Francisco and Jacinta Marto

"Francesco did not seem to be Jacinta Marto's brother, except in his facial features and in the practice of virtue. He was not as capricious and lively as she was. On the contrary, he had a peaceful and accommodating character. [...] Unlike Giacinta, he did not show a passion for dancing; he preferred to play the flute while the other children danced. He was quite lively when playing games, but few enjoyed playing with him because he almost always lost. I myself confess that I had little sympathy for him, because his peaceful character sometimes irritated my overly lively nature."

"The little girl also loved to go out at dusk to the farmyard in front of our house to watch the beautiful sunset and the starry sky that followed. She was thrilled by the beautiful nights of the full moon. We challenged each other to see who could count the stars, which we called the angels' lamps. The moon belonged to Our Lady and the sun to the Lord. That is why Jacinta sometimes said: – I like Our Lady's lamp better because it does not burn us or blind us, whereas the Lord's does."

"Before the events of 1917, apart from the family ties that united us, no other particular affection made me prefer the company of Jacinta and Francisco to that of any other child. On the contrary, her company sometimes became quite unpleasant because of her overly sensitive character. The slightest issue, of the kind that arise among children when they play, was enough to make her sulk in a corner, imitating a mule, as we used to say. To get her back into the game, even the sweetest caresses that children can give in such situations were not enough. It was necessary to let her choose the game and the companion with whom she wanted to play. However, even at that time, she had a very kind heart, and God had blessed her with a sweet and tender character, which made her both lovable and attractive."