San Francisco Marto in ivory
Francisco de Jesus Marto (Aljustrel, Fátima, 11 June 1908 - Ourém, 4 April 1919) was one of the three shepherd children who saw Our Lady, in Cova da Iria, in Fátima, between 13 May and 13 October 1919. 1917.
He was beatified by Pope John Paul II, on May 13, 2000, in the Sanctuary of Fátima, and was canonized by Pope Francis, in the same place, on May 13, 2017, on the occasion of the celebrations of the Centenary of the Apparitions of Fátima .
He and his sister Jacinta Marto are among the first child saints not martyrs in the Catholic Church.
One of the sons of Manuel Pedro Marto and his wife Olímpia de Jesus dos Santos, Francisco was baptized in the Parish Church of Fátima and was a typical child of rural Portugal at the time. As it was not mandatory, he did not attend school and worked as a pastor together with his sister Jacinta Marto and his cousin Lúcia dos Santos. After the events that would come to be known as the apparitions of Fátima, Francisco entered primary school, but ended up stopping attending classes.
Lúcia dos Santos (ten years old, in the middle) and her two cousins: Francisco Marto (nine years old) and Jacinta Marto (seven years old) holding their rosaries.
According to Lúcia's memories, Francisco was a very gifted, but calm, boy and liked music, and showed skill on the fife. Being very independent in his opinions, he was, however, a peacemaker, and showed great respect for people. He tells his cousin that even animals could not escape his charity.
Following the Marian apparitions, the behavior of the two brothers changed and from then on Francisco began to prefer to pray alone. Marked by Our Lady's words to "no longer offend God", he withdrew into solitude "to console Jesus for the sins of the world".
The three children, particularly Francisco, had the habit of practicing mortifications and penances, but Our Lady, in one of Her appearances, asked for moderation.
However, as penance, Francisco stopped going to school and went into hiding to make reparations for sinners. It is possible that the prolonged fasts weakened him to the point of succumbing to the pneumonia-generated epidemic that swept Europe in 1918, as a result of the First World War. He ended up passing away at home in 1919. His body is buried in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Fátima.
Francisco and his sister Jacinta Marto were beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 13, 2000. Their feast day is February 20. His canonization carried out by Pope Francis took place on May 13, 2017, on the occasion of the celebrations of the Centenary of the Apparitions of Fátima.
