Paper short abstract:

This paper discusses the culture around the three "Fatima secrets" in Portugal for both believers and non-believers , giving examples of artistic performances who continue to express a potent sense and site of cultural religiosity, based on the mysterious phenomena of the Fatima apparitions.

Paper long abstract:

2017 is the 100th anniversary of Fatima apparitions in Portugal when 3 young shephard children reported seeing and receiving messages from the Virgin Mary at Cova da Iria, in 1917. A sun lightening phenomena was also witnessed by a large crowd. The apparition site developed over the century into a major internationally-known destination for pilgrimage and devotion. A provocative element of the Fatima narrative for believers and non-believers alike was the communication by the Virgin of three so-called "Fatima secrets" to the children, prognosticating future apocalyptic events to take place in Portugal and the wider world. Though part of the last of these secrets was only "revealed" by the Pope in 2000 , while the visionary children said it could be disclosed in 1960, the institutional Church's refusal to make this information known publically for many years led to frequent speculation about its content and meaning. This paper discusses the culture surrounding these secrets in Portugal and its tropism for both naif believers and non-believers . With specific attention to the contemporary generation of non-believers, I explain through a case study how artistic performances continue to express a potent sense and site of cultural religiosity, national pride, the feeling of home and personal spirituality based on the mysterious and controversial phenomena of the Fatima apparitions.