SISTER LUCIA, THE LAST VISIONARY OF FATIMA

This is the text of Sr Lucia's death notice from her own Carmel. There are links to some pictures of Sr Lucia here.


At the venerable age of 97, on SUNDAY afternoon, February 13th, in Coimbra Carmel, our Carmelite Sister Lucia went to her eternal reward. She, together with her cousins, Jacinta and Francesco, was a witness to the numerous apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima, beginning on May 13, 1917. The other two visionaries died young, as the Blessed Virgin had predicted, and have since been declared Blessed by the Church.

Our Sister lived humbly and quietly in her community, combining a prayerful-contemplative life with an intense letter-writing ministry, with which she comforted distressed people, replied to VIPs, encouraged her readers to believe and trust in God, always zealous in her devotion to Mary. The Popes have always held her in great esteem. The message that the Virgin had entrusted to the three shepherds touched upon present and future events. Pope John Paul II was particularly fond of this simple Carmelite religious. He met her on several occasions, expressing his clear devotion to our Lady of Fatima, returning there three times on pilgrimage. A year after the attempt to assassinate him in St Peter's square, he offered the Blessed Virgin the bullet that almost killed him: it was placed in the crown of Mary's statue.

The message of Fatima is simple and straightforward: prayer, penance, consecration to the immaculate heart of Mary. Strange phenomena accompanied the numerous visions, such as the last, called "the dance of the sun" before an awestruck and incredulous crowd. But what has especially attracted the attention of the world was the so-called "third secret of Fatima", made public in 2000 on the occasion of the beatification of Francesco and Jacinta. It has been confirmed that Sr. Lucia has had manifestations of our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

The death of Sr. Lucia has saddened especially the people of Portugal. The Prime Minister has declared a national day of mourning and there will be no electioneering on that day for the forthcoming elections, on February 20.

Fr. General is not able to attend the funeral due to commitments elsewhere and has asked Fr. Luigi Gaetani, the Definitor responsible for Portugal to attend the solemn funeral in Coimbra cathedral.

Fr. General has sent the following message to the Coimbra community:

Mother Prioress and Community of Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Coimbra

Dear Sisters,

I am writing to you from Poland, where I am conducting a Visitation to our Cracow Province. This evening, after a long journey, and having learnt of the death of our dear Irma Lucia, I reflected on her life and all that she has meant to us. At this particular time we are brought back in time, almost of necessity, to the marvellous story of the three poor children whose innocent and pious hearts were changed in that place by the light of Mary, Mother of pity and mercy.

In October 2003 I was fortunate to celebrate the Eucharist with your community on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Sr. Lucia's profession. Because of that meeting I am able to give this personal testimony. Together with the gratitude she showed for her vocation for which she had given thanks, what I appreciated particularly was her naturalness and simplicity. Without doubt she lived a life of profound prayerful intercession and praise, carrying within her heart the intentions of the Fatima messages. But all of this occurred with the utmost simplicity. To this naturalness and spontaneity belonged her sense of humour. At the Eucharistic celebration and afterwards in the festive encounter I could clearly see a happiness that was transparently innocent, trusting and warm. I believe that St. Teresa of Jesus would be very happy with these qualities in our Sister. And, what is most important, without doubt these qualities reflect those of Mary of Nazareth, our Mother and Sister in faith and our interior model in her dedication to Jesus and to his Kingdom of justice and communion.

We are happy that Sr. Lucia has been our sister. Very happy that she lived the message of Fatima in such an ordinary human way with simplicity and sincerity. I would like now to assure you, together with this personal testimony, that the family of Carmel is very close to you at this time, as well as to the Church and the people of Portugal. We commend our Sister to the Lord and with confidence ask her to commend us before His throne of glory.

Przemyl, 14th February 2005

[All of the above is taken from this site, the O.C.D. Generalate in Rome. If this link does not work, it can be accessed from the main O.C.D. page through the "news" link.]