The apparitions at Fatima in 1917 had their prelude in 1916, when the Angel of Peace (also known as the Angel of Portugal) appeared to three young visionaries – Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Martó. It was during these meetings that the angel taught the children special prayers that became an integral part of the Fatima spiritual tradition.

Here is a detailed overview of the events and prayers the angel conveyed to the visionaries:
1. First apparition of the angel (spring 1916) – Location: Loka (Loca do Cabeço).
● Event: Children were herding sheep in an olive grove when a strong wind appeared above them and with it a figure brighter than crystal, which approached. The angel introduced himself to them, saying: "Do not be afraid, I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me."
● Learned prayer: The angel knelt on the ground, bowed his face to the ground, and repeated the following prayer three times:
"My God, I believe in You, I worship You, I hope in You, and I love You. I ask forgiveness for those who do not believe in You, do not worship You, do not hope in You, and do not love You."
● Children's reaction: The children repeated the prayer after the angel because they were in deep awe. Lucia later recalled that the presence of God was so strong that the children were immersed in a supernatural state of consciousness for many hours.
2. The second apparition of the angel (summer 1916) – Location: By the well in the garden of Lucia's house.
● Event: The children were playing when the angel appeared to them again. He called them to make sacrifices and pray for sinners, because God requires sacrifices from them.
● Learned prayer (or call to prayer and sacrifice): When the children asked how they should sacrifice, the angel replied: "From everything you can, make a sacrifice as an act of atonement for the sin by which he is offended, and as a plea for the conversion of sinners. Above all, accept and endure with submission the suffering that God will send you."
● Meaning: Although this was not a fixed textual prayer, the angel taught them a spirit of sacrifice that was to become prayer transformed into action.
3. Third apparition of the angel (autumn 1916) – Location: Loka (Loca do Cabeço).
● Event: An angel appeared with a chalice in his left hand and a host floating above him, from which drops of blood were dripping into the chalice. The angel left the chalice and host in the air, fell to the ground, and repeated three times the prayer that the children were to pray with him:
● Learned Prayer (Eucharistic Prayer):
"Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You deeply and offer You the most precious Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the insults, blasphemies and indifference with which He is offended. And by the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary, I beg You for the conversion of poor sinners."
● Holy Communion: After this prayer, the angel gave the host to Lucia and the contents of the chalice to drink to Francisco and Jacinta, saying: "Receive the Body and Drink the Blood of Jesus Christ, terribly insulted by ungrateful people. Atone for their crimes and console your God."