Issue 49 Summer 1995 “To Whomever Embraces This Devotion, I Promise .” ... Our Lady of Fatima, June 13, 1917

What an admirable, stupefying promise made June 13, 1917! Yet in spite of this promise we are still tempted to doubt. Jacinta of Fatima, by a special grace, felt her heart consumed by an ardent love for the . But we? We are cold, or our fervor is so short-lived! Could we ever know if we had sufficient devotion so that Our Lady would be bound to keep Her promise to us? It is here that we are wonderstruck by the limitless Divine , and the profoundly Catholic character of the of Fatima. In the whole message, there is not an From Fatima to Pontevedra: ounce of Protestant subjectivism! the fulfillment of the . Here, Heaven goes to the limits of In describing the apparitions , and the most sublime and explaining the message (“ wishes to of Pontevedra, we will simply establish in the world devotion to My comment on the words pronounced Immaculate Heart”) are exchanged, by Our Lady on July 13, 1917. They translated into very small requests, are concise, but so rich in meaning: clear and precise requests, easy “If what I say to you is requests which leave no room for done, many will be doubt. Everyone can know if he has saved ... I will come to ask accomplished them or not. A “little for ... the of devotion” practiced with a good Reparation on the First heart is enough to receive infallibly Saturdays of the month.” for us, this grace — ex opere Here then is the first “Secret of operato, so to speak — as with the Mary” which we discover and ; and what a grace — the understand. It is a sure and easy grace of eternal salvation! It is worth way of tearing souls away from the the effort to give careful study to danger of hell; first our own; then such a magnificent promise. It is the those of our neighbors; and even the fulfillment, the perfect expression souls of the greatest sinners, for the of the first part of the great Secret, mercy and power of the Immaculate which is entirely concerned with the Heart of Mary are without limits. salvation of souls. 2 The Magnificent Promise for the Five First Saturdays By of the Most Holy Trinity I. Introduction...... 2 II. Pontevedra: The Apparitions and the Message...... 4 Dec. 10, 1925: Apparition of the Child and Our Lady...... 4 The transmission of the Message...... 5 A painful wait...... 5 The account of a charming prelude...... 6 A new Apparition of the Child Jesus...... 6 III. The Great Promise and Its Conditions...... 8 1. The First Saturday of five consecutive months...... 10 2. ...... 12 3. The Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays...... 12 4. Recitation of the ...... 13 5. The fifteen minute meditation on the Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary...... 13 6. The intention of making Reparation...... 14 IV. The Spirit of the Devotion of Reparation The of May 29, 1930...... 17 The thorns of the Immaculate Heart of Mary...... 17 The of heretics, schismatics and impious men...... 17 The blasphemies of rebellious and ungrateful children...... 19 The Devotion of Reparation: A secret of mercy for sinners...... 20 From the First to the Second Secret...... 23 APPENDIX I: Sister Lucy explains the Reparatory Devotion of the First Saturdays...... 26 “I never feel so happy as when First Saturday arrives”...... 26 “Here is my way of making the meditations”...... 27 APPENDIX II: A Brief Background: What is Fatima?...... 29 “The Magnificent Promise for the Five First Saturdays” is an extract from the series The Whole Truth About Fatima by Frère Michel de la Sainte Trinité. Copyright© Frère Michel de la Sainte Trinité, CRC, 1984, Original French Language Edition. English translation copyright© Frère Michel de la Sainte Trinité, CRC, 1989. This is a re-print of The Fatima Crusader, Issue #49, Summer 1995. IMPRIMATUR, Archbishop Benedict To Varpin, Archbishop of Madang, June 5, 1995

3 II. Pontevedra: The Apparitions and the Message1 December 10, 1925: to assist at the moment of death, with all the graces The Apparition of the Child necessary for salvation, Jesus and Our Lady all those who, on the First On the evening of Thursday, Saturday of five consecutive December 10, after supper, the months shall confess, receive young Lucy — who was Holy Communion, recite five only eighteen years old — returned decades of the Rosary, and to her cell. There she was visited by keep Me company for fifteen Our Lady and the Child Jesus. Let 2 minutes while meditating on us listen to her account (written in the fifteen mysteries of the the third person): Rosary, with the intention of “On December 10, 1925, the making Reparation to Me.’3 Most Holy Virgin appeared to What a touching scene, and her, and by Her side, elevated yet so simple, described with the on a luminous cloud, was the sobriety of the itself! What Child Jesus. The Most Holy a charming dialogue, in which the Virgin rested Her hand on Child Jesus and His Mother take her shoulder, and as She did turns speaking — He to plead so, She showed her a Heart Her cause, while She makes Her encircled by thorns, which She requests … to lead us back to Him. was holding in Her other hand. As usual, the seer totally effaces At the same time, the Child herself here, not telling us a word said: about her own feelings. Is this not ‘Have on the the surest mark of authenticity, Heart of your Most Holy which gives her account all its Mother, covered with thorns, freshness? She is there to see, to with which ungrateful men listen, and to relate what happened, pierce It at every moment, and and nothing more. there is no one to make an Yet, what intimacy between the act of Reparation to remove Blessed Virgin and Her messenger! them.’ Like Saint Catherine Labouré, she Then the Most Holy Virgin received that day the privilege of said: being touched by Our Lady in a ‘Look My daughter, at My solemn and affectionate gesture, Heart, surrounded with thorns just as when a mother wants to give with which ungrateful men a child a confidential mission. The pierce Me at every moment Blessed Virgin placed Her hand by their blasphemies and on Lucy’s shoulder, giving her ingratitude. You at least try to contemplate Our Lady’s most to console Me and announce sorrowful Heart, and make It known in My name that I promise to others. 4 Finally, the tone is the same as giving him a detailed account of in the words of the great promise! events. Fortunately, this extremely It is the same as in the apparitions important letter has been preserved of 1917: what conciseness in the for us.6 We will follow this precious words of the great promise! It is text step by step, adding our own the same conciseness that is found subtitles and comments. in the Secret of July 13th, where a A painful wait single word could not be suppressed “Most Reverend Father, without seriously damaging the “I would like to thank you very of thought. This too is a respectfully for the kind letter you solid mark of authenticity. were so good as to write to me. The transmission “When I received it and realized of the Message that I still could not fulfill the How did Lucy go about making desires of the Blessed Virgin, I felt Heaven’s requests known? We know a little sad. But I realized right away that she immediately told everything that the Blessed Virgin desired that to her , Mother Magalhaes, I obey you. who had been completely won “That put me at rest, and the over to the cause of Fatima and following day, when I received now had a sincere respect for the Jesus in Communion, I read Him seer. She herself was ready to your letter and I said to Him: ‘O my obey the requests of Heaven. Lucy Jesus! With Your grace, with prayer, also informed the confessor of mortification and confidence, I will the house, Don Lino Garcia: “The do everything obedience permits latter (she recalls) ordered me to me and You inspire me; the rest You write down everything concerning must do Yourself.’ (this revelation) and to keep these “I remained like that until writings, which might be needed.”4 February 15th. Those days were a But he continued to wait. continued inner mortification for Lucy wrote a detailed account me. I wondered if it had been a of the event for her confessor, dream; but I knew it was not: I was Monsignor Pereira Lopes from certain that it was real! But still I Asilo de Vilar. Unfortunately this asked myself how Our Lord could letter was lost, and we only know of have deigned to appear again to me, its existence because it is referred to who had responded so badly to the in a later letter. On December 29th, graces I had received! Mother Magalhaes informed Bishop “The day I was supposed to go da Silva of what had happened, but to confession was approaching, she was not very precise.5 and I didn’t have permission to At this point Lucy finally received say anything!7 I wanted to tell my the response of Monsignor Pereira Mother Superior but during the day Lopes. He expressed reservations, my occupations would not permit asked questions, and advised me, and in the evening I suffered her to wait. A few days later, on from headaches. Then, fearing to February 15th, Lucy answered him, commit a fault against , I 5 thought: ‘This will be for tomorrow; practice of the in I offer You this sacrifice, my dear honor of Our Lady. Mother.’ One day after another went Since the child did not seem by this way, until today. willing to recite the “On the 15th, I was very busy alone, our catechist, who did not with my work, and I was hardly want to lose this opportunity of thinking of that (the apparition of fulfilling her mission of making Our last December 10) at all. I was going Lady known and loved, suggested to empty a garbage can outside the another idea: she invited him to visit garden.” Saint Mary’s Church every day. In The account of a charming fact, the Basilica of Saint Mary prelude Major is quite near the house of the (November or December, 1925) Dorothean Sisters. Was it shortly before or after the apparition of “At the same place, a the Child Jesus, on December 10? few months before, I had We do not know. In any case, the encountered a child, whom I little postulant taught the child this asked if he knew the Hail Mary. beautiful and short prayer which He had answered ‘Yes’, and I was surely her own as well, her most had asked him to say it to me, frequent and fervent prayer of this to hear him say it. At the end of Advent of 1925. “O my Mother in three Hail Marys, I asked him Heaven, give me Your Child Jesus.” to say it alone. Since he kept And she went away. silence and seemed unable to say it alone, I asked him if he February 15, 1926: knew the church of Saint Mary. A new Apparition of the He said yes. Then I told him Child Jesus to go there every day and say Lucy’s moving account, which this prayer: ‘O my Heavenly we are quoting at length, continues: Mother, give me Your Child “So, on February 15, Jesus!’ I taught him this prayer, coming back as usual (to and I went away.” empty a garbage can outside Here, by force of events, Lucy the garden), I found a child is obliged to speak about herself there who seemed to be the a little, and her rare confidences same one as before, and I reveal to us something of her asked him: ‘Did you ask our marvelous .8 Near the portal of Heavenly Mother for the Child the garden, she encounters a child. Jesus?’ The child turned to me Immediately it occurs to her to talk and said: ‘And you, have you to him about the Virgin Mary; to revealed to the world what teach him to pray. Then she asks the Heavenly Mother asked him to recite a Hail Mary … for the you?’ And, having said that, he joy of hearing it. Since he would not turned into a resplendent child. say it alone, she recites it with him “Then recognizing that it was three times, according to the ancient Jesus, I said to Him: 6 On December 10, 1925, in the city of Pontevedra, Spain, Our Lord and Our Lady appeared to Sister Lucy to explain Their request for the Five First Satur- days of Reparation, asking Sis- ter Lucy to promote it. Initially, Sister Lucy tried to comply, but encountered obstacles from her Father Confessor and Mother Superior. As a consequence, Sister Lucy had stopped trying. Then on February 15, 1926, two months and one week later, Our Lord returned to ask Sister Lucy what she was doing to promote the Five First Saturdays. See pages 6-8 for Sister Lucy’s mov- ing account of what occurred when she went to empty a gar- bage can outside the garden of the house of the Dorothean Sis- ters in Pontevedra, where she was a postulant at that time.

“My Jesus! You know what because many souls receive my confessor said to me in the You every first Saturday of the letter I read You. He said that month in honor of Our Lady this had to be repeated; and recite the fifteen mysteries there had to be facts to permit of the Rosary.” people to believe it, and that the “It is true, My daughter, Mother Superior alone could that many souls begin, but few not spread this devotion.” persevere to the very end, and “It is true that the Mother those who persevere do it to Superior alone can do receive the graces promised. nothing, but with My grace, The souls who make the Five she can do everything. It is First Saturdays with fervor enough that your confessor and to make Reparation to gives you permission, and the Heart of your Heavenly that your superior announce Mother, please Me more than this for it to be believed by those who make fifteen, but are the people, even if they do not lukewarm and indifferent.” know whom it was revealed “My Jesus! Many souls to.” find it difficult to confess on “But my confessor said in Saturday. Will You allow a his letter that this devotion confession within eight days to already exists in the world, 7 be valid?” scratch? “Yes. It can even be made In the first place, our seer is later on, provided that the emptying the garbage cans of the souls are in the state of grace every day, for months. when they receive Me on the And she is happy. She does not first Saturday, and that they seem disturbed by the humiliating have the intention of making circumstances of the apparition. To Reparation to the Immaculate remind her of Its great designs over Heart of Mary.” the world and the salvation of souls, “My Jesus! And those who Heaven chose precisely the moment forget to form this intention?” when Its messenger was occupied “They can form it at the next in a very humble and abject little confession, taking advantage chore. Note well: a proud person, a of their first opportunity to go mythomaniac deceived by illusory to confession.” apparitions, would have imagined “Right after that He extraordinary or at least uncommon disappeared, without me circumstances, but never these. She finding out anything more would have been afraid of appearing about Heaven’s desires, up to ridiculous and not being believed. the present.”9 As for herself, Lucy relates the facts Here again, the internal criticism in all simplicity just as they took of this text excludes all the denials place, without being astonished that of those who would explain this the Divine Child, born in a stable, apparition away by suggesting it to chose this humble circumstance to be the fruit of illusions or inventions manifest Himself. of a disturbed mind. The facts It now remains for us to explain reported — so charmingly! — are the meaning and significance too clear, simple and supernatural of the message of Pontevedra, to be the invention of a diseased which although it remains only soul. At the same time, they are the complement — or rather the too surprising, mystifying, even fulfillment of the Message of at first glance, to be the work of Fatima — takes on the most singular any theologian. Who could have importance. invented such an account from

III. The Great Promise and Its Conditions The most astonishing thing requested, “I promise to assist them about Pontevedra, of course, is the at the hour of death with all the incomparable promise made by graces necessary for the salvation Our Lady: “to all those who, on the of their souls.” With boundless first Saturday of five consecutive generosity, the Blessed Virgin months …” fulfill all the conditions promises here the grace of graces, 8 “It is true, My daughter, that many souls begin, but few persevere to the very end, and those who persevere do it to receive the graces promised. The souls who make the Five First Saturdays with fervor and to make Reparation to the Heart of your Heavenly Mother, please Me more than those who make fif- teen, but are lukewarm and indifferent.” … Jesus speaking to Sister Lucy of Fatima

the most sublime of all graces, that Trinity has for the Blessed Virgin. of final perseverance. This grace For those who understand such cannot be merited even by an entire a thing, it is easy to admit that life of sanctity spent in prayer and such wonderful promises can be sacrifice, for it is always a purely attached to such humble practices. gratuitous gift of the . Such souls accept the promise with And the promise is without any filial love, and a simple heart full exclusion, limitation, or restriction: of confidence in the Blessed Virgin “To all those who …, I promise.” Mary.”10 The disproportion between “the In short, we can therefore say little devotion” requested, and the in all truth that the first fruit of the immense grace attached to it, reveals Communion of Reparation is the to us first of all and especially the salvation of the one practicing it. quasi-infinite power of intercession Let us place no limits on the Divine granted to the Blessed Virgin Mercy, but keep to the letter of the Mary for the salvation of all Blessed Virgin Mary’s promise: souls. “The great promise (Father whoever fulfills all the conditions Alonso writes) is nothing less than set down can be sure of obtaining a new manifestation of this love at the moment of death at least — of complacency which the Holy and this even after miserable lapses 9 back into a state of grave sin — honoring of His , finds the graces necessary to obtain the it very natural to devote Saturdays to pardon of God, and to be preserved His Most Holy Mother. Such is the from eternal chastisement. venerable tradition which motivated As we shall see, however, there the choice of Saturday. is much more in this promise, for But this is not saying enough: if the missionary spirit is everywhere we look closely, the great request present in the of Fatima. of Pontevedra appears as the happy The devotion of Reparation is also culmination of a whole movement recommended to us as a means of of devotion. It began spontaneously, converting sinners in the greatest then it was encouraged and codified danger of being lost, and as a most by , and it seems to be efficacious means of intercession nothing less than the providential for obtaining the peace of the world preparation for what was to come from the Immaculate Heart of later. 11 Mary. The Fifteen Saturdays in honor If Our Lady wished to attach such of Our Lady of the Most Holy abundant fruits to the practice of this Rosary. “For a long time, members “little devotion”, is it not to gain our of the various Rosary attention more surely and move our had the custom of devoting fifteen heart so that we can practice it, and consecutive Saturdays to the Queen get others around us to practice it of the Most Holy Rosary, before wherever we can? For this purpose this feast or some other time of the it is important to be familiar with year. On each of these Saturdays, the conditions laid down, and have they approached the sacraments a precise knowledge of them. and performed pious exercises in Since 1925, Sister Lucy has honor of the fifteen mysteries of the never ceased repeating them, and Rosary.” In 1889, Leo XIII always in the same terms. There are granted to all the Faithful a plenary five conditions, to which is added a indulgence for one of these fifteen sixth, which concerns the general consecutive Saturdays. In 1892, intention in which the other acts “he also granted those who were requested must be done. legitimately impeded on Saturday 1. The First Saturday of five the faculty of performing this pious consecutive months exercise on Sundays, without losing 12 “All those who, on the first the .” Saturday of five consecutive months The Twelve First Saturdays of …” This first requirement of the month. With Saint Pius X, the Heaven contains nothing arbitrary devotion of the first Saturdays of nor even anything absolutely new. the month is officially approved: It fits into the immemorial tradition “All the faithful who, on the first of Catholic piety, which having Saturday or first Sunday of twelve devoted Fridays to the remembrance consecutive months, devote some of the Passion of Jesus Christ and time to vocal or mental prayer 10 “If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace … I will come to ask for … the Com- munion of Reparation on the First Saturdays of the month.”

… Our Lady to Sister Lucy, July 13, 1917

in honor of the Immaculate a plenary indulgence, applicable to Virgin in Her conception gain, the souls in purgatory. Conditions: on each of these days, a plenary confession, Communion, prayers indulgence. Conditions: confession, for the intentions of the Sovereign Communion, and prayers for Pontiff and pious practices in the the intentions of the Sovereign spirit of Reparation in honor of the Pontiff.”13 Immaculate Virgin.”14 Five years The Devotion of Reparation on later, to the day, after this thirteenth the First Saturdays of the month. of June 1912, there took place at Fatima the great manifestation of Finally, on June 13, 1912, Saint the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pius X granted new indulgences “surrounded with thorns which to practices which almost exactly seemed to pierce It”. Sister Lucy foreshadow the requests of was to say later on: “We understood Pontevedra: “To promote the piety that it was the Immaculate Heart of the faithful towards Immaculate of Mary, outraged by the sins Mary, Mother of God, and to make of humanity, which wanted Reparation for the outrages done to Reparation.”15 Her holy Name and Her privileges by On November 13, 1920, impious men, Saint Pius X granted, Pope Benedict XV granted new for the first Saturday of each month, indulgences to this same practice 11 when accomplished on the first more signal grace, the assurance Saturday of eight consecutive of receiving at the moment of months.16 death “all the graces necessary A traditional Devotion … for salvation”. A more wonderful How wonderful it is to see Heaven promise could hardly be conceived, content itself with crowning a great for it concerns success or failure in movement of Catholic piety, doing “the most important business, our nothing more than giving precision only business: the great affair of our to the decisions of a Pope, and what eternal salvation”.17 a Pope, Saint Pius X! In the same 2. Confession way, the Blessed Virgin had come We have seen that it is not required to Lourdes to confirm the infallible that the confession be made on the declarations of Pope Pius IX. first Saturday itself. If due to any Let us also say this right now: necessity, it can be fulfilled even In requesting the Pope to solemnly beyond eight days, but there must approve the devotion of Reparation at least be a monthly confession. revealed at Pontevedra, Our Lady However, it is certain that, as far was not really asking for anything as possible, it is preferable that the impossible. Providence had confession be made on a day close prepared everything so well that to the first Saturday. in 1925-1926, this devotion was The thought of making right in line with a series of papal Reparation to the Immaculate Heart decisions giving the forerunners and of Mary must equally be present. In “pre-figures” of the First Saturday this way, notes Father Alonso, “the devotion. soul adds to the principal motive of Yet a very new devotion … sorrow for our sins — which will However, what new elements there always be that sin is an offense are, in this message of Pontevedra! against God, Who has redeemed And first of all, in the concession us in Christ — another motive for of excessive faculties which only sorrow, which will undoubtedly Heaven can take the liberty of exercise a beneficial influence: granting: on December 10, the sorrow for the offense given to the Virgin Mary no longer requires Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of fifteen, twelve, or even eight the Virgin Mary.”18 Saturdays to be devoted to Her. She 3. The Communion of knows our inconstancy, and asks for Reparation on the First only five Saturdays — as many as the decades on our Rosary. Saturdays The Communion of Reparation, Then, above all, the promise of course, is the most important joined with it has increased so act of the devotion of Reparation. dramatically: no longer is it a All the other acts center around question of indulgences (that is, it. To understand its meaning and the remission of punishment for significance, it must be considered sins already pardoned), but a much in relation with the miraculous 12 Communion of autumn 1916; After so many concessions, who already this Communion was could still claim that he was unable completely oriented to the idea of to fulfill the requests of the Virgin Reparation,19 thanks to the words Mary? of the Angel. The Communion of 4. Recitation of the Rosary Reparation must also be considered In each of the six apparitions of in relation to the Communion on 1917, Our Lady requested people the nine First Fridays of the month, to recite the Rosary every day. requested by the Sacred Heart at Since it is a question of repairing Paray-le-Monial. for offenses committed against the Someone might object: to receive Immaculate Heart of Mary, what Communion on the first Saturday of other vocal prayer could be more five consecutive months is almost pleasing to Her?22 impossible for many of the faithful, who have no in their parish 5. The fifteen-minute on that day … Such is the question Meditation on the Fifteen Father Gonçalves, Lucy’s confessor, Mysteries of the Rosary put to her in a letter of May 29, 1930: In addition to the recitation of “If one cannot fulfill all the the Rosary, Our Lady requests conditions on a Saturday, can it fifteen minutes of meditation on be done on Sunday? People in the the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. country, for example, will not be This does not mean, of course, that able very often, because they live a quarter of an hour is required for quite far away ...”20 each mystery! Just one quarter of Our Lord gave the answer to an hour is required for all! Neither Sister Lucy during the night of May is it indispensable to meditate each 29-30, 1930: “The practice of this month on the fifteen mysteries. devotion will be equally acceptable Lucy writes to Father Gonçalves: on the Sunday following the first “To keep Our Lady company for Saturday when My , for a fifteen minutes, while meditating just cause, allow it to souls.”21 on the mysteries of the Rosary.” Thus not only the Communion, but To her mother, Maria Rosa, Lucy also the recitation of the Rosary wrote essentially the same thing on and meditation on the mysteries July 24, 1927, suggesting only a can be transferred to Sunday, for meditation on some of the mysteries, just motives of which priests are left to free choice: left the judges. It is easy to ask for “Mother, I would also like this permission in confession. Note you to give me the consolation once again the Catholic, ecclesial of adopting a devotion which character of the Message of Fatima. I know to be very agreeable to It is to His priests, and not to the God, and which our dear Mother individual conscience, that Jesus in Heaven has requested. As gives the responsibility of granting soon as I learned of it, I desired this additional concession. to adopt it, and see the whole 13 world practice it. must be accomplished “in the “I therefore, mother, spirit of Reparation”, towards that you will answer me by the Immaculate Heart of Mary: saying that you will practice “console in this way our Mother it, and also try to get everyone in Heaven...”, she wrote. else over there to practice it. 6. The intention of making You could not give me a greater Reparation: “You, at least, try consolation. to console Me”. “It consists simply in doing Without this general intention, what is written on this little without this will of love which image. The confession can be desires to make Reparation to Our done another day, other than Lady to console Her, all these Saturday. The fifteen minutes external practices are by themselves (of meditation) might, I think, not enough to obtain the magnificent give you some trouble, but it promise. This is clear. is quite easy. Who would have The practice of the Communion difficulty thinking about the of Reparation must be attentive and mysteries of the Rosary? To fervent. Our Lord explained this think about the to Sister Lucy in His apparition of of the Angel to Mary and the February 15, 1926: “It is true, My humility of our dear Mother, daughter, that many souls begin (the who seeing Herself so exalted, practice of the fifteen Saturdays), but calls Herself the Handmaid few persevere to the end, and those of the Lord; at the Passion of who persevere do it to receive the Jesus, Who suffered so much graces promised for it. Souls that for our love; and of our Most make the Five First Saturdays with Holy Mother near to Jesus fervor and to make Reparation to on Calvary? Who could not the Heart of your Mother in Heaven spend fifteen minutes in these please Me more than the tepid and holy thoughts, before the most indifferent who make the fifteen...”24 tender of mothers? Our Lady asks so little, but precisely “Goodbye, dear mother. so that we might apply ourselves to Console in this way our Mother it from the heart. This does not mean in Heaven, and try to get many that it will always be with much others to console Her in the sensible fervor, according to the same manner. In this way great maxim of spirituality: “To will you will give myself also an to love is to love.” unimaginable joy … The brief words of the Child “Your most devoted daughter, 23 Jesus and Our Lady on December who kisses your hand.” 10, 1925 say it all. They suffice to In this beautiful letter, make us understand the true spirit of Sister Lucy insists on the sixth this devotion of Reparation: condition, which is the principal “Look, My daughter, at My one: each of these devotions 14 Our Lady at Fatima on October 13, 1917 held out Her of , solemnly reminding us of Her promise: “It shall be a sign of salva- tion, a protection in danger, and a pledge of peace. Whosoever dies wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire.”(See the booklet Our Lady’s Garment, The Brown Scapular: A Sign of Salvation and Protection, pages 7-8.) 15 Heart surrounded by thorns, of consoling the Blessed Virgin by with which ungrateful men having compassion on Her Heart pierce Me at every moment pierced by the sufferings of Her Son. by their blasphemies and To be sure, the Message of Fatima ingratitude … without there presupposes this aspect of Catholic being anyone to make an piety, which is already traditional. act of Reparation to remove On October 13, 1917, Our Lady them … You, at least, try to of the Seven Sorrows appeared in console Me.” the sky to the three shepherds.27 This image, which is so However, the most precise meaning expressive, says it all: the of the reparatory devotion requested blasphemies and ingratitude of at Pontevedra consists not so much sinners are like so many cruel thorns, in meditation on the sorrowful which only we can remove by our mysteries of the Rosary as in acts of love and Reparation. For considering the offenses which the love, or “compassion”, is the soul Immaculate Heart of Mary now of all these practices. It is a question receives from ungrateful men of consoling the Immaculate Heart and blasphemers who reject Her of “the tenderest of mothers”, which maternal mediation and scorn Her is so outraged. divine* prerogatives. All these are Lucy had understood this so many thorns which must be taken perfectly at that very moment. from Her Heart by loving practices The end of her letter to Monsignor of Reparation to console Her, and Pereira Lopes, where she describes also to obtain pardon for the souls the apparition of the Child Jesus who have had the audacity to offend on February 15, 1926, is eloquent Her so gravely. witness to this fact: Nothing could better help us “Immediately after, He understand the true spirit of the disappeared without my Reparation requested by Our Lady learning anything more of the of Fatima than the account of an desires of Heaven until now. important revelation Sister Lucy “And as for my own desires, was favored with on May 29, 1930. [she continues] may a flame *EDITOR’S NOTE: The Blessed Virgin of divine love be lighted in Mary, although She is a mere creature, souls so that, being sustained because God has made Her truly in this love, they might really the Mother of God and the Queen of console the Sacred Heart of Heaven, She can rightly be said to have Mary. I have at least the desire divine prerogatives. to console a great deal my dear Mother in Heaven, in suffering much for Her love.”25 The originality of this message must be stressed.26 For here there is no question, at least essentially, 16 IV. The Spirit of the Devotion of Reparation: The Revelation of May 29, 1930

Sister Lucy at the time was at the same time to recognize at Tuy. Her confessor, Father Her as the Mother of men. Gonçalves, had given her a series 4. The blasphemies of those of questions in writing. Here, let who publicly seek to sow in us recall only the fourth one: “Why the hearts of children five Saturdays, [he asked] and indifference or scorn, or not nine, or seven, in honor of the even hatred of this sorrows of Our Lady?”28 That same Immaculate Mother. evening, the seer implored Our 5. The offenses of those who Lord to inspire her with an answer outrage Her directly in Her to these questions. A few days later, holy images. she passed the following to her confessor.29 “Here, My daughter, is the “When I was in the chapel reason why the Immaculate Heart of Mary inspired Me to ask for this with Our Lord part of the night 30 of May 29-30, 1930 [we know little act of Reparation ...” that it was her habit to make a The thorns of the Immaculate from eleven in the Heart of Mary evening to midnight, especially Here let us follow Father Alonso, on Thursday evenings, for in his study on the message of according to the requests of Pontevedra, he makes a long and the Sacred Heart at Paray-le- useful commentary on the five Monial], and I spoke to Our offenses against the Immaculate Lord about questions four and Heart of Mary enumerated by Our five, I suddenly felt myself Lord. more intimately possessed by The blasphemies of heretics, the Divine Presence and, if I 29a schismatics and impious men am not mistaken, this is what Blinded by a deceitful was revealed to me: ecumenism, we have had a tendency “My daughter, the reason since 1962 to forget that there is is simple. There are five types an obvious truth recalled here by of offenses and blasphemies the Message of Fatima: those who committed against the Immaculate obstinately and with full knowledge Heart of Mary: openly deny the prerogatives of the 1. Blasphemies against the Blessed Virgin Mary, commit the . most odious blasphemies in Her 2. Blasphemies against Her regard. Perpetual Virginity. First : against the 3. Blasphemies against Her Immaculate Conception. Father Divine Maternity, in refusing Alonso asks: Who are those who 17 Sister Lucy of Fatima describes the Vision of Hell as follows: “We saw as it were a vast sea of fire, in which were plunged, all blackened and burnt, demons and souls in human form like transparent embers. Raised into the air by the flames they fell back in all directions, like sparks in a huge fire, without weight or poise, amidst loud cries and horrible groans of pain and despair which caused us to shudder and tremble with fear. The demons were distinguished by the horrible and repellent forms of terrible unknown animals, like embers of fire, black yet transparent. This scene lasted an instant, and we must thank Our Heavenly Mother who had prepared us beforehand by promising to take us to Heaven with Her; otherwise I believe that we should have died of fear and terror.” Our Lady said: “You have seen Hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart.” See also page 24. 18 might commit this offense against and furious struggle against the the Immaculate Heart of Mary? The Immaculate Virgin, against the answer leaves no doubt: “In the first promotion of devotion to Her, place and in general the Protestant against Her reign in hearts and sects who refuse to receive the over all societies. Following in dogma defined by Pope Pius IX and the footsteps of Protestantism, who have continued to maintain that coming after Jansenism and its the Blessed Virgin was conceived cold disdain for true devotion to the with the stain of original sin and Most Holy Virgin, the rationalism even personal sins. The same can of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth be said of some [dissident] Eastern Centuries, as well as the modernism , since in spite of their of the Twentieth, continue to attack great Marian devotion they too Marian doctrine and devotion, and refuse this dogma.”31 just as scornfully and perfidiously. The second blasphemy: Finally, it is common knowledge Although the Orthodox admit it, the how Bolshevik communism majority of Protestants also reject attempted in every possible way to the perfect and perpetual virginity destroy the profound veneration for of Mary “before, during and after the Mother of God, anchored in the giving birth”. soul of the Russian people. The holy The third blasphemy: Although icons had to disappear, being either most non-Catholic Christians destroyed or hidden … and they still theoretically accept the Divine await a happier day. Maternity of Mary defined at the The blasphemies of rebellious Council of Ephesus, they refuse to and ungrateful children. But there recognize Her as the Mother of men is something graver, more serious by in the Catholic sense, which implies far than all the offenses of heretics, Her co-redemption and Her role as schismatics, apostates and ungodly of grace. men. It is the blasphemies of the The fourth blasphemy concerns Church’s own children against the the perversion of children by Immaculate Heart of Mary. With enemies of Our Lady whereby they the passing of time, the message strive to inculcate indifference, of Pontevedra seems astonishingly scorn or even hatred for the prophetic. Immaculate Virgin, and the fifth Father Richard, leader of the one, by which they outrage Her in Blue Army in France, and who Her holy images. These last two sins could hardly be suspected of an are only the logical consequence of abusive pessimism, remarks on this the first three, and often go together subject: “Who could have imagined with them. Iconoclasm, or at least fifty years ago that these five great the obstinate rejection of Catholic offenses against Mary would spread theology on the holy images, is a within the clergy of the Catholic long way from having disappeared. Church herself, and that a great In short, for three and a half number of baptized and catechized centuries the counter-Church children in our parishes would not has been waging an unceasing even know any longer how to say 19 the ‘Hail Mary’.”32 Father Alonso must be kept in mind. was forced to make similar remarks. The Devotion of Reparation: This situation has become so A secret of mercy for sinners prevalent today that all commentary After enumerating the five is superfluous. There are certain blasphemies which gravely offend theologians, certain priests, certain His Most Holy Mother, Our Lord bishops who are guilty of the five gave Sister Lucy the decisive blasphemies. There are not just a explanation which allows us to few exceptional cases, but hundreds penetrate into the secret of Her and perhaps even thousands. It is Immaculate Heart, which overflows not enough to make an observation with mercy for all sinners, even of this fact. We must discover the those who scorn and outrage Her: causes of it and explain how we “See, My daughter, arrived at this point. Father Alonso the motive for which the at least described the event with Immaculate Heart of Mary exactitude: The great “Marian inspired Me to ask for this era” inaugurated in 1854 by the little Reparation, and in definition of the dogma of the consideration of it, to move Immaculate Conception, he dares My mercy to pardon souls to write, closed with the Second who have had the misfortune 33 Vatican Council. But how did this of offending Her. As for you, come about? And why this alarming always seek by your prayers decline in Marian devotion, which and sacrifices to move My was still in full bloom at the death mercy to pity for these poor of Pope Pius XII? This is what we souls.”34 will have to examine later on, in the “The sin against the Holy context of the Third Secret.* Spirit.” Here we have one of the However, let us remark right now principal themes of the Message that the first element in the Message of Fatima: since God has decided of Fatima is — precise, to manifest more and more His dogmatic faith. True devotion to great design of love, which is to the Blessed Virgin always and grant all graces to men through necessarily presupposes faith in the mediation of the Immaculate Her privileges and prerogatives Virgin, it seems that their refusal infallibly defined by the Pope, or to submit with docility to what taught by the God wills is the fault which most and unanimously believed for gravely wounds His Heart, and for centuries by the faithful. It is also which He no longer finds in Himself true that the gravest sins against the any inclination to pardon. This sin Most Holy Virgin are first of all sins seems unforgivable, because for against faith. This important lesson Our Savior there is no crime more *EDITOR’S NOTE: See Frère Michel’s book unpardonable than to despise His The Third Secret, Vol. III of The Whole Truth Most Holy Mother, and “to outrage About Fatima, or the booklet The Third Secret Revealed available from The Fatima Her Immaculate Heart, which is Crusader. (See addresses on page 31.) the Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit. 20 This is committing ‘the blasphemy who have had the audacity to offend against the Holy Spirit, which will Her — She, His Most Holy Mother! not be forgiven in this world or in And as always, Our Lord grants the next’.”35 Her desire. In this way He makes In 1929, in the apparition of the devotion of Reparation a sure Tuy which is the final fulfillment and efficacious means of converting of Fatima, Our Lady will conclude souls, many souls, among those the extraordinary manifestation of who are in the greatest danger of the Holy Trinity with these striking being eternally lost. We must quote words: “So many are the souls here a significant text in which “the which the justice of God condemns great promise” itself is a secondary for sins committed against Me consideration, effacing itself before that I come to ask for Reparation. the primary intention of the Heart Sacrifice yourself for this intention of Mary, which is the salvation of and pray.” These words are so all sinners. In May of 1930, Sister strong that several translators Lucy wrote to Father Gonçalves: took the liberty of diluting their “It seems to me that the meaning.36 good Lord, in the depths of “A little act of Reparation” to my heart, insists that I ask the save the greatest sinners. Yes, Our Holy Father to approve the Lady affirms sadly, many souls are devotion of Reparation, which lost because of their scorn, their God Himself and the Most blasphemies against Her … Thus, Holy Virgin deigned to request giving us the example of loving our in 1925. In consideration of enemies, She Herself intervenes, this little devotion, They wish because She alone can still save these to give the grace of pardon monsters of pride and ingratitude to souls who have had the who have revolted against Her. As misfortune of offending the “Mother of Mercy and Mother of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pardon”, as we sing in the Salve and the Most Holy Virgin Mater, She intercedes for us before promises to souls who will Her Son: may the filial devotion of seek to make Reparation to faithful souls, and the Communions Her in this manner, to assist of Reparation offered on the Five them in the hour of death with First Saturdays to console Her all the graces necessary for outraged Heart, be accepted by their salvation.”37 Him in Reparation for the crimes Reparation necessary. To save of sinners. Our Lady prays that He souls, all souls, “especially those deign to accept this “little devotion”, who are most in need”, to snatch and take into account this “little act them all from the fire of hell which of Reparation” to Her Immaculate threatens them, is then, in the final Heart, and deign to grant pardon in analysis, the principal intention of spite of everything, to the ingrates the practice of the first Saturdays of and blasphemers, all the poor souls the month, just as it was already the

21 same intention Our Lady indicated at Pontevedra, in 1925: “You, at on August 19, 1917, urgently least, try to console Me.” Now the inviting the three shepherds to most perfect sacrifice, the most pray and make sacrifices: “Pray, efficacious prayer, is of course the pray much and make sacrifices for Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and Holy sinners, for many souls go to hell Communion offered to God in the because they have nobody to pray spirit of Reparation.38 and make sacrificesfor them.” All this helps us understand the The Blessed Virgin Mary pressing insistence of Our Lady, Her has been constituted universal ardent desire that this devotion of Mediatrix and Mother of Divine Reparation be practiced everywhere Grace. Nevertheless, by a design as frequently as possible. This of Providence which wills us to be devotion is the dearest to Her, joined to Her, She cannot act alone. because it is the most perfect and She needs us, our consoling love and therefore the most efficacious for our “little devotions” of Reparation, the salvation of souls. Because to save souls from hell. Exalted She desires our co-operation at and awesome is the mystery of the any price, She has joined the most communion of saints, which makes wonderful promises to it … the salvation of many souls really “War and peace depend on it.” dependent on our own generosity! In fact, in addition to the conversion And what a motive for generosity on of sinners and our own eternal our part! For how could we refuse salvation, Our Lady has willed this missionary action which Our that the Communion of Reparation Lady awaits of us, which She has be linked to another magnificent made so easy to fulfill — remember promise: the gift of peace. On that with the permission of a , March 19, 1939, Sister Lucy wrote: all the exercises requested can be “Whether the world has transferred to Sunday — when these war or peace depends on the same exercises are so efficacious, so practice of this devotion, fruitful? For through this devotion along with the many souls in imminent danger of to the Immaculate Heart of being eternally lost can obtain, at Mary. This is why I desire the last moment and as it were in its propagation so ardently, spite of themselves, the grace of especially because this is also their conversion. the will of our dear Mother in To console the Immaculate Heart Heaven.”39 of Mary pierced with thorns, to And on June 20 of the same year, make Reparation by prayer and she wrote: sacrifice for the outrages It receives “Our Lady promised to put from sinners, such in the end is the off the scourge of war, if this most precise requirement of this devotion was propagated and first part of the Secret, which Our practiced. We see that She Lady came to recall and clarify will obtain remission of this

22 chastisement to the extent that This is the second part of Her great efforts are made to propagate Secret. this devotion; but I fear that we The capital secret: The can do more than we are doing Immaculate Heart of Mary, and that God, being displeased, Salvation of Souls. However, let us will pull back the arm of His make it clear at the very beginning mercy and let the world be that this “second secret” is closely ravaged by this chastisement dependent on the first one, which which will be unlike any other has a primordial importance. For in the past, horrible, horrible.”40 as we shall discover in the second Two months later, war had been part of our study, the great divine declared. Still nothing had been policy revealed by the Queen of done to correspond to the requests Heaven at the , with its of Heaven. attractive promises of universal and From the First enduring peace and also its threats to the Second Secret of fearsome chastisements — this This prophetic announcement whole divine policy is only an brings us straight into a tragedy. instrument used by Divine Mercy It is the great tragedy at once both to obtain the salvation of souls, the religious and political, which in greatest possible number of souls. twenty years led our Christian In the final analysis, it is to the Europe into an atrocious war, the first part of the Secret that we must “… I want My whole Church to acknowledge that Consecration as a triumph of the Immacu- late Heart of Mary, so that later on, the Church will promote this devotion and place devotion to this Im- maculate Heart beside devotion to My Sacred Heart.” … Jesus to Sister Lucy deadliest in all history, and then always return, for it is undoubtedly into another one even bloodier and the principal and most important one still more horrible in its deadly in the eyes of God. To save souls, consequences. Soon it was to all souls, from the only real evil deliver nations and almost entire because it is the only eternal one — continents into the slavery of Soviet to snatch them at any cost from the barbarism. We shall now explain fire of hell — such is also the first how Our Lady foretold this terrible concern of the Immaculate Heart of tragedy, explaining its major phases Mary. At Fatima, She revealed this and secret causes, on July 13, 1917. Immaculate Heart as a refuge and 23 ultimate recourse of sinners, even the most hateful and miserable, because She is the Mediatrix of Mercy, and Gate of Heaven. This is the first part of Her great Secret, because it is also the first secret of Her Heart: Sister Lucy described the First Secret (the Vision of Hell) in her Memoirs (see page 18) and then continued to say: “Frightened, and as if to ask for help, we lifted our eyes up to Our Lady, who said to us with kindness and sadness: ‘You have seen hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion The built on the spot where to My Immaculate Heart ... Sister Lucy met with the Child Jesus ‘If what I say to you is done, in the courtyard. many souls will be saved and there will be peace ... snatch them away from the fire of ‘I shall come to ask for the Hell and open up Heaven to them. Communion of Reparation on the See also Sister Lucy’s writings, on page 26. first Saturdays of the month.’” Footnotes: Little Jacinta had understood 1. The message of Pontevedra for quite a long time remained almost completely unknown, perfectly this great warning of Our or was relegated to a position of secondary Lady for the salvation of souls. Her importance. The thick book by Canon Barthas, Fatima 1917-1968, which appeared in 1969, soul was completely penetrated by devoted barely two pages to it! (pages 211-212.) It was necessary to wait until 1973 to finally find it, as this charming episode shows. all the important documents in Father Alonso’s “Sometimes, [Sister Lucy recalls] excellent study, Fatima and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, pages 37-48. But nothing can she would gather flowers from the replace the more complete little work which field and sing to a melody which she the same author published in 1974: The Great Promise of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in herself had invented, at the same Pontevedra. A little pamphlet gives important excerpts from this work in French: Le message time: de Fatima a Pontevedra (translation by Father ‘Sweet Heart of Mary, Simonini). Finally, to consult all the sources, we must go back to the Portuguese works, be my salvation! Documentos and Uma Vida. Immaculate Heart of Mary 2. The text that we quote from is a second or third version identical to the first one, which has convert sinners, not been preserved. It was written by Sister 41 Lucy at the end of 1927, at the request of her save souls from hell!’” spiritual director, Father Aparicio, S.J. “Out In effect, these words sum up the of humility”, the latter explains, “Sister Lucy showed some reluctance to writing in the first whole essence of the “first secret”: person, to which I responded that she could It is through the Immaculate Heart write in the third person, which she did.” Letter to Father da Fonseca, January 10, 1938, quoted by of Mary that the Holy Trinity wishes Father Alonso, Ephimerides Mariologicæ, 1973, today to save our souls, all souls, to page 25. 24 3. Documentos, page 401. 25. Uma Vida, pages 351-353. 4. Letter of 1927 in which Lucy subsequently 26. Which distinguishes it very clearly, for explains to Father Aparicio how this precious example, from the message of Berthe Petit, which manuscript was burned by her in 1927 Mother Montfalim, the Dorothean Provincial (Ephimerides Mariologicæ, 1973, pages 23-24). Superior, was helping to spread in at 5. This letter, however, constitutes an extremely that time. See Father Duffner, Berthe Petit et la important document. See The Whole Truth About dévotion au Coeur Douloureux et Immaculé de Fatima, Volume II, Appendix II, pages 815-817. Marie, page 147: Mother Montfalim had known 6. This document, which continued to be in the Berthe Petit in Switzerland, during the World War. possession of its addressee, remained totally (Fourth Edition, Camaldolese , La unknown until 1973, the date it was published by Seyne-sur-Mer, Var.) Father Martins dos Reis in Uma Vida, pages 337- 27. See The Whole Truth About Fatima, Volume 357. Cf. Documentos, pages 477-481. I, page 303. 7. Had Don Garcia asked Lucy not to speak to 28. Documentos, page 407; Fatima et le Coeur him about this apparition any more? It is possible. Immaculé de Marie, page 45. In this case we can understand why she no longer 29. On this letter, which has no date, Father dares even to confide to him her interior torment Gonçalves had marked: June 12, 1930. on this subject. Documentos, pages 409-410; cf. Fatima et le 8. Cf. Letter to Father Gonçalves, June 12, 1930, Coeur Immaculé de Marie, pages 46-47. Documentos, page 409. 29a. As in the writings of Saint Margaret Mary, it 9. Uma Vida, pages 337-351. Later on (pages would be an error to see the expression of a real 263-264) we will quote from the end of this letter, uncertainty or doubt in this restrictive formula. where Lucy explains the state of her soul to her It is simply a formula of humility and obedience spiritual director. through which the seer defers in advance to her 10. Alonso, La Gran Promesa del Corazon de director’s judgement. Maria en Pontevedra, page 45. 30. See The Whole Truth About Fatima, Volume 11. The great promise of the Immaculate Heart II, Appendix III. Also see page 26 of this booklet. of Mary at Pontevedra does not fail to remind us, 31. La Gran Promesa del Corazon de Maria en in a striking fashion, of the great promise of the Pontevedra, pages 56-57. Sacred Heart to Saint Margaret Mary. But since 32. L’Homme nouveaux, March 2, 1980, page 20. this analogy is not the only one, we prefer to 33. La Gran Promesa del Corazon de Maria en include in it the examination of a more complete Pontevedra, page 56. parallel between the two messages of Paray-le- 34. Documentos, page 409. Monial and Fatima. In effect, the revelation of the 35. Sister Lucy herself suggests this comparison Sacred Heart of Jesus and that of the Immaculate with Mt. 12, 31-32 in her conversation with Father Heart of Mary mutually clarify and shed light on Fuentes. See Volume III, page 503. each other. We shall be able to explain this more 36. Dom Jean-Nesmy, for example, gives this clearly when we shall have progressed further in inexact translation: “So many are the sins which the explanation of the Message of Fatima. the justice of God condemns for being sins 12. Father F. Beringer, Les indulgences, leur committed against Me...” (Lucie raconte, page nature et leur usage, Volume I, Number 767, 208; La Verité de Fatima, page 221; cf. also Fourth edition, Lethielleux, 1925. Father Alonso’s translation which appeared in 13. July 1, 1905, ibid., Number 760. Fatima et le Coeur Immaculé de Marie, page 14. Ibid., Number 762. 42). No! the original text indeed says: “Sâo 15. See The Whole Truth About Fatima, Volume I, tantas as almas (souls) que a Justiça de Deus pages 159, 163-164. condena par pecados contra Mim cometidos...” 16. Beringer, op. cit., Number 762. The Pope Documentos, page 465. Thus, without any doubt granted, in addition to the plenary indulgence, the Our Lady refers to the numerous souls who are right to the apostolic blessing with the indulgence damned, not the sins which God reproves. at the point of death. 37. Letter received on May 29, 1930. 17. See Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, Preparation Documentos, page 405; see Fatima et le Coeur for Death, Twelfth Consideration, “The Immaculé de Marie, page 44. Importance of Salvation”. 38. See The Whole Truth About Fatima, Volume 18. La Gran Promesa del Corazon de Maria en I, pages 86-89. Pontevedra, page 75; cf. infra. Part II, Chapter 39. Letter to Father Aparicio, Documentos, page VII, note 21, note 4. 483. 19. See The Whole Truth About Fatima, Volume 40. Letter of June 20, 1939, to Father Aparicio, I, pages 86-87. Documentos, page 485. 20. Documentos, page 407; see Fatima et le 41. See The Whole Truth About Fatima, Volume Coeur Immaculé de Marie, page 46. II. In later chapters we relate how Lucy was to 21. Sister Lucy’s reply, received by Father strive indefatigably to make known the reparatory Gonçalves on June 12, 1930. Documentos, page devotion and get it approved by her bishop and 411; see Fatima et le Coeur Immaculé de Marie, by the Pope, according to Heaven’s desires. page 47. (infra, passim.) 22. See The Whole Truth About Fatima, Volume I, pages 296-298. 23. Documentos, page 403. For this meditation one may follow Sister Lucy’s advice. See The Whole Truth About Fatima, Volume II, Appendix III. Also see page 26 of this booklet. 24. Documentos, pages 479-481. 25 APPENDIX I: Sister Lucy explains the Reparatory Devotion of the First Saturdays*

Sister Lucy took this “lovable confession for this intention, devotion” so much to heart that provided that on the first Saturday she constantly returns to it in her one receives Holy Communion in correspondence. Unquestionably the state of grace, with the intention there is nothing more capable of repairing for offenses against the of touching our hearts than this Most Holy Virgin, and which afflict insistence of Our Lady’s messenger. Her Immaculate Heart.2 Here are some of these beautiful “It seems to me, my dear texts: godmother, that we are fortunate to “I never feel so happy as when be able to give Our Dear Heavenly First Saturday arrives …” Mother this proof of love, for we On November 1, 1927, she writes know that She desires it to be offered to her sponsor for confirmation, to Her. As for myself, I avow that Dona Maria Filomena Morais de I am never so happy as when first Miranda: Saturday arrives. Isn’t it true that “(…) I don’t know if you our greatest happiness is to belong already know about the reparatory entirely to Jesus and Mary and to devotion of the five Saturdays to love Them, and Them alone, without the Immaculate Heart of Mary. reserve? We see this so clearly in As it is still recent, I would like to the lives of the saints … They were inspire you to practice it, because it happy because they loved, and we, is requested by Our Dear Heavenly my dear godmother, we must seek Mother and Jesus has manifested to love as they did, not only to enjoy a desire that it be practiced. Also, Jesus, which is the least important it seems to me that you would be — because if we do not enjoy Him fortunate, dear godmother, not only here below, we will enjoy Him up to know it and to give Jesus the above — but to give Jesus and Mary consolation of practicing it, but also the consolation of being loved … to make it known and embraced and that in exchange for this love by many other persons. They might be able to save many “It consists in this: During five souls. Adieu, my dear godmother, I months on the first Saturday, to embrace you in the holy Hearts of receive Jesus in Communion, recite Jesus and Mary.”3 a Rosary, keep Our Lady company On November 4, 1928, after for fifteen minutes while meditating several attempts to obtain an official on the mysteries of the Rosary,1 and approval from Bishop da Silva, she make a confession. This confession writes to Father Aparicio: can be made a few days earlier, *EDITOR’S NOTE: This booklet is taken from and if in this previous confession Frère Michel’s book The Whole Truth About you have forgotten the (required) Fatima, Volume II. Sections I, II, III, and IV of this intention one can offer the following booklet are taken from Chapter 6 (pages 245- 275). Appendix I is taken from pages 817-821. 26 “I hope therefore that Our Good In this devotion which is so simple Lord will inspire His Excellency and so easy, Sister Lucy writes to with a favorable response, and that her mother, “it seems to me that the among so many thorns I may pick this fifteen minutes of meditation are flower, seeing the maternal Heart of what might give you some difficulty. the Most Holy Virgin honored also But it is quite easy.” We have said on this earth. This is my desire now that it is a question only “of keeping because it is also the will of Our Our Lady company for fifteen Good Lord. The greatest joy that I minutes”; and it is not at all necessary experience is to see the Immaculate to meditate on all fifteen mysteries Heart of our most tender Mother of the Rosary, but one or two can be known, loved and consoled by chosen. In a letter quoted by Father means of this devotion.”4 Martins, Sister Lucy writes: On March 31, 1929, Sister Lucy “Here is my way of making the writes to Father Aparicio on the meditations on the mysteries of the subject of Canon Formigao and Rosary on the first Saturdays: First Father Rodriguez, who desire to mystery, the Annunciation of the preach the reparatory devotion: Angel Gabriel to Our Lady. First “I hope that Jesus will make them prelude: to imagine myself seeing — according to the desire I have of and hearing the Angel greet Our spreading this lovable devotion — Lady with these words: ‘Hail Mary, two ardent apostles of the reparatory full of grace.’ devotion to the Immaculate Heart “Second prelude: I ask Our Lady of Mary. Your Reverence cannot to infuse into my soul a profound imagine how great is my joy in sentiment of humility. thinking of the consolation which “1st point: I will meditate on the the Holy Hearts of Jesus (and manner in which Heaven proclaims Mary) will receive through this that the Most Holy Virgin is full of lovable devotion, and the great grace, blessed among all women number of souls who will be saved and destined to become the Mother through this lovable devotion. I of God. say, ‘who will be saved’, because “2nd point: The humility of not long ago, Our Good Lord in Our Lady, recognizing Herself His infinite mercy asked me to and declaring Herself to be the seek to make Reparation through handmaid of the Lord. my prayers and sacrifices, and “3rd point: How I must imitate preferably to perform Reparation Our Lady, in Her humility, what are to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the faults of pride and arrogance and implore pardon and mercy through which I most often displease in favor of souls who blaspheme the Lord, and the means I must against Her, because the Divine employ to avoid them, etc. Mercy does not pardon these souls “On the second month, I make without reparation.”5 the meditation on the second joyful “Here is my way of mystery. The third month, I make it making the meditations” on the third joyful mystery and so on, following the same method of 27 meditating. When I have finished Footnotes to Appendix I: 1. Let us recall that according to the Blessed the Five First Saturdays, I begin Virgin’s exact request, this quarter of an hour of meditation must be performed outside of five others and meditate on the the time when the Rosary is recited. Bishop sorrowful mysteries, then the da Silva’s interpretation, according to which it suffices to meditate during recitation of the glorious ones, and when I have Rosary, is a regrettable dilution of Our Lady’s finished them I start over again true requirements (see The Whole Truth About 6 Fatima, Vol. II, pages 719-721). with the joyful ones.” 2. It is clear, according to this letter, that there is no need to express this intention to the confessor, Sister Lucy thus reveals to us but only to offer God this monthly confession, in that far from contenting herself the spirit of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Let us also make it clear that the Mass with the Five First Saturdays, every of Saturday evening, even if it is an “anticipated month she practices “the lovable Sunday Mass”, can be counted as Mass of the first Saturday of the month. reparatory devotion” indicated by 3. Quoted by Alonso, (Ephemerides Mariologicæ, 1973, pages 41-42) and recently, by Father Our Lady. Since it is a question of Martins (Novus Documentos, pages 118-119; “consoling Our Heavenly Mother” and Fatima e o Coraçao de Maria, pages 22-23). 4. Ephemerides Mariologicæ, 1973, page 54. Cf., and interceding so efficaciously in the same sense, the letter of December 20, for the salvation of souls, why not 1928 (op. cit., page 55); cf. Fatima e o Coraçao de Maria, pages 25-27. follow her example and renew this 5. Ephemerides Mariologicæ, 1973, page 57. Fatima e o Coraçao de Maria, pages 27-28. pious practice often? We could then 6. Cartas, pages 19-20. Unfortunately, Father ask this good Mother, with the firm Martins does not indicate the date of this letter. 7. Although this promise does not explicitly figure hope of being heard, to vouchsafe in the seer’s writings, many texts guarantee for to grant particular assistance at the us that it is indeed in the spirit of Our Lady. Sister Lucy writes, for example, on May 27, 1943, on hour of death, “with all the graces the subject of devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: “The holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary necessary for salvation”, for such love and desire this devotion, because They use or such a soul whom we confide it to draw souls to Them, and herein lie all Their 7 desires: To save souls, many souls, all souls, to Her, as She has promised to us salvar almas, muitas almas, todas as almas.” in return for this “little devotion” (Fatima e o Coraçao de Maria, pages 62-63; cf. The Whole Truth About Fatima, Volume III, page accomplished through love and a 150.) spirit of Reparation.

Glory Be Glory Be and Fatima 10 Hail Marys and Fatima Decade Decade Prayer Prayer

10 Hail 4th Mystery 3rd Mystery Marys 10 Hail and Our Father and Our Father Marys

Hail Holy Queen 2nd Mystery 5th Mystery and Our Father and Our Father 1st Mystery Glory Be and Our Father and Fatima Decade Glory Be Prayer and Fatima Decade Prayer 10 Hail Marys 10 Hail Marys Glory Be Glory Be and and Fatima Fatima Decade Prayer Decade Prayer 3 Hail Marys How to 1 Our Father Pray and the Rosary Apostles Creed 28 APPENDIX II: What is Fatima?

Fatima is Heaven’s intervention message is an anguished appeal of to save us from persecution, war, Our Heavenly Mother, Who sees us in annihilation, enslavement and hell. great danger and Who comes to offer Fatima is a visit by Our Heavenly Her help and advice. Her message Mother Mary in our time for our time. is also a , a clear indication It is a Message of concern, a practical of what was about to transpire in the plan for world peace, a promise of 20th Century, and what is still going Heaven. to happen infallibly in the near future, It is Heaven’s interventions to save depending on our response to Her us from persecution, martyrdom, war, requests. enslavement or annihilation. Above all it’s a way to save our souls from hell. It The Church approves Fatima is meant for you. The has endorsed Today Our Lady, by Divine the Fatima Message since 1930. Providence, invites you to learn The Seven successive have publicly Whole Truth About Fatima by giving indicated their approval of the you this opportunity to know Her apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima beautiful Message of Fatima. and Her message. Two Popes went to The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother Fatima on pilgrimage. Pope John Paul of God, appeared 6 times to 3 shepherd II went there twice, once on May 13, children — Lucy, Francisco and Jacinta 1982 and again on May 13, 1991. — between May 13 and October 13, God Himself endorses Fatima 1917. She came to the little village of As a great sign of this whole message Fatima which had remained faithful to truly coming from God, a marvelous the Catholic Church during the recent was worked in the sky above persecutions by the government. Fatima before 70,000 witnesses on Our Lady’s Message October 13, 1917, at the time, date She came with a message from God and place that Lucy and the other two to every man, woman and child of our children had prophesied in the name of time. Our Lady of Fatima promised Our Lady of Fatima. that the whole world would be in As also prophesied, Francisco and peace, and that many souls would go to Jacinta died in the odor of sanctity Heaven if Her requests were listened to in 1919 and 1920. Lucy became a and obeyed. Carmelite Sister. She told us that war is a punishment Our Lady of Fatima continues to for sin; that God would punish the work today through Fatima world for its sins in our time by means water which is sent from Fatima around of war, hunger, persecution of the the world. This Fatima water sprang up Church and persecution of the Holy in Fatima at the spot the bishop told Father, the Pope, unless we listened to people to dig, very near where Our and obeyed the commands of God. Lady appeared at the Cova da Iria (the Fatima today! Cove of Peace) in Fatima. Still other At Fatima, Pope John Paul II said people are cured when they go on on May 13: “the Message of Fatima is pilgrimage to Fatima, which is about more relevant and more urgent” than 90 miles north of Lisbon, Portugal. when Our Lady first appeared. The When he went to Fatima, Pope John 29 Paul II said: “The Message of Fatima is the eventual triumph of Her Immaculate addressed to every human being.” Heart over evil. She promised that no A message of warning and hope matter how black it might get in the If we do not heed Her soon, then future (and it seems that is the path Our Lady’s terrifying prophecy may chosen by most of humanity today) well be realized in the near future even that in the end She will triumph, Her in our own back yards. requests would finally be granted by She told us that God had chosen mankind and there will be world peace. to use Russia as the instrument of What you must do chastisement to punish the whole It is up to each of us to listen, to read, world if we did not — by our prayers to learn and to apply this heavenly and sacrifices, and obedience to Her message in our own lives, particularly requests (especially those requests by praying the daily Rosary. To the for consecration and Reparation) — extent we can, we must also do all we obtain the conversion of Russia to the can to see to it that this final warning Catholic Faith. from Our Heavenly Mother is spread She promised us, “If My requests and that its significance is explained are granted Russia will be converted to everyone before it is too late. We and there will be peace.” must not be complacent in the promise But She also warned us, “If My of Her eventual triumph because it is requests are not granted, Russia will still dependent on our cooperation with spread her errors throughout the world God’s grace and His plan outlined at raising up wars and persecutions Fatima. against the Church, the good will be Help us spread the Full martyred, the Holy Father will have Fatima Message much to suffer, various nations will be Despite all these miracles and signs annihilated.” and official Catholic Church approval She has told us that the whole world and recognition given to Our Lady (the part surviving) will be enslaved by of Fatima by hundreds of millions of the atheistic tyrants of Russia. pilgrims who go to Fatima, there is For world peace still much opposition to Our Lady of In order to prevent these Fatima and Her message. chastisements from befalling us She This prophetic message goes against told us that special Reparation for sins certain people’s views and short-term committed against the Immaculate vested interests. This opposition comes Heart of Mary was necessary, not only in the form of open hostility particularly the Communions of such as was manifested in the early days Reparation on the First Saturday of five when the 3 children were kidnapped consecutive months and the public and and threatened with death in 1917 for solemn to the repeating Our Lady’s message; and Immaculate Heart of Mary by all the bombing, in 1922, the first Chapel built Catholic bishops of the world, together there. But the opposition to Our Lady with the Pope on the same day at the of Fatima today is also manifested in same hour. more subtle forms. In the end Our Lady must The devil knows that when Our triumph Lady’s full Fatima Message is widely Finally Her message is a promise of proclaimed, properly understood, 30 Father Gruner and his very important apostolic work with The Fatima Cru- sader have been blessed by His Ho- liness Pope John Paul II.

loved and obeyed then his evil empire Lady of Fatima and Her full Fatima on earth will be destroyed. So the Message. Contact the Fatima Center devil and his human agents, and well for our full catalogue of books and meaning but terribly misguided people periodicals, our TV and Radio tapes that serve them, have launched a and programs on Fatima, and pass the counter-offensive against the Fatima word on every way you can. Message to obscure it and cause enough She is relying on all of us to do our confusion so that the faithful do not part. At least all of us can pray the obey Our Lady and react in time. Rosary. All of us can tell a friend or pass Up to now the devil has been on a copy of this booklet to a neighbor. somewhat successful in obstructing the All of us have some special need or full Fatima Message. You need to be intention to ask Our Lady’s powerful informed. This booklet and the three intercession. Pray to Our Lady of volumes of The Whole Truth About Fatima and She will help you. She will Fatima and many other books are your also richly reward you for all you do best weapon against the deception to make known and understood Her spread against Our Lady’s Fatima maternal message of love and warning Message. given at Fatima. You need to help others come to know, understand, love and obey Our Editor: Coralie Graham. The Fatima Crusader is published by the National Committee for the National Pilgrim Virgin of Canada. Directors: Leonard Cecere, Coralie Graham and Miriam Gruner. It is distributed in U.S.A. with the cooperation of the Servants of Jesus and Mary. It is sent free of charge, but a donation to cover the cost of postage and printing is appreciated. For more information about Fatima and for extra copies of this issue, contact us at one of the following addresses: North American Offices: U.S.A.: 17000 State Route 30, Constable NY 12926 CANADA: 452 Kraft Road, Fort Erie, ON L2A 4M7 Call Toll Free: 1-800-263-8160 | Telephone: 905-871-7607 Overseas Offices: IRELAND: Northern Ireland – P.O. Box 165, Newry BT34 2WZ, Northern Ireland • Southern Ireland – Apt. C, School Road, Whitechurch, County , Ireland • ITALY: Piazza Risorgimento 14, 00192 Roma, Italia www.fatima.org | Email: [email protected] Donations are Tax-Deductible Printed in Canada Increase your Devotion to Mary

The Five First Saturdays Checklist – The Five First Saturdays Checklist card is a beautiful full color card that contains a handy chart by which you can check off each aspect of your Five , and help you track your five consecutive months. When the card is complete, you know you have properly fulfilled Our Lady’s request. You can get these cards for family and friends. You can use the attractive card to encourage your children and grandchildren to practice this devotion Our Lady so urgently requested. Call for your free copy today!

Our Lady’s Garment, The Brown Scapular: A Sign of Salvation and Protection – Read about Our Lady’s Garment, the Brown Scapular. Our Lady of Fatima, on October 13, 1917, held the Brown Scapular in Her Hand, making the three child seers, Lucy, Jacinta and Francisco, understand that She wants all of us to wear the Scapular. This beautiful four-color 32-page booklet gives an extensive overview of the history of the Brown Scapular which dates back to the Old Testament. It also explains Our Lady’s scapular promise — a promise unique only to the wearing of the Brown Scapular. A number of the endless miracle stories of protection given to those wearing Our Lady’s protective mantle are also in the booklet, including some present-day miracles. In the back of the booklet is the procedure for the Blessing of the Scapular and prayers of Enrollment in the of the Brown Scapular. The booklet has an Imprimatur. First copy free! 32 pages - $0.50 10 copies - $4.00 100 copies - $30.00 300 copies - $75.00

Pray the Rosary – Read about the Rosary in this purse- size Rosary Novena booklet. Each Mystery of the Dominican Rosary is illustrated in full color. This booklet contains the 54- day Rosary Novena, Fatima Ave, 7 Fatima Prayers and much more. Imprimatur. First copy free! 48 pages - $0.50 10 copies - $4.00 100 copies - $30.00 300 copies - $75.00

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