Fatima from the beginning by John De Marchi 272 pgs. The events of Fatima are not outdated, but rather seem ever more living and actual. The charism of Fatima is truly universal. The Message that Our Lady addressed to the three little shepherds at the Cova da Iria is a genuine expression of the Gospel, for Penance and Prayer will always be, as they have been in the past, means that lead to conversion and holiness. Fr. John De Marchi had the great privilege of living for years close to the spot where the Apparitions took place. He came to know, in the profoundest way, the environment, the customs and the characteristics of the people, gaining a firsthand account of the happenings during those memorable six months from May to October of 1917, from the parents and relatives of the three shepherds, from those who knew them well and those who were eyewitnesses of these extraordinary events. Fr. De Marchi's great concern was to study the whole matter thoroughly and to set it down in writing with the greatest care and authenticity. May this book help the reader to capture and comprehend ever more deeply the true meaning of the Message of Fatima.