the sister of Francisco. She died young, offering her life for the conversion of sinners and the spread of the message of Fatima. Francisco Lucia s cousin and the brother of Jacinta. He too died an early death, accepting God s will with the intention of making reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Maria Rosa dos Santos Lucia s mother, who is not open to the messages at first and punishes Lucia for what she believes to be her daughter s arrogance and lying. Later, she comes to believe the apparitions. Olimpia Marto Jacinta and Francisco s mother, who is somewhat more sympathetic than Maria Rosa is. Father Ferriera The parish priest in Fatima. He takes a kindly attitude towards the children, but does not believe their story right away. The Mayor of Ourem An atheist who uses his secular power to try to break the children down, throwing them in jail and threatening to boil them in oil. Sister Mary of the Purification A nun who cares for Jacinta during the child s last days on earth. WEEK 1 Extra Credit Assignment - Check out the photos of the apparition site as it appears today, at www.sacred-destinations.com/portugal/fatima-shrine-of-our-lady-of-fatima.htm Using this webpage have the student answer the Extra Credit questions in their Study Guide Booklet. HH1
COURSE PLAN CF MON TUES WED THUR Chapter 1-Chapter 8. Have the student look up all the vocabulary words for Chapters 1-8 in the glossary prior to reading. Study questions may be completed as the student reads or at the end of the week when reading has been completed. Written assignment: Choose only one. 1) Before the angel or the beautiful lady appear to Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco, how do they say the Rosary? What is Francisco s particular problem with it? Do you think, given this information, that the three cousins were particularly devout or religious children who would have been inclined to make up stories about visits from angels and the Blessed Mother? 2) In what ways does Lucia s family try to pressure her to say her story about the beautiful Lady in the Cova is all a lie? Express your answer in the form of a paragraph. Mention the specific actions of Lucia s mother, and the attitude of her siblings. Read Chapter 1-2 and answer Study Questions. Chapter 1. The Angel of Peace. The three shepherd children of Fatima Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco are tending their sheep and racing through the Rosary by saying only the introductory words of each prayer when suddenly an angel appears. Months later, they see him again. On his final visit, he gives each one of them Holy Communion in a miraculous way. Chapter 2. Another Visitor. On May 13, 1917 about a year after the final visit of the angel a beautiful lady appears over a holm oak in the Cova da Iria. She speaks to Lucia, while Jacinta listens and Francisco looks on. The lady promises to return for five more visits, on the 13 th of the next five months. Although the cousins agree among themselves to keep the story secret, Jacinta tells her family about it anyway. Read Chapter 3-4 and answer Study Questions. Chapter 3. The Lady Comes Again. When Lucia s mother hears what the children have to say, she becomes very angry. She asks their parish priest, Father Ferreira, to intercede. Father decides that the children are not lying, but simply imagining things. On the 13 th of June, Lucia s family is going to town to celebrate the feast of St. Anthony, and Lucia is almost persuaded to go with them. She changes her mind at the last minute, and accompanies Jacinta and Francisco to the Cova. The beautiful lady appears as promised, encouraging the children to pray the Rosary and to make sacrifices for sinners. Chapter 4. The Message. She establishes the First Saturday devotion, in which people are to go to Confession, say special prayers, and receive Holy Communion worthily on the first Saturday of five consecutive months. Additionally, the children are taught a new prayer to say upon the completion of each decade of the Rosary. The news about the Fatima apparition is spreading. Some people believe the children, while others do not. Read Chapter 5-6 and answer Study Questions. Chapter 5. A New Life. On the 13 th of July, the Lady shows the terrified children a vision of Hell. She also tells them secrets which they are only to share with certain people, at certain times. Lucia s mother becomes angrier than ever. The children intensify their prayers and acts of reparation on behalf of lost souls. Chapter 6. An Unexpected Journey. The mayor of the nearby town of Ourem becomes concerned about the goings-on at Fatima. He is an atheist, or unbeliever in God, like many people in the country of Russia. In her messages to the children, the Lady had shown special concern about that place, and that particular problem. On the day of the expected apparition in August, the Mayor tricks the children into going with him, and throws them into jail. Read Chapter 7-8 and answer Study Questions. Chapter 7. The Test. The children encourage their fellow prisoners to pray. The Mayor tries to get Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta to recant their story about the beautiful lady by threatening to boil them in oil. Chapter 8. The Fourth Visit. It doesn t work. The three are ready to die rather than to betray the beautiful lady. Frustrated, the Mayor HH2
COURSE PLAN FRI releases them. They are glad to be reunited with their families, but sad to have missed their appointment in the Cova. The Lady, however, is faithful. She surprises them with a visit on the 19 th instead. Displeased with the Mayor s actions, she says that the sign that will take place in October will be less spectacular than it would otherwise have been. Work on this week s written assignment, due on Monday. Notes CF MON TUES WED WEEK 2 Chapter 9-Chapter 15. Have the student look up all the vocabulary words for Chapters 9-15 in the glossary prior to reading. Study questions may be completed as the student reads or at the end of the week when reading has been completed. Written assignment- Choose only one: 1) At the beginning of the story, the three shepherd children say the Rosary in an unacceptably shortened form, by using only the introductory words of each prayer. Now, however, Francisco says it properly. What does he mean by this? Include in your answer the meaning of the word, meditation. Express your answer in the form of a paragraph. 2) What did the Blessed Mother tell Jacinta, while Jacinta is waiting to die, about the priesthood? Name two specific things. Read Chapter 9-10 and answer Study Questions. Chapter 9. New Crowds in the Cova. The story of the children s experiences is spreading throughout the surrounding area, and even the world. Crowds assemble for the September 13 th appearance of the beautiful Lady. When she appears, she tells the children she will be accompanied by St. Joseph and the Child Jesus during her visit in October. Departing, she sends to earth a shower of heavenly petals. Chapter 10. The Great Miracle. In October 13, the weather is uncooperative, or so the gathered pilgrims felt. Actually, it was a part of a bigger plan. The rain is unrelenting, and everyone was drenched by the time the visionary children arrived. Our Lady then appears, identifying herself as the Lady of the Rosary. She also asks that a chapel be built on the site of the apparitions. At this point, the long-awaited miracle takes place. Read Chapter 11-12 and answer Study Questions. Chapter 11. The Victims. A woman reports being cured of tuberculosis during the apparition. Newspapermen spread the word about the miracle of the sun. Lucia s family, however, remains opposed to the apparitions, while she and her cousins adopt an increasingly penitential way of life. Chapter 12. The Bells Toll in Fatima. Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta go to school. The girls devote themselves to their studies, but Francisco concentrates on praying the many Rosaries that Our Lady said he needed to pray. Then, he and his sister both fall ill. Read Chapter 13-14 and answer Study Questions. Chapter 13. The Great Sacrifice. Francisco dies. Jacinta and Lucia understand that this is part of the sacrifice that Our Lady foretold and requested, and that Jacinta s turn will be next. Chapter 14. To Lisbon. Jacinta is sent to a hospital in Ourem, but does not die there. She does, however, receive the sad news that Lucia s father has died. Our Blessed Mother appears to her, helping her prepare for the kind of death she will have to face. She is then sent to Lisbon to have a special operation which the Lady has already explained to her will not save her life. HH3
COURSE PLAN THUR FRI Read Chapter 15-16 and the Epilogue and answer Study Questions. Chapter 15. Farewell to Fatima. Everything takes place as the beautiful lady of Fatima has said it would. Lucia, grieving the loss of her father and cousins, leaves Fatima to be educated and to enter religious life. Her work of sacrificing for sinners has just begun. Epilogue. Lucia enters religious life and takes the name of Sister Mary Lucia of the Dolors. Work on this week s written assignment, due on Monday. Notes CF MON to WED THUR FRI WEEK 3 Written Assignment: Congratulations! You have finished reading and Our Lady s Message to the World. Now you need to write a nice book report on the story. Written Assignment: Work on your book report. Review your paper to make sure everything you have written supports your thesis statement, and the entire paper has a gentle flow from one supported idea to the next. Check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Rewrite the paper neatly if you are writing it in long hand. Study for the Final Exam. Review all your Study Questions, the vocabulary, and the characters. Final Exam. HH4
ASSIGNMENT ANSWER KEY WEEK 1 Written Assignment: Option 1) In what ways does Lucia s family try to pressure her to say her story about the beautiful Lady in the Cova is all a lie? Express your answer in the form of a paragraph. Be sure to mention the specific actions of Lucia s mother, and the attitude of her siblings. Lucia s family is not supportive of her. Her mother beats and scolds her. Her brothers and sisters want her to say she is telling lies, so that things will go back to normal for their family. They may be jealous, because they wonder why the beautiful lady chooses to show herself to Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta, rather than anyone else. Option 2) Before the angel or the beautiful lady appear to Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco, how do they say the Rosary? What is Francisco s particular problem with it? Do you think, given this information, that the three cousins were particularly devout or religious children who would have been inclined to make up stories about visits from angels and the Blessed Mother? The children say the Rosary is an unacceptably shortened form, saying only the introductory words of each prayer. Francisco doesn t like to say it at all, believing that devotions of this sort are girlish. It doesn t seem like these three children, given a chance to exercise their imaginations, would make up a story about apparitions from angels or beautiful ladies from Heaven. They are more occupied with other types of simple games, instead. WEEK 2 Written Assignment: Option 1) At the beginning of the tale of Fatima, the shepherd children say the Rosary, but in a lazy way. Francisco now says it properly. What exactly does he mean by this? Express your answer in the form of a paragraph. To meditate means to think about, or dwell upon, the meaning of a thing or event. Francisco used pictures to assist in his meditation on the mysteries of the Rosary. To say the Rosary properly is to meditate upon the appropriate mystery, while you are saying the decade with which it is associated. Option 2) What did the Blessed Mother tell Jacinta, while Jacinta is waiting to die, about the priesthood? Name two specific things. Possible answers include that they should be very pure, that they should pay attention to the concerns of the Church, and that they should obey their superiors and the Holy Father. HH5
FINAL EXAM Part I. Plot Elements. Plot refers to the events in a story, or what happens. Arrange the following plot elements from in the order in which they occurred. (3 points each) 1. Lucia enters religious life and takes the name of Sister Mary Lucia of the Dolors. 2. The sun dances and spins, drying off the onlookers in the process. 3. Jacinta is sent to a hospital in Ourem. 4. Lucia and her two young cousins race through the Rosary by saying only the introductory words of each prayer. 5. The Mayor of Ourem throws Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco in jail. 6. Our Lady shows the children a terrifying vision of Hell. 7. Francisco refuses to concentrate on his school work, preferring to say many Rosaries instead. 8. An angel gives the children Holy Communion. 9. Lucia leaves Fatima after both of her cousins have gone to Heaven before her. 10. On the feast of St. Anthony, Lucia almost decides to go with her family to town instead of going to the Cova with her cousins. Part II. Character. The characters are the people or other actors (such as the Angel) in a story. Write in the name of the character being described. (3 points each) 1. grieves when her son Francisco dies at such a young age. 2. was surprised that her young and dying patient, Jacinta, would be interested in talking about subjects like war. 3. could see the beautiful lady but, unlike his sister and cousin, could not hear her. 4. does not understand her daughter Lucia, and berates and even beats her because of the young girl s belief in the Lady she sees in the Cova da Iria. 5. thinks that the children aren t lying about what they have seen in the Cova, but that they are only imagining it. 6. appears to the children three times, preparing them for the apparitions of the beautiful lady. 7. is not able to get the children to say their story is a lie, even though he frightens them extremely in the meantime. 8. is the first one of the three children to say anything about their unusual experiences to anyone else. HH
FINAL EXAM 9. is very deeply offended about the way the children were kidnapped, and changes the nature of the October miracle because of it. 10. does not die young, like her two cousins, but grows up to become a religious sister and spread the message of Fatima throughout the world. Part III. Vocabulary. If the italicized vocabulary word is being used correctly in the sentence, write yes on the line. If not, write no. (2 points each) 1. Come here, you three, said the Mayor of Ourem. If you will be good little children, I will give you a peasant. 2. During the apparitions, Our Lady was visible to the three shepherd children, but not to the other people who were there. 3. The Lady is so beautiful! Francisco scoffed. 4. From the very beginning, Maria Rosa, Lucia s mother, showed great sympathy for the children and their story. 5. In the brief vision of Hell, the children were allowed to see the torments that lost souls undergo there. 6. When word of the apparitions began to spread, many pilgrims began to gather in the Cova at the appointed time. 7. The children are making it all up! What else do they see, flying saucers? some people jeered. 8. According to the beautiful lady, chastity is one of the worst sins anyone can commit. 9. A specialist who examined Jacinta thought that an operation could cure her. 10. Jacinta and Francisco both saw the beautiful lady, but only the latter could hear her. Part IV. Essay. Define the word reparation, as Our Lady of the Rosary means it. Refer to the conversation in Chapter 4: The Message, between Lucia and Francisco, in your answer. Then explain 1) at least three ways in which the shepherd children of Fatima made reparation; and 2) at least three ways in which we ourselves can do so as well. Express your answer in the form of three paragraphs-- one for the definition, one for the shepherd children, and one for ourselves. (20 points) HH
FINAL EXAM ANSWER KEY Part I. Plot Elements. The events should be numbered in the following order: 4, 8, 10, 6, 5, 2, 7, 3, 9, 1. Part II. Character. 1. Olimpia Marto 2. Sister Mary of the Purification 3. Francisco 4. Maria Rosa dos Santos 5. Father Ferriera 6. The Angel 7. The Mayor of Ourem 8. Jacinta 9. Our Lady of Fatima 10. Lucia Part III. Vocabulary 1. No. 2. Yes. 3. No. 4. No. 5. Yes. 6. Yes. 7. Yes. 8. No. 9. Yes. 10. No. Part IV. Essay Question. Define the word reparation, as Our Lady of the Rosary means it. Refer to the conversation in Chapter 4: The Message, between Lucia and Francisco, in your answer. Then explain 1) at least three ways in which the shepherd children of Fatima made reparation; and 2) at least three ways in which we ourselves can do so as well. Express your answer in the form of three paragraphs--one for the definition, one for the shepherd children, and one for ourselves. (20 points) According to Our Lady, who spoke about the need for it frequently, reparation means making up to God for sins by extra and more fervent prayer, and by suffering. The children made reparation by being cheerful, obedient, willing, and saying the Rosary properly. Jacinta and Francisco even did so by offering up their own early deaths for the salvation of souls. We ourselves are called to make reparation. According to St. Maximilian Kolbe, we can all make reparation at every moment of every day, as long as we do whatever we are doing for the love of God. Answers on this last point may vary; there are many legitimate ways in which reparation may be made. HH