Sister Lucia was a prominent figure of the Portuguese Catholic world of the twentieth century. As the Shepherdess of Fatima who, together with Francisco and Jacinta saw Our Lady in 1917, she is regarded as a child blessed and chosen to spread the message of peace and salvation of God throughout the world.

As a Carmelite nun, she was known as a privileged person dedicated to God and in service to His Church, one in whom people placed enormous confidence because of her role as Our Lady’s confidant.

The contemporary history of the Church would hardly be complete without the inclusion of Sister Lucia’s role. The references to the Holy Father and to his sufferings since the apparitions, as well as the revelation of the third part of the Secret of Fatima and the dramatic events experienced by the Church in the late second and early third millennium do not allow us to ignore Sister Lucia.

Reading the biography, A Pathway Under the Gaze of Mary, gives us a broader perspective of Sister Lucia’s life, spirituality and personality, especially after the apparitions at Fatima ended. Written by the Sisters of Carmel of Coimbra, it reflects their personal knowledge of her daily life and writings, and provides testimonies that mirror the depth of her soul.—Most Rev. Virgilio Antunes, Bishop of Coimbra