On 13th May 1917 the Virgin Mary appeared for the first time above a small oak tree before three young shepherds – 10-year-old Lucia, 9-year-old Francisco and 7-year-old Jacinta – in the Cova da Iria valley close to the Portuguese city of Fatima. She was clothed in a bright white robe. She told the children that she was coming from Heaven and that she wanted them to come to that place for the next six months on the 13th day of the month.
One by one the Virgin Mary revealed three secrets to them. The First Secret involved a vision of Hell. She begged people to mend their ways, because if they do not stop offending God with their sins and hurting each other, another war shall come, even worse than the current one. The Second Secret involved a prophecy about Russia, which would spread lies across the world and many good people would be persecuted. Hard times would come. The Holy Father would consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Russia would at last change and peaceful days would come. The Third Secret had been concealed for a long time. It was only revealed in 2000. Its key word is penance and it has been called for three times. The secrets revealed by Our Lady of Fatima are full of maternal love. They show people the path towards sainthood. The only cure for moral failure is penance. The message of Fatima is to have trust in the promise of Jesus: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
A procession of the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima is depicted in the miniature sheet. There is the logo of the 100th anniversary in the corner and the symbols of Fatima below it: the crown of the statue of the Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Rosary and the oak tree where the Virgin Mary appeared. The FDC imprint: young shepherds – the visionaries, sheep, the oak tree at the moment of the apparition, and the Sanctuary of Fatima in the background. The FDC postmark: part of the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima with the crown.

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Ján Vallo