The Fatima Prayer, also known as the Decade Prayer, is a petition for mercy given by the Virgin Mary to three children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. It is most commonly prayed after the Glory Be at the end of each decade of the Rosary, asking Jesus to forgive sins and save souls.
This prayer was revealed during the third Marian apparition at Fatima on July 13, 1917. According to the memoirs of Sister Lucia, one of the visionaries, the Blessed Mother taught the children this prayer and asked that it be recited after each decade of the Rosary. While its inclusion is a devotional custom rather than a liturgical mandate found in the Roman Missal, its use has been encouraged by popes and is a universally recognized part of praying the Rosary.
The prayer encapsulates the core Fatima message of repentance and reparation. It acknowledges Jesus as the source of forgiveness and affirms the reality of hell, a doctrine detailed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1033-1037). The plea to "lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy" is an act of spiritual charity, expressing profound hope in God's salvific will and entrusting the most vulnerable souls to His infinite mercy.
The Fatima Prayer is intended to be prayed after the "Glory Be" at the conclusion of each decade of the Holy Rosary. This is its primary context. It can also be used as a standalone ejaculatory prayer for mercy throughout the day. Devotion is particularly strong on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima (May 13) and on the 13th of each month from May to October, commemorating the apparitions.
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