On May 13, 1917 an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Lucia Santos, Jacinta Marto, and Francisco Marto in Fatima, Portugal. Although only children, the apparition commanded them to strengthen their faith and to devote themselves by praying the Rosary to bring about peace.

Like clockwork, the apparition appeared on the 13th of each month and spoke of the need to pray. Additionally, certain mystical truths regarding Heaven and Hell were also imparted to the children with each experience.

The children mostly kept this experience to themselves at first, fearing disbelief and condemnation. However, word of miracles spread through the surrounding regions, and many began to flock to the area. In August, they were kept from returning to the site by a disbelieving bureaucrat who feared that the actions were political in nature. After being interrogated, the children confessed all that took place except for three secrets that the apparition told them to keep until the time was right.

By October, tens of thousands came to the area in expectation of a great miracle that the children were promised, and they were not denied. On October 13 on a cloudy day, the “Miracle of the Sun” took place. The color of the sun changed, and newspapers reported the strange phenomena that was only apparent from the region surrounding Fatima. The moment sparked a great controversy, with many fervent believers confident in a miracle while others were uncertain, and many scientists within and without the Catholic faith have tried to prove or debunk the incident since.

Two of the children soon passed away when the flu swept through Europe, but Lucia lived to join a convent in Spain and preach what took place. She reported many later visions, all commanding her to guide others to prayer for the peace of the world. She continued in this mission until she died in 2005.

By 1930, the Catholic Church’s investigation deemed the events legitimate and worthy, which permitted faithful dedication to Our Lady of Fatima. The Church’s official position is to encourage the faithful to prayer but the private revelations do not bind any believer. The truth of faith is contained within Holy Scripture, although the works and revelations of others can help inform dedication to the Church as a whole.

Of the three secrets of Fatima revealed to the children, the first two were revealed as knowledge of Hell and the need to pray for peace in the world, which included the Consecration of Russia and praying to end secularism. The latter came with a warning that if secularism did not end that it would then spread and bring about greater conflict. The third secret, revealed in 2000, as a call for the faithful to repent and a warning that the priesthood would come under attack.

For the 100th anniversary, Pope Francis will canonize Blessed Francisco and Jacinta Marto at a Mass dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, recognizing the importance of the miraculous events. Although controversial, Fatima will always be a call for Catholics to pray for peace and the end to secularism.

This article is part of a series on Catholic teaching. A version of this article was originally published on May 13, 2017 in the Carroll County Times.