Actual photographs of some of the 70,000 witnesses to the Miracle of the Sun. (Above) Stained glass window in Fatima that portrays the Miracle of the Sun. SUPPOSE ... Would You Not for a moment Agree ... Suppose ... there were a means of achieving world That even if you, yourself, peace that involved nothing might doubt the effectiveness more complicated than a brief of this Consecration, there public religious ceremony would be nothing to lose and whereby a particular country everything to gain from the was especially blessed and Pope and bishops performing consecrated. it? Suppose ... this ceremo- Precisely such a Consecra- ny would be perhaps fifteen tion is prescribed in what is minutes’ duration, conducted commonly known as the Mes- by Pope Benedict XVI (or his sage of Fatima. successor) and the bishops The Message of Fatima was of the Catholic Church and authenticated by God through simultaneously broadcast to His spectacular public miracle, the world. witnessed by 70,000 people. It was reported in newspapers Suppose ... there was around the world, including hard evidence that this pub- the New York Times. Warner lic Consecration would in fact Brothers even made a movie produce spectacular benefits, based on the events at Fatima not just for Catholics, but for called The Miracle of Our Lady the world at large, both be- of Fatima. lievers and nonbelievers. Among the apparitions ap- Suppose ... this Consecra- proved by the Catholic Church tion would involve absolutely are the appearances of the Vir- no expense or inconvenience gin Mary at Fatima, Portugal to yourself, but could produce from May-October in 1917. incalculably good returns for Pope Benedict XVI refers to you and your loved ones. them as the “most prophetic Suppose ... on the other revelations of the 20th Cen- hand, that you and your loved tury”. ones were faced with the pos- Even many non-Catholics sibility of catastrophic losses are aware that the Message of if the Consecration were not Fatima was approved by the performed — including the Catholic Church as worthy of loss of your liberty, and ulti- belief. mately your life. The Church’s approval is

1 given only after thorough in- hilation of various nations, vestigation, and only if there which the Virgin of Fatima is compelling evidence of au- warned would be the ultimate thenticity. temporal consequence in this It was during these ap- world for failing to honor Her pearances that the Virgin requests in time. The predicted Mary confided the Message of loss of millions of souls to the Fatima to three children, Lucia depths of hell is, of course, in- dos Santos and her two cous- finitely worse than even these ins Jacinta and Francisco Mar- great temporal calamities. to. Sister Lucia died on Febru- One of Our Lady’s requests ary 13, 2005. Her two cousins, was that the Pope and the Jacinta and Francisco, died in Catholic bishops of the world 1919 and 1920 shortly after conduct a solemn public Con- the apparitions — precisely as secration (that is, to set aside, predicted in the apparitions to dedicate in a religious cere- themselves. mony for a sacred purpose) of As the Church Goes one nation — Russia — to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in So Goes the World return for which She promised The hypothetical man on (among other things) that the the street would be surprised world would be granted an to learn that the terrorist attack era of true and abiding peace. of September 11, 2001 and the public scandal wracking the Fatima is Authentic and Catholic Church regarding cer- Imposes an Obligation tain members of the clergy, are The Fatima apparitions closely related events. The rela- have been deemed authentic tion becomes apparent when by a series of Popes and are the two events are viewed now officially commemorated through the prism of the Mes- in the Roman Missal (the basic sage of Fatima. It is often said, book of Catholic worship) by that as the Church goes, so the decree of Pope John Paul goes the world. That, in es- II. sence, is what the Mother of As a further testament to God cautioned when She came the authenticity of the Mes- to Fatima, over 90 years ago. sage of Fatima, Pope John Paul Since that time Our Lady’s II beatified Jacinta and Fran- prophetic warnings of various cisco, declaring them to have chastisements, if the Message lived lives of exemplary virtue were not heeded, have all been — so much so, that they are realized, save one: the anni- deemed blessed of the Lord

2 and worthy of veneration by ply, Fatima is a world event. the whole Church. In fact, And yet, in what must be during his sermon at Fatima seen as a mystery of iniquity, on May 13, 1982 — on which the Virgin Mary’s simple re- occasion he attributed his es- quests remain unfulfilled due cape from death during the to conscious decisions by some assassination attempt exactly of the highest-ranking prelates one year earlier, to the inter- in the Catholic Church. We vention of Our Lady of Fatima will demonstrate how these — the Pope declared that the men have advised the Pope not Message of Fatima “imposes to consecrate Russia by name. an obligation” on the Church. The result, just as She predict- As Pope John Paul II him- ed, is an ever-deepening crisis self had recognized, the as- in the Catholic Church and tounding events at Fatima throughout the world, accom- were not some useless spec- panied by an ever growing tacle. God does not engage sense, even among non-believ- in useless spectacles. Those ers, that we are witnessing the events confirmed the authen- beginning of an apocalypse. ticity of the Message beyond a shadow of a doubt — even Why a Consecration among the atheists and oth- of Russia? ers who were public skeptics Why, the reader might ask, prior to the miracle. should God place such impor- Fatima — a World Event tance on the Consecration of Russia? At Fatima, the Mother of The answer, of course, is God came to earth with our that God’s ways are not our present circumstances clearly ways, and it is not for us to in mind, and with the solici- question God’s ordinances as tude of a mother, She offered given through His prophets, us a way out — the way cho- no matter how strange they sen by God Himself for our may seem to human wisdom. time. That being the case, one The Bible offers an enlight- cannot understand the state ening example in this regard. of the Church and the world The Fourth Book of Kings today without understand- tells the story of Naaman (see ing what occurred at Fatima. Chapter 5:1-15), the leader of Indeed, even Newsweek maga- the Syrian army, who went zine ran a cover story on the to the prophet Eliseus in Is- Virgin Mary, discussing events rael to seek a miraculous cure in Russia with reference to the for his leprosy. Without actu- Fatima apparitions. Quite sim- 3 ally meeting him, Eliseus sent are telling their leader — in Naaman instructions to bathe this case, the Pope — that he seven times in the river Jordan, need not follow the prophet’s in order to be cured. Naaman advice to the letter. And it ap- was indignant that Eliseus did pears they are so stubbornly not come to administer his unrepentant in their view of cure personally. Merely bath- the matter that they will not ing in the Jordan, he felt, could even allow the remedy to be not possibly be any better than tried, despite repeated ap- bathing in one of Syria’s fine peals over many decades from rivers. Rejecting the prophet’s millions of the faithful, includ- instructions as trivial, Naaman ing thousands in the Catholic prepared to depart; however, clergy. his advisers dissuaded him. They argued that if the proph- Opposition to the et had asked him to perform Fatima Request some arduous feat to be cured, This strange campaign by Naaman would have done it many (including high-rank- unquestionably. So why not ing) Catholic churchmen to simply do the seemingly mun- obstruct fulfillment of the Vir- dane task that had been asked gin’s request seems to be moti- instead? In effect, they said vated by the ecclesial equiva- to him: What have you got to lent of political correctness — lose? Naaman agreed to give the desire to avoid giving of- it a try on this basis and, sure fense to non-Catholic parties, enough, on his seventh wash- and to not set back “ecumeni- ing in the Jordan, his leprosy cal dialogue.” The attitude of disappeared. these prelates toward Fatima is A Strong Parallel also in keeping with a massive effort to “update” the Catholic There is a striking parallel Church ever since the Second between this miraculous Bibli- Vatican Council (1962-1965) cal event and the attitude now in order to make the Church being taken by certain Church more “open” to the world. officials regarding the Conse- The current condition of the cration of Russia. Like Naa- Church, after forty-five years man, these officials seem un- of this experiment, reflects the able to believe that something post-conciliar effort to impose as simple as a Consecration a sort of politically correct re- of Russia could deliver a ben- vision of Catholicism in place efit as momentous as genuine of the old faith. world peace. However, un- If the Message of Fatima is like Naaman’s advisers, they 4 truly a heavenly prophecy for holocaust of “legalized” abor- our time, then these reformist tion, have spread throughout prelates bear a large part of the the world. The first coun- responsibility for the ecclesial try to “legalize” abortion in crisis and the world crisis that the world was Russia, in the we are all forced to endure, 1920’s. even presuming that they have There is no peace. And to- acted with the very best of in- day even non-believers live in tentions. To those who say that fear of the annihilation of na- to speak of a campaign against tions. To echo the words of Fatima by Catholic churchmen Pope St. Gregory the Great, themselves is scandalous, we “it is better that scandal arise can only reply with the words than that the truth be sup- of the Virgin Herself: pressed,” — especially when, “If My requests are as in this case, the truth could heeded, Russia will be avert global disaster and the converted, and there will loss of millions of more souls be peace; if not, she will to eternal damnation. spread her errors through- At any rate, our presenta- out the world, causing tion here ought to make it ap- wars and persecutions parent to any objective observ- against the Church. The er that there is only one reason- good will be martyred; able answer to the effectively the Holy Father will have same question put to Naaman much to suffer; various by his far more prudent ad- nations will be annihi- visers: “What is there to lose lated.”1 by simply doing exactly what Russia has not converted. God’s prophet has specified?” Russia’s errors, including the Nothing! What does the Bible say about PEACE? The Bible tells us that a time will come when mankind will make war no more. (Micheas 4:3) In the Old Testament, the prophets tell us that mankind will turn their swords into plow- shares. (Isaias 2:4) That is, they will recycle their instruments of war such as missiles, tanks, bombs, guns, and biological weap- ons and turn them into instruments for producing food. The Bible also tells us: The leopard will lie down with the lamb. And the lamb will not be hurt. A child will put his hand into the adder’s nest and the child will not be hurt. (Isaias 11:6-9) Cont’d on page 26

5 “God wills to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart. If My requests are granted, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.” INDEX SUPPOSE ... for a moment ...... 1 Would You Not Agree ...... 1 As the Church Goes, So Goes the World (2). Fatima is Authentic and Imposes an Obligation (2). Fatima — a World Event (3). Why a Consecration of Russia? (3). A Strong Parallel (4). Opposition to the Fatima Request (4). What does the Bible say about PEACE? (5). God’s Endorsement of the Fatima Message ...... 8 God Does Not Waste Miracles (8). The Great Secret (8). The First Part of the Secret (9). The Second Part of the Secret (9). An Urgent Request to Pray the Rosary (11). The Five First Saturdays Devotion (11). The Third Secret (11). The Miraculous Confirmation (12). The Miracle of the Sun (14). Eyewitness Reports (15). Beyond Doubt (20). Heaven’s Peace Plan in Simple Terms ...... 21 The Vision of Tuy (21). A Foretaste of What the World Would Enjoy (24). A Threefold Miracle (24). Catholic Renaissance (24). Political and Social Reform (25). Miracle of Peace (25). A Promise Unfulfilled ...... 27 A Simple Requirement: The Consecration of Russia (27). Why Has Russia Not Been Consecrated? (32). Does Not a Consecration of the World Suffice? (33). Has Sister Lucy “Changed” Her Testimony? (34). Russia’s Manifest Failure to Undergo Conversion (34). No Religious Conversion in Russia (35). There has been no “moral conversion” in Russia (42). No “Political Conversion” in Russia (44). Reviving the Soviet era and “rehabilitating” Stalin (44). No “Martial Conversion” in Russia (46). Conclusion: No “Conversion” of Any Kind in Russia (48). World Peace NOW! ...... 49 Why this Consecration? (49). Why Our Lady? (49). Why this Consecration Must be Public and Solemn (50). To Establish in the World Devotion to the Immaculate Heart (50). So that Many Souls Will be Saved (61). A Decisive Moment in World History ...... 51 What Can You Do? ...... 53 What Can Catholics Do? (53). It is Never Too Late (53). “Only the Lady of the Rosary Can Help” (54). What Can All Men of Good Will Do? ...... 55 What is There to Lose? (56). Be a Messenger of Truth & Hope! ...... 57 Who Are We? ...... 58 The Fatima Center (58). The Fatima Crusader (58). Heaven’s Peace Plan (58). TV Series and TV Documentaries (58). Books and Publications (59). Bishops and Priests World Peace Conferences (59). Growing Support (59). Outreach (60). 40 Web Sites (60). Further Expansion (60). The Immaculate Heart of Mary Orphanage (60). Volunteers (61). Message of Fatima (61). The Obligation and the Right of the Faithful ...... 65 God’s Endorsement of the Fatima Message God does not waste mira- Cova da Iria in Fatima, some cles. Throughout salvation his- 70,000 people assembled to tory — from Joshua, to Moses, await the happening of a mira- to the twelve Apostles, to the cle. This in itself is astounding. saints of the Catholic Church Never before in salvation his- down through the centuries tory had a visionary predicted — God has granted miracles three months in advance that for one overriding purpose: a public miracle would occur to serve as a divine credential at a precise time and place. for a witness who invokes the Never before had such a vast miracle in His name. When crowd assembled to witness a God chooses a witness, and predicted public miracle. Yet then associates an authentic that is exactly what happened miracle with the testimony of on this day. that witness, we know for cer- Why this day? Because Lu- tain that the witness is worthy cia dos Santos and her cousins of belief. God does not grant Francisco and Jacinta had been miracles to vouch for unreli- receiving apparitions from able witnesses; God does not “the Lady” on the thirteenth of choose unreliable witnesses. each month since the previous God Does Not Waste May. The Lady had been ap- Miracles pearing to them above a holm- oak tree in the Cova, and with No, God does not waste each apparition the crowds miracles. Much less does had grown. But doubts about God waste a public miracle the veracity of the seers had witnessed by 70,000 people, also grown, as well as mockery believers and non-believers and persecution of the seers alike, which occurred at pre- and their families at a time cisely the moment predicted when Portugal was under the three months earlier by three control of an anti-Christian, witnesses whose testimony anti-Catholic Masonic political had been doubted: Lucia dos regime. Santos (known to the world as Lucy) and her cousins, Fran- The Great Secret cisco and Jacinta Marto.2 And then, on July 13, 1917, On October 13, 1917, in the Lady had shown them a humble field known as the something which would terri-

8 fy them and change them for- The demons could be dis- ever, making them into saints tinguished [from the souls who would spend their lives of the damned] by their ter- (in the case of Francisco and rifying and repellent like- Jacinta, very brief lives) pray- ness to frightful and un- ing and making sacrifices for known animals, black yet sinners. transparent like burning 3 The First Part coals. This vision lasted but an instant. How can we of the Secret ever be grateful enough to As Lucy recounts in testi- our kind heavenly Mother, mony the Catholic Church has Who had already prepared deemed worthy of belief, the us by promising, in the first Lady showed them hell: apparition, to take us to “She (Our Lady) opened Heaven. Otherwise, I think Her hands once more, as we would have died of fear She had done during the and terror.”4 two previous months. The Having shown the chil- rays of light seemed to pen- dren the fate of the damned, etrate the earth, and we which is considered the first saw as it were a sea of fire. part of the Great Secret of Fati- Plunged in this fire were ma, the Lady then confided to demons and souls [of the the children the second part.4 damned] in human form, like transparent burning The Second Part embers, all blackened or of the Secret burnished bronze, float- Everyone, including mem- ing about in the confla- bers of the Vatican apparatus, gration, now raised into agrees that the second part of the air by the flames that the Secret, as recorded in Sister issued from within them- Lucy’s diaries, is as follows: selves together with great “You have seen hell clouds of smoke, now fall- where the souls of poor ing back on every side like sinners go. To save them, sparks in huge fires, with- God wishes to establish in out weight or equilibrium, the world devotion to My amid shrieks and groans Immaculate Heart. If what of pain and despair, which I say to you is done, many horrified us and made us souls will be saved and tremble with fear. (It must there will be peace. The have been this sight which war is going to end; but if caused me to cry out, as people do not cease offend- people say they heard me.) 9 ing God, a worse one will tonishing Message are these: break out during the reign • Many souls, in fact, go to of Pius XI. When you see a hell because they do not re- night illumined by an un- pent of the mortal sins they known light, know that this have committed. is the great sign given you • To save them, God wishes by God that He is about to establish throughout the to punish the world for its world the uniquely Catholic crimes, by means of war, devotion to the Immaculate famine, and persecutions Heart of Mary. against the Church and • This is to be accomplished against the Holy Father. by consecrating the nation “To prevent this, I shall of Russia to the Immaculate come to ask for the Con- Heart of Mary (in conjunc- secration of Russia to My tion with the Communion Immaculate Heart, and the of Reparation on the first Communion of Reparation Saturdays of each month, on the First Saturdays. If offered in reparation for My requests are heeded, sins committed against the Russia will be converted, Immaculate Heart of Mary), and there will be peace; if whereupon Russia will be not, she will spread her er- converted to the Catholic rors throughout the world, Faith. causing wars and persecu- • If this is done, many souls tions against the Church. will be saved and there will The good will be martyred, be peace. the Holy Father will have • If it is not done, Russia will much to suffer, various na- spread its errors through- tions will be annihilated. out the world. There will be In the end, My Immaculate wars, famine, persecutions Heart will triumph. The against the Church, and Holy Father will consecrate martyrdom of the good. Russia to Me, which will The Holy Father will have be converted, and a period much to suffer. And if Our of peace will be granted to Lady’s requests are still not the world. In Portugal the obeyed, then various na- dogma of the Faith will al- tions will be “annihilated” ways be preserved etc. Do — that is, the populations of not tell this to anybody. entire nations will be wiped Francisco, yes, you may tell off the face of the earth. him.”5 • Nevertheless, Our Lady of Basic elements of this as- Fatima promised: “In the 10 end, My Immaculate Heart while meditating on the fif- will triumph. The Holy Fa- teen mysteries of the Rosary, ther will consecrate Rus- with the intention of making sia to Me, which will be reparation to Me.” converted, and a period of The Third Secret peace will be granted to the world.” We pause here to note in passing (for discussion in a An Urgent Request to separate booklet) the curi- Pray the Rosary ous phrase at the end of the To these things, the Lady first two parts of the Secret: added an urgent request that “In Portugal the dogma of the Catholics “Pray the Rosary Faith will always be preserved every day.” She also asked etc.” The incomplete phrase, that they include the follow- ending with “etc.”, appears in ing prayer at the end of each Sister Lucy’s fourth memoir decade: “O my Jesus, forgive of the apparitions. It clearly us our sins, save us from the introduces a heavenly predic- fires of hell. Lead all souls to tion, containing further words Heaven, especially those most of Our Lady not yet published, in need.” In obedience to the about the state of adherence to Lady’s request, and as a tes- Catholic dogma in the Church tament to the authenticity of at large, distinguished from Her apparitions at Fatima, the Portugal in particular, where Church included this prayer in the dogma of the Faith will al- the Rosary, and Catholics re- ways be preserved. cite it to this day. Standing alone, the ob- The Five First servation about adherence to Catholic dogma in Portugal Saturdays Devotion appears gratuitous and quite The Church has also senseless, for the phrase does adopted the First Saturday de- not at all follow logically from votions of Reparation, which the first two parts of the Se- the Lady explained thus: “I cret. Every recognized Fatima promise to assist at the hour of scholar concluded from this death, with all the graces nec- that the phrase represents the essary for salvation, all those beginning of a third part of the who, on the First Saturday of Secret — what has come to be five consecutive months shall known simply as the Third Se- confess, receive Holy Com- cret of Fatima. munion, recite five decades Sister Lucy was so terrified of the Rosary, and keep Me by the contents of the Third company for fifteen minutes 11 Secret that even after she was The Miraculous formally ordered by her bish- Confirmation op to write it down in October Having received from of 1943, she could not bring Heaven itself a message with herself to do so despite over obviously profound impor- two months of struggling each tance for the Church and all day to comply, until the sub- humanity, Lucy knew that she sequent apparition on Janu- and her cousins needed a di- ary 2, 1944 in which Our Lady vine credential if they were to assured her that it ought to be be believed. During the appa- done. In consigning the text of rition on July 13, Lucy asked the Third Secret to the Bishop the Lady “to tell us who You of Fatima in a sealed envelope, are, and to work a miracle, Sister Lucy made him promise so that everybody will be- to reveal it to the world at her lieve that You are appearing death or in 1960, whichever to us.” And the Lady replied: came first — but in no event “Continue to come here ev- later than 1960. Why 1960? ery month. In October I will As she would later attest, Our tell you who I am and what Lady wished it so because I want, and I will perform a the Secret would “be clearer” miracle for all to see and be- (mais claro) then. lieve.”6 The Lady repeated this To this day, the Vatican promise in further apparitions has never revealed the words to Lucy and the other seers in of the Virgin which clearly August and again, at the Cova, follow “In Portugal the dog- on September 13. ma of the Faith will always And so the people had as- be preserved etc.” The “etc.” sembled in a great crowd at remains a secret. This act of the Cova on October 13. The concealment is part and par- apparition began precisely at cel of the campaign by certain the hour predicted — noon Catholic churchmen to bury solar time, or 1:30 p.m. by the the Fatima Message. [For proof clock in Portugal, when the that the whole Third Secret is not sun was at its highest point in yet released (as of March 2010) the sky. Lucy suddenly told read the book, The Secret Still Hid- the people in the crowd to shut den. Also see The Fatima Crusader, their umbrellas in the midst of Issue 64 and the book, The Devil’s a drenching rain which had Final Battle (especially the second turned the Cova into a sea of edition) — all available from the mud. She then went into an ec- addresses on page 65.] stasy, and the Lady, appearing again, first told Lucy: “I want 12 “I want My whole Church to acknowledge that consecration as a Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary so that it may extend its homage later on and put the devotion to this Immaculate Heart beside the devotion to My Sacred Heart.” a chapel to be built here in My for want of sufficient cour- honor. I am the Lady of the Ro- age to advance across the sary.” muddy ground, we saw the She also stated: “People huge crowd turn towards must amend their lives and the sun which appeared ask pardon for their sins. They at its zenith, clear of the must not offend Our Lord any clouds. It resembled a disc more for He is already much of silver, and it was pos- offended.” Sister Lucy notes sible to stare at it without that as Our Lady spoke these the least discomfort. It did words, She was much sadder not burn the eyes. It did not than usual. blind. We would say that it The Lady is the Moth- produced an eclipse. Then er of God, the Virgin Mary, a tremendous cry rang out, Who will henceforth also be and the crowd nearest us known under the title Our were heard to shout: ‘Mir- Lady of Fatima, one of many acle! Miracle! ... Marvel! ... such titles bestowed upon the Marvel!’ Before the dazzled Blessed Virgin by the Church. eyes of the people, whose (The chapel, of course, was attitude transported us to built, and then rebuilt after biblical times, and who, being blown up on March 6, dumbfounded, heads un- 1922 by a bomb placed there covered, contemplated the by Masonic associates of “the blue of the sky, the sun Tinsmith,” a nickname for the trembled, it made strange Masonic Mayor of Ourem.)7 and abrupt movements, outside of all cosmic laws, The Miracle of the Sun ‘the sun danced’, according We recount here the testi- to the typical expression of mony of a reporter who can- the peasants ...”8 not possibly be accused of Attacked violently by all partiality in this matter — and the anticlerical press, Avelino for a good reason! We refer to de Almeida renewed his tes- Avelino de Almeida, the chief timony, fourteen days later, editor of O Seculo, the large in his review, Ilustração Portu- “liberal” anticlerical and Ma- guesa. This time he illustrated sonic daily newspaper of Lis- his account with a dozen pho- bon. He writes: tographs of the huge ecstatic “From the road, where crowd, and repeated as a re- the carriages were crowded frain throughout his article: together and where hun- “I saw ... I saw ... I saw.” And dreds of persons had stayed he concluded: “Miracle, as the

14 people shouted? Natural phe- perhaps two meters above nomenon, as the experts say? their heads, and evaporated For the moment, that does not at that height. This phenom- concern me, I am only saying enon, perfectly visible to the what I saw... The rest is a matter naked eye, lasted for a few for Science and the Church.”9 seconds. Not having noted Saturday, October 13 had how long it had lasted, I can- begun as a pilgrimage of pen- not say whether it was more ance because it had rained the or less than a minute. The entire preceding night. Now, smoke dissipated abruptly, this “almost sudden change of and after some time, it came weather, with the dusty roads back to occur a second time, transformed into muddy then a third time ... quagmires by a pelting rain, “The low and heavy sky causing to replace abruptly, had a very dark color, lad- for a day, the sweetness of au- en with moisture, [which] tumn with the biting rigors released an abundant and of winter, did not succeed in long lasting rain; during moving them, to make them the time of the apparition, give up or despair.”10 the rain stopped totally. In comparing the numer- Abruptly the sky cleared: ous accounts of witnesses, we The sun triumphantly can distinguish the diverse pierced the thick bed of aspects and the result of the clouds hiding it until then, astounding phenomena seen and shone intensely.” (Dr. by all. For each one of the phe- Almeida Garrett)11 nomena, it would be possible This abrupt change of to line up many witnesses, weather took all the eyewit- whose testimony would con- nesses by surprise: stitute an impressive book. “It was a day of heavy and continuous rain. But a Eyewitness Reports few minutes before the mir- Here is the first marvelous acle, it stopped raining.” fact described by one of the (Alfredo da Silva Santos) innumerable credible eyewit- And this testimony from nesses: a physician, a man of science, “It must have been 1:30 concerning the inexplicable p.m. when there arose at silvering of the sun, allowing the exact spot where the it to be viewed directly with- children were, a column of out harm to the eyes: smoke, thin, fine and blu- “Suddenly I heard the ish, which extended up to uproar of thousands of

15 voices, and I saw the whole a plate of dull silver, and it multitude spread out in was possible to stare at it that vast space at my feet ... without the least discom- turn their backs to that spot fort. It did not burn the eyes. where, until then, all their It did not blind.” (Article of expectations focused, and October 15, 1917) look at the sun on the oth- And likewise: “The people er side ... I turned around, could look at the sun as we too, toward the point com- look at the moon.” (Maria do manding their gazes, and Carmo)13 I could see the sun, like One could multiply end- a very clear disc, with its lessly the testimonies about sharp edge, which gleamed the ensuing solar phenomena, without hurting the sight witnessed even by the secular ... It could not be confused editor-in-chief of an anti- with the sun seen through a clerical newspaper. Consider fog (there was no fog at that these: moment), for it was neither “It shook and trembled; veiled, nor dim. At Fatima, it seemed like a wheel it kept its light and heat, of fire.” (Maria da Cap- and stood out clearly in the elinha)14 sky, with a sharp edge, like “The sun turned like a large gaming table. The a fire wheel, taking on all most astonishing thing was the colors of the rainbow.” to be able to stare at the so- (Maria do Carmo)15 lar disc for a long time, bril- “It appeared like a globe liant with light and heat, of snow turning on itself.” without hurting the eyes, (Father Lourenço)16 or damaging the retina.” “The pearl-like disc had (Dr. Almeida Garrett)12 a giddy motion. This was In the same vein this testi- not the twinkling of a star mony by the editor-in-chief of in all its brilliance. It turned O Seculo: on itself with impetuous “And then we witnessed speed.” (Dr. Almeida Gar- a unique spectacle, an in- rett)17 credible spectacle, unbeliev- “At a certain moment, able if you did not witness the sun stopped and then it. From above the road ... began again to dance, to We see the immense crowd spin; it stopped again, and turn towards the sun, which began again to dance.” (Ti appeared at its zenith, clear Marto)18 of the clouds. It looked like “The sun took on all

16 the colors of the rainbow. a fire wheel.” (Alfredo da Everything assumed those Silva Santos)23 same colors: our faces, our “I saw it perfectly de- clothes, the earth itself.” scending as if it came to (Maria do Carmo)19 crash on the earth. It seemed “A light, whose colors to detach itself from the changed from one moment sky and rush toward us. It to the next, was reflected on maintained itself at a short the people and on things.” distance above our heads; (Dr. Pereira Gens)20 but that sort of attack was What happened next con- of very short duration ... It stitutes the most terrifying seemed very near the peo- aspect of the Miracle, and one ple and it continued to turn with profound implications in the opposite direction.” for our era, in which man has (Maria do Carmo)24 perfected the ability to destroy “Suddenly, the sun ap- the whole world with fire from peared with its circumfer- the sky: the sun appeared to ence well-defined. It came detach itself from the sky and down as if to the height of plunge towards the earth. the clouds and began to “We suddenly heard whirl giddily upon itself like a clamor, like a cry of an- a captive ball of fire. With guish of that entire crowd. some interruptions, this The sun, in fact, keeping lasted about eight minutes.” its rapid movement of ro- (Father Pereira da Silva)25 tation, seemed to free it- “It suddenly seemed to self from the firmament come down in a zig-zag, and blood-red, to plunge menacing the earth.” (Fa- towards the earth, threat- ther Lourenço)26 ening to crush us with its “Seeing the sun fall- fiery mass. Those were ing on us ...” (Father John some terrifying seconds.” Gomes)27 (Dr. Almeida Garrett)21 “Finally, the sun stopped “I saw the sun turn and and everybody breathed a it seemed to descend. It was sigh of relief ...” (Maria da like a bicycle wheel.” (John Capelinha)28 Carreira)22 “From those thousands “The sun began to dance of mouths I heard shouts and, at a certain moment, it of joy and love to the Most appeared to detach itself Holy Virgin. And then I be- from the firmament and to lieved. I had the certainty rush forward on us, like of not having been the vic-

17 tim of a suggestion. I had districts of the country who seen the sun as I would were present.”32 never see it again.” (Mario And finally, there were Godinho, an engineer)29 also moral miracles of the con- Another astonishing fact: versions of many people. In all those people, who were for his book, Meet the Witnesses, the most part soaked to the John Haffert writes: bone, verified with joy and “The captain of the amazement that they were regiment of soldiers on the completely dry. This fact is at- mountain that day — with tested to in the canonical pro- orders to prevent the gath- cess for Jacinta and Francisco, ering of the crowd — was who were ultimately beatified converted instantly. Appar- on May 13, 2000. ently so were hundreds of “The moment one other unbelievers, as their would least expect it, our testimony will show.”33 clothes were totally dry.” “There was an unbeliev- (Maria do Carmo)30 er there who had spent the “My suit dried in an in- morning mocking the ‘sim- stant.” (John Carreira)31 pletons’ who had gone off The academician to Fatima just to see an or- Marques da Cruz testified dinary girl. He now seemed as follows: paralyzed, his eyes fixed on “This enormous mul- the sun. He began to trem- titude was drenched, for ble from head to foot, and it had rained unceasingly lifting up his arms, fell on since dawn. But — though his knees in the mud, cry- this may appear incredible ing out to God.” (Father — after the great miracle Lourenço)34 everyone felt comfortable, “I live eighteen miles and found his garments from Fatima. And in May quite dry, a subject of gen- of 1917 we were told about eral wonder ... The truth of the extraordinary appari- this fact has been guaran- tions, but the news came to teed with the greatest sin- us mixed up with the fanta- cerity by dozens and doz- sy of the people. Naturally ens of persons of absolute I did not believe. I sincerely trustworthiness, whom I supposed it was only (the) have known intimately imagination of someone. ... from childhood, and who At my mother’s request, I are still alive (1937), as well went once more to the Cova as by persons from various da Iria in August at the time

18 of the apparitions. Once God Himself arranged a ready more I came back discour- rebuttal: the phenomenon was aged and disappointed. admired by individuals even But that time, something 25 miles away, with no one extraordinary happened. around to inform them what My mother, who had a was taking place in Fatima. Per- large tumor in one of her fectly credible witnesses, who eyes for many years, was were very far from the Cova cured. The doctors who da Iria, related having seen the had attended her said they unprecedented spectacle of the could not explain such a dance of the sun, exactly like cure. Still I did not believe the 70,000 pilgrims gathered in the apparitions. Finally, around the holm-oak where and again at my mother’s the Virgin had appeared.37 request, I went to the Cova In the small village of Al- da Iria once more on the buritel, situated about ten thirteenth of October. ... miles from Fatima, the whole In spite of what had hap- town was able to enjoy the vi- pened to my mother, I was sion of the solar prodigy. The disappointed and did not testimony frequently quoted is believe in the apparitions. that of Father Inacio Lourenço, So I sat inside my car. Then because it is the most detailed. all at once I noticed that ev- But what he relates having erybody looked at the sky. seen, all the villagers, ques- Natural curiosity attracted tioned by the investigators, my attention, and I got out confirmed seeing in exactly of the car and looked at the the same way. sky, too. ... From those hun- The witnesses of the event dreds of mouths I heard were indeed innumerable, words of belief and of love their testimonies agree and to the Blessed Virgin. And we are flooded with the docu- then I believed.” (Mario ments they have left us.38 35 Godinho, an engineer) In the first place, numer- A number of other cases ous accounts appeared at of cures and conversions are once in the Portuguese press. documented in, among other It is noteworthy that the first places, the following books: to provide testimony were Documentação Crítica de Fátima the anticlerical reporters. The and Fatima from the Beginning.36 three articles of Avelino de Al- To those who would say meida — the one of October 13, the miracle was a product of immediately before the event; “mass hysteria” at the scene, the other of October 15, edited

19 at Vila Nova de Ourem on the nis,41 who refused to examine evening of the 13th; and a third the evidence), Father de Mar- article of October 29 — merit chi, Canon Barthas, Father Dias a special mention. In spite of Coelho and Father Richard. the jeering tone and Voltairian In 1977, to commemorate irony which inspire in part the the sixtieth anniversary of the first article, in spite of the ex- last apparition, it was still pos- pected anticlerical tones which sible to assemble in Fatima still appear in the article of the more than thirty persons who 15th, these texts from a talent- had been present at the solar ed reporter, one who besides is prodigy and who could articu- honest and conscientious, are late their memories. Thanks to historical documents of prime those numerous testimonies, importance.39 But he was not it is possible to reconstruct a the only one to relate the facts, precise running commentary, for other reporters were pres- allowing us to relive, hour-by- ent at the Cova da Iria. hour and minute-by-minute, Next there were the official this decisive day, assuredly one investigations. In November of the most important in the 1917, at the request of Bishop history of the world. Indeed, de Lima Vidal, who was then the evidence of the solar mir- directing the diocese of Lisbon, acle on October 13, 1917 was the parish priest of Fatima led so overwhelming that in 1952 his investigation and ques- even Hollywood vouched for tioned several witnesses of the its authenticity by releasing a parish. Unfortunately, he tran- classic film (starring Gilbert scribed only four depositions! Roland) entitled The Miracle of The investigations of the Our Lady of Fatima, which is still historians fortunately compen- available on videotape today. sated for the negligence of the Beyond Doubt official investigators. The re- port of Father Formigao, who Why was this day so im- obtained from Dr. José Maria portant? Because it was the day de Almeida Garrett, professor on which a heavenly Message at the Faculty of Sciences of from the Mother of God was Coimbra, a very thorough ac- authenticated beyond any rea- count, is the most scientific re- sonable doubt; this message, port in our possession.40 In ad- some 90 years later, stands at dition, we have the reports of the heart of the perilous situ- Father da Fonseca (whose work ation of the Church and the was done in order to verify the world at this very moment in points disputed by Father Dha- human history, offering us the only viable way out. 20 Heaven’s Peace Plan in Simple Terms The “enlightened” minds Reparation. Even among the of the “modern world” scoff annals of recognized heavenly at the notion that a simple apparitions to the saints of the public ceremony consecrat- Catholic Church, this one is ing Russia to the Immaculate most extraordinary. Heart of Mary could produce The Vision of Tuy the conversion of that nation bringing with it enormous We will let Sister Lucy re- benefits to the whole world, count the apparition in her including peace among all own simple but quite dramatic nations. However, the “mod- words — and remember that ern world” scoffs at miracles here also we are dealing with in general, and indeed at the an apparition that the Church divine claims of the Church and the Popes, including Pope whose saints have performed John Paul II and Pope Benedict miracles in such abundance. XVI, have pronounced worthy But a consecration of Rus- of belief. Sister Lucy writes: sia is precisely what God had “I had requested and ordained in the very Message obtained permission from He authenticated with the so- my superiors and confes- lar miracle of October 13, 1917. sor to make the Holy Hour We recall that in the Message from 11:00 p.m. until mid- of July 13, 1917, Our Lady had night from Thursday to promised Lucy, “I shall come Friday. Being alone one to ask for the Consecration night, I knelt down before of Russia to My Immaculate the Communion rail in the Heart and the Communion of middle of the chapel to say Reparation on the first Satur- the prayers of the Angel, ly- days.” True to Her word, the ing prostrate. Feeling tired, Virgin appeared again to Lucy I got up and knelt and con- on June 13, 1929 in Tuy, Spain, tinued to say them with my where Lucy — by then Sister arms in the form of a cross. Lucia dos Santos, a Dorothean The only light came from nun (she would not become a the sanctuary lamp. Carmelite until 1948) — was “Suddenly a super- in prayer in the convent cha- natural light illumined the pel during her Thursday night whole chapel and on the Holy Hour of Adoration and altar appeared a cross of light which reached to the 21 ceiling. In a brighter part ian nature. As with the Miracle could be seen, on the upper of the Sun, there is no phenom- part of the Cross, the face of enon like it ever recorded in the a Man and His body to the history of the Church and the waist. On His breast was world. Thus did God Himself an equally luminous Dove. signify the singular importance And nailed to the Cross, of what Our Lady of Fatima the body of another Man. was about to tell Sister Lucy in “A little below the waist, the presence of the Most Holy suspended in mid-air, was Trinity. She said: to be seen a Chalice and a “The moment has large Host onto Which fell come in which God asks some drops of Blood from the Holy Father to make, the face of the Crucified in union with all the bish- and from a wound in His ops of the world, the con- breast. These drops ran secration of Russia to My down over the Host and Immaculate Heart, prom- fell into the Chalice. ising to save it by this Under the right arm of means.”43 the Cross was Our Lady God Himself requests this. (Our Lady of Fatima with Sister Lucy received this re- Her Immaculate Heart in quest from the lips of the Her hand) ... Under the left Mother of God Herself, speak- arm (of the Cross), some big ing in God’s Name, in the pres- letters as it were of crystal ence of the very Godhead, the clear water running down Most Holy Trinity. Sister Lucy over the Altar, formed these immediately conveyed the di- words: ‘Grace and Mercy’. vine request to her confessor, “I understood that it Father Gonçalves, as reflected was the mystery of the in her published correspon- Most Holy Trinity that was dence with him.44 shown to me ...”42 For the next seventy-five Frère Michel has rightly years Sister Lucy — the same called this apparition “the Trin- Lucy who would not deny the itarian Theophany.” (See an truth of Fatima even though artist’s rendition on next page.) she was imprisoned and While the Godhead cannot, of threatened with a horrible course, in a literal sense be seen death by the Masonic Mayor by human eyes as Christ in the of Ourem — gave the same flesh can be, this “Theophany” testimony: Our Lady, as God’s was granted by God as a visual messenger, had requested the representation of His Trinitar- solemn public Consecration

22 It was at this most solemn apparition of the whole series of Fatima apparitions, that Our Lady said to Sister Lucy: “The moment has come in which God asks the Holy Father to make, and to order that in union with him and at the same time all the bishops of the world make, the consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart, promising to convert it because of this day of prayer and worldwide reparation.” (See page 555 and page 464 of The Whole Truth About Fatima by Frère Michel, Volume II.)

“If My requests are heeded, Russia will be converted and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions against the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated.” ... Our Lady of Fatima, July 13, 1917 of Russia in a ceremony to be rienced a threefold miracle. conducted jointly by the Pope Here, we will give only the and all the world’s bishops. barest details. A Foretaste of What the Catholic Renaissance World Would Enjoy There was, first of all, As if to demonstrate the ef- a magnificent Catholic Re- ficacy of the Consecration the naissance, a great rebirth of Virgin had requested, God saw Catholic life so striking that fit to allow a demonstration, as those who lived through it it were, in Portugal. On the an- attributed it unquestionably niversary of the first apparition to the work of God. During at Fatima, May 13, 1931, and in this period, Portugal enjoyed the presence of 300,000 faith- a drastic upsurge in priestly ful who had come to Fatima vocations. The number of re- for the event, the bishops of ligious almost quadrupled in Portugal solemnly consecrated 10 years. Religious communi- their nation to the Immaculate ties rose likewise. There was Heart of Mary. These good a vast renewal of Christian bishops placed Portugal under life, which manifested itself in the protection of Our Lady to many areas, including the de- preserve that nation from the velopment of a Catholic press, Communist contagion that was Catholic radio, pilgrimages, sweeping through Europe, and spiritual retreats, and a robust especially Spain. Indeed, the movement of Catholic Action Virgin’s prophecy of the spread that was integrated into the of Russia’s errors throughout framework of diocesan and the world was already being parish life. fulfilled with relentless exacti- This Catholic Renaissance tude. Who, in July of 1917, could was of such magnitude that have foreseen the emergence of in 1942 the bishops of Portu- world Communism emanating gal declared in a Collective from Russia — months before Pastoral Letter: “Anybody the Bolshevik revolution of Oc- who would have closed his tober/November and Lenin’s eyes twenty-five years ago ascent to power? Only Heaven and opened them now would could have foreseen it; only the no longer recognize Portugal, Mother of God, informed by so vast is the transformation Her Divine Son. worked by the modest and in- visible factor of the apparition A Threefold Miracle of the Blessed Virgin at Fati- As a result of this (1931) ma. Really, Our Lady wishes Consecration Portugal expe- to save Portugal.”45 24 Political and Social Reform word, on May 13, 1938, they re- There was also a miracle newed the Consecration of Por- of political and social reform, tugal to the Immaculate Heart in accordance with Catholic in thanksgiving for Our Lady’s social principles. Shortly after protection. Cardinal Cerejeira the 1931 Consecration, a Cath- acknowledged publicly: “Since olic leader in Portugal ascend- Our Lady of Fatima appeared ed to power, Antonio Salazar, in 1917 ... A special blessing of who inaugurated a Catholic, God has descended upon the counter-revolutionary pro- land of Portugal ... especially if gram. He strove to create, as we review the two years which much as possible, a Catholic have gone since our vow, one social order wherein the laws cannot fail to recognize that the of government and social insti- invisible hand of God has pro- tutions are harmonized with tected Portugal, sparing it the the law of Christ, His Gospel scourge of war and the leprosy and His Church.46 A fierce ad- of atheistic Communism.” versary of socialism and liber- Even Pope Pius XII ex- alism, he was opposed to “ev- pressed astonishment that Por- erything which diminishes or tugal was spared the horrors of dissolves the family.”47 the Spanish Civil War and the Communist menace. In an ad- Miracle of Peace dress to the Portuguese people, In addition to these aston- the Pope spoke of “the Red ishing religious and political Peril, so menacing and so close changes, there was a twofold to you, and yet avoided in such miracle of peace. Portugal was an unexpected manner.”48 preserved from the Commu- The Portuguese passed this nist terror, especially from the first danger unscathed, but im- Spanish Civil War which raged mediately there was a second (1936-39) next door, and Portu- staring them in the face. World gal was also spared from the War II was about to break out. devastation of World War II In yet another fulfillment of (1938-45). the Virgin’s prophecy of July With regards to the Span- 13, 1917, the war would begin ish Civil War, the Portuguese “during the reign of Pius XI,” bishops had vowed in 1936 that following “a night illumined if Our Lady protected Portugal, by an unknown light ...” (the they would express their grati- night of Jan. 25-26, 1938) tude by renewing the National On February 6, 1939, seven Consecration to the Immacu- months before the official dec- late Heart of Mary. True to their laration of war, Sister Lucy

25 wrote to her bishop, Msgr. da selves to Her.”51 Silva. She told him that war Likewise, Portugal’s Car- was imminent, but then spoke dinal Cerejeira did not hesi- of a miraculous promise. She tate to attribute to Our Lady said “in this horrible war, of Fatima the great graces that Portugal would be She had obtained for Portu- spared because of the na- gal during this time. On May tional consecration to the 13, 1942 he said: “To express Immaculate Heart of Mary what has been going on here made by the bishops.”49 for twenty-five years, the Por- And Portugal was spared tuguese vocabulary has but the horrors of war, the details one word: miracle. Yes, we of which are too numerous to are convinced that we owe the recount here.50 Even more re- wonderful transformation of markable, Sister Lucy wrote to Portugal to the protection of Pope Pius XII on December 2, the Most Holy Virgin.”52 1940, to tell him that Portugal Cardinal Cerejeira main- was receiving special protec- tained what we maintain here: tion during the war that other that the miraculous blessings nations would have received if Our Lady obtained for Portu- the bishops would have conse- gal as a heavenly reward for crated their nations to the Im- the 1931 consecration of that maculate Heart of Mary. She nation were only a foretaste wrote: “Most Holy Father, Our of what She will do for the Lord promises a special pro- entire world, once Russia is tection to our country in this also properly consecrated to war, due to the consecration of Her Immaculate Heart.53 As the nation, by the Portuguese the Cardinal said: “What has prelates, to the Immaculate taken place in Portugal pro- Heart of Mary; as proof of the claims the miracle. And it fore- graces that would have been shadows what the Immaculate granted to other nations, had Heart of Mary has prepared for they also consecrated them- the world.”54 Continued from page 5 What does the Bible say about PEACE? Peace, as St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine tell us, is the tranquility of order. As we saw on page 5, in the Bible God promised there will come a time in the history of mankind when we will have this tranquility worldwide. We are sitting on the edge of that prophecy right now — and that is the Message God gave us through His Holy Mother at Fatima. We have the formulae for true peace worldwide ... NOW. A Promise Unfulfilled It has been more than 90 consecration of Russia?” in the years since the Virgin of Fatima course of his contacts with the promised the three seers: “In Pope. She replied: “Should you the end, My Immaculate Heart insist? I do not know. Recently will triumph. The Holy Father I was speaking to Our Lord will consecrate Russia to Me, and asked Him why He would and she will be converted, and not convert Russia without the a period of peace will be grant- Pope doing that consecration, ed to the world.” Where is the and Jesus replied: ‘Because I period of world peace which want My whole Church to ac- the Virgin promised? Why does knowledge that consecration as the world — especially since a Triumph of the Immaculate the events of “9/11” and the Heart of Mary, so that it may wars in Iraq and Afghanistan extend its homage later on and — seem poised on the brink of put the devotion to this Immac- an apocalypse, as wars and ru- ulate Heart beside the devotion mors of wars abound? The an- to My Sacred Heart.’” swer is really quite simple: the On October 24, 1940 Sister Virgin’s promise has not been Lucy was ordered by one of her fulfilled because Her request spiritual directors, the Bishop has not yet been honored. of Gurza, to write to the Pope A Simple Requirement: and ask for the consecration of the world, with “special men- The Consecration of tion” of Russia. This was an at- Russia tempt by the bishop to get the Throughout her life Sister Pope to do something, since Lucy had been steadfast in her during the previous ten years testimony that the Virgin of Pius XII, and Pius XI before Fatima requested nothing less him, had failed to respond to than the Consecration of Russia repeated requests to consecrate by the Pope, together with the Russia. world’s bishops, in a solemn Sister Lucy’s correspon- public ceremony. The proofs dence reveals that she was very of this are abundant. Here are upset by this instruction, be- some examples: cause she knew that Our Lady On May 18, 1936, Sister of Fatima had requested only Lucy wrote to her confessor, the Consecration of Russia, not Fr. José Bernardo Gonçalves, the world. However, since she S.J., in response to his ques- was put under obedience, Sis- tion: “Should I still insist on the ter Lucy went to Our Lord in

27 prayer before the Blessed Sac- ‘the present distress rament exposed to ask Him (i.e. WWII) would be what she should do. Our Lord shortened’ on account responded to Her, and said that of the consecration of what the Bishop of Gurza had the world by Pope Pius, asked for He would deign to re- world peace would not ward by shortening the days of be granted without the World War II, but that it would explicit Consecration of not bring about world peace, as Russia by the Pope and would the explicit Consecra- the bishops.54b tion of Russia by the Pope to- On July 15, 1946, the emi- gether with all the bishops. On nent author and historian December 2, 1940 Sister Lucy William Thomas Walsh inter- wrote to the Pope requesting viewed Sister Lucy (recounted the consecration of the world at the end of his important with special mention of Russia. work, Our Lady of Fatima, which On April 13, 1980 she would incidentally has sold over one write to Father Umberto Maria million copies). During this in- Pasquale, a Salesian priest, that terview, Mr. Walsh asked her she had only made this request pointed questions about the under obedience to her bishop, correct procedure for the Col- making it clear that this was not legial Consecration: what Our Lady of Fatima had “Finally we came to the requested. important subject of the sec- On October 31, 1942 and ond July secret, of which so again on December 8, 1942 Pope many different and conflict- Pius XII consecrated the world, ing versions have been pub- with an oblique reference to lished. Lucia made it plain Russia. In his six-volume work that Our Lady did not ask on World War II, Winston for the consecration of the Churchill reports in early 1943 world to Her Immaculate (almost immediately after the Heart. What She demanded consecrations performed by specifically was the conse- Pius XII) “the turning of the cration of Russia. She did not hinge of fate” turned in favor comment, of course, on the of the Allies and that thereaf- fact that Pope Pius XII had ter the Allies won almost every consecrated the world, not battle, whereas before they had Russia, to the Immaculate lost.54a Nevertheless, during Heart in 1942. But she said Lent of 1943, more than once, and with Our Lord again told deliberate emphasis: ‘What Sister Lucy that while Our Lady wants is that the

28 Pope and all the bishops in Thirty years later, in 1982, the world shall consecrate Sister Lucy’s testimony re- Russia to Her Immaculate mained steadfast despite Pope Heart on one special day. If John Paul II’s ceremony con- this is done, She will con- secrating the world to the Im- vert Russia and there will be maculate Heart, but without peace. If it is not done, the mention of Russia. On May errors of Russia will spread 12, 1982, the day before the at- through every country in tempted 1982 consecration, the the world’.”55 Vatican’s own L’Osservatore Ro- Sister Lucy is clear and mano published an interview of forthright. The collegial conse- Sister Lucy by Father Umberto cration requested by Heaven is Maria Pasquale, during which the Consecration of Russia, not she told Father Umberto that the world, which must be done Our Lady had never requested by the Pope in union with the the consecration of the world, world’s bishops on the same but only the consecration of day. Russia: Then there is the little- “At a certain moment I known revelation of Our Lady said to her: ‘Sister, I should to Sister Lucy in the early 1950s, like to ask you a question. If which is recounted in Il Pel- you cannot answer me, let it legrinaggio della Meraviglie, pub- be! But if you can answer it, lished under the auspices of the I would be most grateful to Catholic Bishops of Italy. The you ... Has Our Lady ever Virgin Mary appeared to Sis- spoken to you about the ter Lucy in May 1952 and said consecration of the world to “Make it known to the Holy Her Immaculate Heart?’ Father that I am always await- “‘No, Father Umberto! ing the Consecration of Russia Never! At the Cova da Iria in to My Immaculate Heart. With- 1917 Our Lady had prom- out that Consecration, Russia ised: I shall come to ask for will not be able to convert, nor the Consecration of Russia ... will the world have peace.”56 In 1929, at Tuy, as She had Thus, 10 years after Pope promised, Our Lady came Pius XII’s 1942 consecration of back to tell me that the mo- the world, we have the report ment had come to ask the of Our Lady reminding Sister Holy Father for the Conse- Lucy that Russia will not be cration of that country (Rus- 57 converted, nor will there be sia).’” peace, unless Russia is conse- This testimony was con- crated by name. firmed by Sister Lucy in a

29 handwritten letter to Father and solemn ceremony of Umberto, which the priest also reparation and Consecra- published. (See photographic tion of Russia. Pope John reproduction below.) Paul II simply renewed the consecration of the world executed by Pius XII on October 31, 1942. From this consecration we can expect some benefits, but not the conversion of Russia.”58 She concluded: “The Consecration of Russia has not been done as Our Lady had demanded it. I was not able to say it be- cause I did not have the per- mission of the Holy See.”59 A translation of the letter A year later, on March 25, reads: “Reverend Father Um- 1984, Pope John Paul II made berto, in replying to your ques- an act of offering wherein he tion, I will clarify: Our Lady again consecrated “the world”, of Fatima, in Her request, re- not Russia. As with the 1982 ferred only to the Consecration consecration, “each bishop did of Russia ... - Coimbra, April 13, not organize in his own diocese 1980 (signed) Sister Lucia” a public and solemn ceremony Again, on March 19, 1983, of reparation and Consecration at the request of Pope John Paul of Russia”. Concerning this cer- II, Sister Lucy met with the Pa- emony Frère François writes: pal Nuncio Archbishop Porta- “In the months which followed lupi, Dr. Lacerda, and Father the act of offering of March 25, Messias Coelho. During this 1984, which was only a renewal meeting, Sister Lucy confirmed of the act of 1982, the principal that Pope John Paul’s consecra- scholars of Fatima agreed in tion of 1982 did not fulfill the saying that the Consecration of requests of Our Lady. Sister Russia had not yet been done as Lucy said: Heaven wished it.”60 “In the act of offering of Such was also the convic- May 13, 1982, Russia did not tion of Father Antonio Maria appear as being the object of Martins,61 and of Father Mes- the consecration. And each sias Coelho who, on the eve of bishop did not organize in March 25, 1984, had announced his own diocese a public in Mensagem de Fátima, of which

30 “Our Lady is sad because no one is paying attention to Her Message.” ...Sister Lucy

Jacinta Francisco Lucy

31 he was the publisher-editor, Our Lady when he consecrated “Consecration of Russia: It will the world in 1984. Sister Lucy not be done yet this time.” He replied: “There was no participa- further explained, “It is certain tion of all the bishops, and there the more contains the less. Ap- was no mention of Russia.” She parently therefore, the ‘con- was then asked, “So the conse- secration of the world’ will cration was not done as requested perhaps give the impression by Our Lady?”, to which she of having the power to take replied: “No. Many bishops at- the place of consecrating spe- tached no importance to this act.”64 cifically Russia. However, the Even Father Rene Lauren- problem cannot be resolved in tin, well-known for his “pro- logical terms, nor even in the gressive” views, admitted in light of systematic theology.”62 1986 that “Sister Lucy remains These theologians based unsatisfied65 ... Lucy seems to their statements not only on think that the Consecration has the bald fact that a Consecra- ‘not been made’ as Our Lady tion of Russia needs to mention wanted it.”66 the word “Russia”, but also on Then on July 20, 1987, Sister the testimony of Sister Lucy Lucy was interviewed quickly herself. outside her convent while vot- On Thursday, March 22, ing. Here she told journalist 1984, three days before the act Enrique Romero that the Con- of offering, the Carmel of Co- secration of Russia has not been imbra was celebrating Sister done as requested.67 Lucy’s seventy-seventh birth- Why Has Russia Not day. She received on that day, as Been Consecrated? was her custom, her old friend Mrs. Eugenia Pestana. After Why, then, has Russia not extending good wishes to her been consecrated?67a Why have Carmelite friend, Mrs. Pestana we had instead ceremonies asked, “Then Lucy, Sunday is consecrating the world with no the Consecration?” Sister Lucy, mention of Russia? who had already received and In the simplest possible read the text of the Pope’s con- terms, the answer is that, in secration formula, made a neg- recent times, certain members ative sign and declared: “That of the Vatican apparatus have consecration cannot have a de- counseled the Pope not to men- cisive character.”63 tion Russia in any consecra- In a 1985 interview in Sol de tion ceremony, since in their Fátima, Sister Lucy was asked if view this would be seen as a the Pope fulfilled the request of “provocation” of Russia and

32 an insult to the Russian Or- the relation between the Mes- thodox that could damage the sage of Fatima and the current “ecumenical relations” with crisis in the Catholic Church. which the Vatican has been ex- Does Not a Consecration perimenting since the Second of the World Suffice? Vatican Council.67b This atti- tude was explicitly confirmed It is argued that Pope John by a Vatican-level prelate in the Paul II’s consecration of the November 2000 issue of Inside world in 1984 sufficed for a the Vatican. This prelate, a lead- consecration of Russia since, ing Cardinal identified only as after all, Russia is “part of” “one of the Pope’s closest ad- the world. Putting aside for visors,” is quoted to the effect the moment all of Sister Lucy’s that “Rome fears the Russian testimony to the contrary, this Orthodox might regard it as an argument quickly dissolves un- ‘offense’ if Rome were to make der the application of simple specific mention of Russia in common sense. such a prayer, as if Russia es- According to the dic- pecially is in need of help when tionary, the word consecrate the whole world, including the means “to declare or set apart post-Christian West, faces pro- as sacred: consecrate a church.” found problems ...” The same (American Heritage Dictionary) Cardinal-advisor added: “Let The dictionary example of the us beware of becoming too lit- word’s meaning is perfect for eral-minded.” our purposes. It is simple com- Thus, “Rome” — meaning mon sense that a local bishop a few members of the Vatican cannot consecrate a new Catho- apparatus who advise the Pope lic church for worship by con- — has decided not to honor the secrating his whole diocese on specific request of Our Lady of the theory that the new church Fatima for a public Consecration is “part of” the diocese. Obvi- of Russia. The historical events ously, in order to consecrate which have led up to this failure a specific church building for to honor the Virgin’s specific re- worship, that building must quest are far too complex to dis- be set apart from all the other cuss here. The reader is invited buildings in the diocese and to consult The Devil’s Final Battle specifically declared a place of (second edition) and World En- Catholic worship. slavement or Peace ...It’s Up to the Furthermore, it defies logic Pope (both available from the to argue that Russia can be con- addresses on page 65), both of secrated in a ceremony from which give a detailed study of which any mention of Russia

33 has been deliberately omitted who had never used a comput- precisely so that no one would er to write letters) from 1989, think that Russia in particular which she purportedly signed. was being consecrated. To re- The purported letter, which call the words of the Cardinal states that the Consecration quoted in Inside the Vatican, was accomplished in 1984, is certain members of the Vatican revealed as an obvious fake by apparatus wish to avoid giving its further statement that Pope any impression that “Russia Paul VI consecrated the world especially is in need of help.” to the Immaculate Heart of Yet Russia’s special need for Mary during his visit to Fatima spiritual assistance is precisely in 1967. In fact, Paul VI per- the reason the Virgin requested formed no such consecration. the consecration of that nation The real Sister Lucy could not to Her Immaculate Heart. And have made such a mistake, as it is also why Sister Lucy has she was present for the entire attested, over and over again, visit, during which Paul VI con- that a Consecration of Russia, secrated absolutely nothing. and nothing but Russia, is what Sister Lucy has never been Heaven requires in order for produced in person to refute the world to obtain the prom- her testimony concerning the ises of the Virgin of Fatima. inadequacy of the 1984 conse- Has Sister Lucy cration of the world. Further- “Changed” Her more, if any such repudiation were extracted from Sister Testimony? Lucy under the guise of obedi- Opponents of the Conse- ence to her superiors, it would cration of Russia (including not represent her own free and certain members of the Vatican voluntary statement — just as apparatus) have attempted to Sister Lucy’s request to Pius XII persuade Catholics that Sister that he consecrate the world Lucy has repudiated all her with “special mention of Rus- former statements, and now sia” was not her idea, but that says that the consecration of of her bishop-confessor, which the world in 1984 sufficed for she expressed in her letter only a Consecration of Russia. The under obedience. only thing they have failed to produce in this regard was Sis- Russia’s Manifest Failure ter Lucy herself! Instead they to Undergo Conversion proffer such “evidence” as a Even if we put aside both computer-generated letter (Sis- our common sense and the un- ter Lucy was a cloistered nun wavering testimony of Sister

34 Lucy, there is still a principle of either the Mother of God has human reason, taught by Saint misled us, or those who have Thomas Aquinas, that against a substituted a consecration of fact there is no argument (contra the world for the Consecration factum non argumentum est). That of Russia have misled us. Since is, no matter what anyone says, the Mother of God cannot mis- no matter what the authority lead us, the second alternative of anyone speaking to the con- is the only logical conclusion. trary, a fact cannot be negated. The empirical evidence also Thus, if even the Pope him- compels us to accept the second self were to declare that the Eif- alternative. Since the consecra- fel Tower is located in Saint tions of the world in 1982 and Peter’s Square that would not 1984, Russia has not only failed make it so, for there is no argu- to convert, but has undergone ment against the fact that the a dramatic spiritual, moral and Eiffel Tower is located in Paris. material decline. We will here Therefore, even those in au- summarize some of the over- thority in the Church who de- whelming evidence in this re- clare that a consecration of the gard: world suffices for a Consecra- No Religious Conversion tion of Russia—and the Pope is conspicuously not among these in Russia authority figures—cannot use a Russia has manifestly failed mere “argument from author- to embrace the Catholic Faith, ity” to trump an undeniable is persecuting the Church, and fact. cannot possibly be said to have Where Fatima is concerned, converted. the undeniable fact is that Rus- A. No conversion to the Faith. sia has not been converted Father Joaquin Alonso, since the consecrations of the probably the foremost Fatima world in 1982 and 1984. Yet the expert of the 20th Century, had Virgin promised that Russia many interviews with Sister “will be converted” following Lucy. In 1976 he wrote: its consecration to Her Immac- “... we should affirm ulate Heart and that Her Im- that Lucia always thought maculate Heart “will triumph” that the ‘conversion’ of Rus- in a period of world peace. sia is not to be limited to Given that the Church has ap- the return of the Russian proved the Message of Fatima people to the Orthodox as an authentic prophecy of Christian religions, rejecting the Mother of God, we are con- the Marxist atheism of the fronted with two alternatives: Soviets, but rather, it refers

35 purely, plainly and simply five in Kazakhstan. Ninety- to the total, integral conver- five percent of the priests sion of Russia to the one and nuns in Russia are for- true Church of Christ, the eign born. In Archbishop Bu- Catholic Church.”68 kovsky’s frank opinion the In this context Catholics Catholic Church “is small.”69 have never understood the • According to the Vatican, word “conversion” to mean there are 500,000 Catholics anything other than a conver- in Russia, and most of these sion to Catholicism. It is non- are in Siberia, where Stalin sensical therefore to argue, as had sent their grandparents some do, that by “conversion” in exile.70 the Mother of God—Who is Statistics revealed by the also known by Catholics under flagship Russian Embassy in the title Mother of the Catholic Washington, D.C. paint a grim Church—meant that Russia picture for Roman Catholicism would embrace the Orthodox in “converted” Russia as of religion following the “fall 2009.71 According to the Em- of communism” in 1991. The bassy report on “Religion in Mother of the Catholic Church Russia” today, did not come to Fatima to an- • The Russian Orthodox have nounce the conversion of Rus- nearly 5,000 approved re- sia to a non-Catholic religion. ligious associations in the What is more, Russian Ortho- country: the Muslims, 3,000; doxy was already the predomi- the Baptists, 450; the Old Be- nant religion in Russia when lievers, over 200; and Roman Our Lady appeared at Fatima. Catholics only 200—only 130 Therefore, according to this more than the “Hari Krishna argument, Russia would al- people,” who have 68. ready have been “converted” in • All told, Russia’s 2 million 1917 and Our Lady of Fatima’s Protestants have 1,150 com- statement that Russia “will be munities, or five times more converted” would have been than the Catholics. senseless. • The number of Muslims in Furthermore, more than Russia (19 million) is about 25 years after the ceremony of thirty-eight times higher than 1984, Catholics remain a tiny the number of Catholics. and benighted minority in Rus- • There were 150 Roman Cath- sia. Consider these facts: olic parishes before the Rus- • There are a mere ten Russian- sian Revolution in 1917, but born priests in the whole today there are only 83 par- country—five in Siberia and ishes. 36 37 If this is a “conversion of three months to seek renew- Russia” then the word “conver- al, which can be denied at sion” has lost its meaning. any time and for any reason, B. The Church is persecuted often for no reason at all. in Russia. • In 2002 Russian authorities Not only has Russia mani- began expelling non-Rus- festly failed to embrace the sian Catholic clergy from Catholic Faith since 1984—the the country. As of Novem- only reasonable meaning of the ber 2002 five priests, includ- word “conversion”—the years ing the bishop for Siberia, since 1984 have witnessed a Bishop Jerzy Mazur, had steady decline of the Church’s been expelled and their visas position in Russia, to the point confiscatedwithout explana- where the Church has been un- tion. Bishop Mazur learned dergoing outright persecution that he had been added to a under the Yeltsin regime and secret “list” of Catholic cler- now today the Putin/Medeved gy who are considered “un- regime. desirables” and will no lon- Consider these facts: ger be allowed to enter Rus- sian territory. After ignoring • In 1997 Russia enacted a new even the Pope’s request for law on “freedom of con- an explanation of the expul- science” which gave privi- sions, Vladimir Putin sent leged status to Russian Or- a perfunctory letter stating thodoxy, Islam, Judaism and nothing more than that the Buddhism as Russia’s “tradi- expulsions were in accor- tional religions,” while for- dance with Russian law.72 bidding Catholic “prosely- tism” and requiring Catholic • The Russian Orthodox hier- parishes to obtain approval archy exploded in outrage from local bureaucrats for when the Vatican announced their very existence. in February 2002 that its “ap- ostolic administrations” in • The small percentage of Russia would be designated Catholics who even go to as dioceses. These would Mass on Sunday (most of not even be dioceses in the them in Siberia) is depen- traditional Catholic sense. dent almost entirely on a There would, for example, total of 165 Russian priests, be only an “Archdiocese of nearly all of whom are for- the Mother of God at Mos- eign-born clerics not allowed cow”; and the Archbishop in into Russia without visitor’s charge of this structure will visas that require a depar- not be called the Archbishop ture from the country every 38 of Moscow, lest the Vatican of the “Archdiocese of the give offense to the then Rus- Mother of God at Moscow”, sian Orthodox Partriarch of claimed that “It’s all a mis- Moscow, the ex-KGB agent, understanding,” referring to Alexy II. Orthodox charges that the • On March 2, 2002, the Pope Catholic Church is “prosely- conducted a Saturday prayer tizing” in Russia. service that was broadcast • An Associated Press story from the Vatican by satellite on Kondrusiewicz’s reaction into Russia. The broadcast to Orthodox hostility not- was totally blacked out by ed that “Parishioners have the same Russian television come to Kondrusiewicz in networks then under Vladi- tears recently, complaining mir Putin’s thumb. Only by that the indignant rhetoric shipping special equipment by Orthodox leaders on na- into the country (that was tional newscasts since Feb. held up at customs until the 11 has made them afraid to last possible moment) could practice their faith.”74 a few thousand Catholics • Archbishop Kondrusiewicz see the Pope on television has issued a formal protest screens set up at Assump- on behalf of the Conference tion Cathedral in Moscow. of Catholic Bishops of Rus- The BBC reported that “Pa- sia, entitled “Religious Lib- triarch Alexy of the Russian erty in Russia is in Serious Orthodox Church said it (the Danger.” The protest de- satellite broadcast) was an clares: ‘invasion of Russia’ and re- “Catholics in Russia ask ferred to the Polish occupa- themselves: What will hap- tion of Moscow in the early pen next? Are the constitu- 17th Century. John-Paul is of tional guarantees valid also Polish origin.”73 Hence, af- for them, including liberty ter 40 years of Ostpolitik and of conscience and of the “ecumenical dialogue”, the right to have their own pas- Orthodox hierarchy will not tors, which comprises invit- even tolerate a video image ing them from abroad, not of the Pope in even one sin- forgetting that for 81 years gle Catholic church in Mos- the Catholic Church was de- cow. prived of the right of form- • Trying to put a happy face ing and ordaining its own on the debacle in Russia, priests? Perhaps the State Archbishop Tadeusz Kon- really considers Catholics drusiewicz, the then-head second-class citizens? Are

39 On Dec. 8, 1983, Pope John Paul II wrote to all the bishops of the world, asking them to join with him on March 25, 1984 in consecrating the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He included with his letter his prepared text of consecration. On March 25, 1984, the Pope, making the consecration before the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, departed from his prepared text to add the words highlighted above and translated in the red pull-out section above. As you can see, they were reported in L’Osservatore Romano (on March 26-27, 1984). The words he added at this point indicate clearly that the Pope knew then that the consecration of the world done that day did not fulfill the requests of Our Lady of Fatima.

they (the State) returning sive protest in respect to vi- to the times of persecution olation of the constitutional of the faith? … The expul- rights of Catholics.”75 sion of a Catholic bishop By October 2002 Pope John who has not violated any Paul II’s own spokesman, Joa- law, surpasses all imagin- quin Navarro-Valls, declared able limits of civilized rela- that the actions against the tions between the State and Catholic Church by Russian the Church. … With grave authorities had reached the lev- worry, we express our deci- el of “a true persecution.”76

40 The situation has not im- freedom” to a marginalized proved materially since then. and bureaucratically hounded In at least one way it has gotten tiny minority of priests and worse. As the U.S. State Depart- faithful struggling to survive. ment reported in its 2008 Inter- It is even worse for the national Report on Religious Catholic Church in the neigh- Freedom, in 2007 “the Russian boring “former Soviet repub- government introduced new lics.” Consider these facts: visa rules that allow foreigners • In Romania, at least eleven (including religious workers) Catholic parishes stolen by with business or humanitarian Stalin have been bulldozed visas to spend only 90 of every to the ground rather than re- 180 days in the country.”77 turned to their rightful own- In other words, the new ers after the “fall of Commu- visa rules create a preposter- nism” in 1990.78 ous situation for the Church • In Belarus, Catholic World in Russia: nearly every Catholic News Service (CWN) report- priest in the country is obliged to ed on January 10, 2002 that leave Russia for what amounts there are “disturbing new to six months out of every year indications of hostility to the and to reapply at least twice a Catholic Church” and that year for readmission at the dis- “the broadcasting of Sun- cretion of bureaucrats. As the day Mass on the State radio State Department notes, the service has been canceled Catholic Church is “particular- without warning.” As CWN ly hard hit by this provision” noted, “Belarus is officially a because, given the almost total secular State … [I]ts authori- lack of Russian-born priests—a tarian President Aleksandr quarter-century after Russia’s Lukashenko, although he supposed “conversion”—the proclaims himself to be an Church is forced to rely “almost atheist, nevertheless looks exclusively on priests from outside to the Orthodox Church for the country…” The new provi- support in his policy of the sion thus “limits their [priests ‘integration’ of Belarus with serving in Russia] ability to Russia.” In November 2002, work and significantly increas- Lukashenko signed into law es their expenses.” a bill that subjects all reli- The aim of the 2007 law is gious bodies, including the clear: to prevent the Catholic Catholic Church, to state Church from sinking any roots regulation, including reg- in Russian soil, while giving the istration requirements, the false appearance of “religious requirement of government

41 approval of all religious lit- Russians aged 18-29 do not go erature before publication, to church.80 and a ban on most religious In fact, the aforementioned meetings in private homes.79 report by the Russian embassy The evidence of perse- in Washington reveals that sixty cutions against the Catholic percent of the Russian people do not Church in Belarus, Kazakhstan, identify themselves as having any Moldova, Romania, Transylva- religion at all, not even the nomi- nia and elsewhere in “the for- nal Russian Orthodoxy that al- mer Soviet Union” could be most no one practices seriously. multiplied endlessly. There has been no “moral To speak of a “conversion conversion” in Russia. of Russia” to the Catholic Faith despite all these facts is, quite Twisting the meaning of simply, ludicrous. No wonder “conversion” even further Fatima revisionists have tried away from its true meaning, to redefine the word “conver- certain Fatima revisionists ar- sion” to make their false claims gue that there has been some fit the evidence. sort of “moral conversion” or C. Russia has not even “con- “turning away from evil” in verted” to Russian Ortho- Russia since 1984. But not even doxy. this has taken place. Quite the contrary, since 1984 Russia has One of the revised mean- undergone a rapid moral de- ings of “conversion” the Fati- cline, as if to make a mockery ma revisionists have proposed of this revisionist claim. is an alleged “conversion of Consider these facts: Russia” to Russian Orthodoxy, • Today, Russia has the high- already mentioned above. But est abortion rate in the world even if this claim could be rec- at 53.7 per 1,000 women onciled with the plain words between the ages of 15 and of Our Lady of Fatima—and it 44—a rate even higher than cannot—it too founders on the that in China (which has evidence. more total abortions).81 Here it suffices to note that • Fr. Daniel Maurer, C.J.D., more than 25 years after the who spent eight years in supposed Consecration of Rus- Russia, says that statistically, sia in 1984, nearly all of those the average Russian woman who designate themselves Rus- will have eight abortions sian Orthodox do not practice during her childbearing their religion. The Economist years—though Fr. Maurer notes that “Russia is suffering a believes the actual number crisis of faith” and that 94% of 42 averaged out to be about 12 Associated Press reported abortions per woman. He on a Moscow-based child has spoken to women who pornography ring linked to have had as many as 25 another child pornography abortions. A major reason for ring in Texas. To quote AP: these dreadful figures is that “Russian law does not dis- other contraceptive methods tinguish between child por- (which are immoral anyway) nography and pornography have not been introduced in involving adults, and treats Russia, nor are they trusted. the production and distri- This leaves abortion as the bution of either as a minor “cheapest way to limit the crime, said Dmitry Chep- family size.”82 chugov, head of the Russian • In Russia, abortions are free, Interior Ministry’s depart- but childbirth is not.83 ment for high technology • The Russian birth rate is crimes. Russian police often plummeting and Russia’s complain about the legal population is dropping at chaos that has turned Rus- the rate of 700,000 people sia into an international each year — an unprec- center of child pornography edented event in a civilized production. ‘Unfortunately, nation during “peacetime.”84 Russia has turned into a world • Russia has the highest al- trash bin of child pornography,’ cohol consumption in the Chepchugov told reporters 88 world.85 in Moscow.” • Satanism, occultism and • Russians are addicted to witchcraft are on the rise grossly immoral “reality- in Russia, as even the then based” TV. On the vilest of Russian Orthodox patriarch, the “reality-based” shows, Alexy II, publicly admitted.86 cameras film the intimate • Homosexuality is rampant personal lives of Russian in Moscow and throughout “couples,” including their the country. In fact, in April activity breaking the 6th 1993, nine years after the Commandment. Despite 1984 “consecration”, Boris grumbles of disapproval Yeltsin allowed homosexu- from old hard-line Com- ality to be de-criminalized. munists, Russian viewers Homosexuality is now “le- “cannot get enough” of this gal” in Russia.87 pornography. The program • Russia is a leading world “boasts an audience share center for the distribution of more than 50% and thou- of child pornography. The sands of Russians have en- 43 dured sub-zero tempera- headlined “Russia: A totalitar- tures and stood in line for ian regime in thrall to a Tsar more than an hour to catch a who’s creating the new Fascist glimpse of it through a win- empire,” observes that Putin has dow of the apartment. Mil- arranged Russian affairs so that lions have logged on to the the country’s so-called “Presi- website, which has crashed dent” Medvedev operates as frequently under the weight nothing more than his executive of the heavy traffic.”89 assistant, and that “No decision No “Political Conversion” of any significance for the Rus- sian people or the rest of us will in Russia be made in the foreseeable fu- Another argument of the ture without the say-so of Med- Fatima revisionists, noted al- vedev’s unsmiling master.”90 ready, is that “conversion of Reviving the Soviet era Russia” means only regime change since the “fall of com- and “rehabilitating” Stalin munism.” Of course, Our In conjunction with his sys- Lady did not come to Fatima tematic takeover of the mass to announce a Russian regime media, Putin has been coordi- change in the 1990s. The claim nating a campaign to bring back is absurd. Nevertheless, here the “glory days” of the “former too the Fatima revisionists are Soviet Union.” He has restored confounded by the evidence. the Soviet (i.e. Communist) na- By now the whole world tional anthem and ordered the knows that since he rose to production of a commemora- power in 1999, Vladimir Putin tive calendar glorifying the has systematically made him- Soviet-era Lubyanka Prison self the virtual dictator of Rus- (capstone of the Soviet gulag) sia: arresting and imprisoning and the Soviet-era butcher Fe- his domestic critics on trumped lix Dzerzhinsky (who gloried in up charges; shutting down all torturing humans before killing opposition media; outlawing them). the popular election of Russia’s It was none other than local governors and replacing Dzerzhinsky who founded them with Kremlin appointees. the KGB, authorized the tor- Nor has the situation ture and execution of Catho- changed since 2008, with the lic priests, and presided over “election” of Dmitry Anatolyev- Lenin’s liquidation of the Rus- ich Medvedev as “President” of sian middle class. The calendar Russia. Russian expert Jonathan commemorating this criminal Dimbleby’s in-depth report, against humanity is for use in

44 the offices of the KGB, which conservatively estimated 20- has been strategically renamed 30 million people Stalin mur- the FSB. This development is dered, including some five mil- in keeping with the situation lion Catholic peasants in the observed by British historian Ukraine? Orlando Figes, who has con- Nor is this just nostalgia on ducted extensive research on the part of older Russians for Stalin’s crimes: “What we have their “great leader.” In a July now [in Russia] effectively is 2007 poll, 54 percent of Russian the KGB in power.”91 youth agreed with the state- Egged on by Putin’s Krem- ment “Stalin did more good lin, the Russian people are even than bad” and half agreed with “rediscovering” the “virtues” the statement that Stalin was “a of Josef Stalin, the very incar- wise leader.”94 nation of the evil of Commu- What does it tell us about nism and the errors of Russia. the spiritual state of the Rus- On December 27, 2008, the sian people that a substantial Russian expert Richard Galpin number of them, both young of the BBC’s Moscow bureau and old, would revere a satanic reported that during a nation- madman, perhaps the worst wide TV poll on the question persecutor of Catholics in hu- of who is “the greatest Russian man history, who all but exter- of all time,” none other than minated the Church in Russia? Stalin, the butcher of millions This development reflects of Catholics, led the pack with what Galpin describes as “a more than 3.5 million votes. much broader campaign to re- Stalin dropped from first place habilitate Stalin” that “seems to only after the show’s producer be coming from the highest lev- “appealed to viewers to vote els of government.” Historian for someone else.” The other Alexander Danilov told Galpin poll leaders included Ivan the that “I believe it was the idea of Terrible and Lenin.92 former President, now Prime Sergei Malinkovich, leader Minister, Vladimir Putin. It fits of the St. Petersburg Commu- completely with the political nist Party, has stated that: “In course we have had for the last all opinion polls he [Stalin] eight years…”95 comes out on top as the most Galpin identifies the source popular figure. Nobody else of this “unity” as “Putinism”— comes close. So for his service a “strident form of nationalism” to this country we can forgive according to which “Russians his mistakes.”93 Forgive his are to be proud of their history, “mistakes”? What about the not ashamed, and so those in-

45 vestigating and cataloguing the than a supposed “turning away atrocities of the past are no lon- from war,” a kind of “martial ger welcome.” conversion,” as if to suggest By mysterious coincidence, that Putin’s Russia is beating its a national cult of Vladimir swords into plowshares, and Putin has “spontaneously” that this “miracle” has resulted emerged since 1999, including from the 1984 “consecration” T-shirts decorated with his face, ceremony. Yet again, the facts immortalization in children’s demolish the fantasy. Let us books, sculptures, obsequious consider only a few of them: media coverage and speeches • Russia has stepped up the “in praise of the great leader,” pace of its nuclear weapons all reflecting the reality that Pu- development. In June 2007 tin loyalists… now dominate globalsecurity.org, in a report the bureaucracy, parliament entitled “Weapons of Mass and state broadcasting.”96 Destruction,” reported on a These political develop- major and quite threatening ments were all summed up by “upgrade” of Russia’s ballis- Yelena Bonner, widow of the So- tic missile arsenal: the RS-24, viet dissident physicist Andrei a “new-generation intercon- Sakharov, when they first be- tinental ballistic missile… gan: “Under Putin, a new stage equipped with a multiple in the introduction of modernized independently targetable Stalinism has begun. Authori- reentry vehicle (MIRV) war- tarianism is growing harsher, head…” The new missile is society is being militarized, the “expected to greatly strength- military budget is increasing.”97 en” Russia’s “strike capability, Given all these facts, to hold as well as that of its allies un- that there has been a “miracu- til the mid-21st century.”98 lous political conversion” of • Further, Russia has devel- Russia since the “consecration” oped single-warhead RT- of 1984, and that this is what 2UTTH Topol-M missiles, Our Lady of Fatima promised, which Vladimir Putin boast- is not only preposterous, but an ed during a televised press insult to the Mother of God. conference “are hypersonic and capable of changing No “Martial Conversion” in their flightpath,” and which, Russia according to one military Some Fatima revision- analyst, “act like a ‘swarm of ists even go so far as to pro- bees.’”99 pose a “conversion of Russia” • On August 4, 2009 Russia amounting to nothing more resumed nuclear attack sub

46 An artist’s rendering of the Rianjo 1931 message “Make it known ...” (see page 52). patrols off the United States not to Russian Orthodoxy, not coast for the first time in fif- morally, not politically, not mili- teen years, “a rare mission tarily, not even economically.102 that has raised concerns in- Furthermore, as the rampant side the Pentagon and in- practice of abortion in Russia to- telligence agencies about a day demonstrates, Russian so- more assertive stance by the ciety has not even converted to Russian military.”100 an adherence to the most basic As the Russians rattle their requirements of the natural law. nuclear sabers, they are also The same is true, of course, ramping up their military al- of societies throughout the liance with China, which was world, nearly a century after kicked off in a big way with a Russia began to spread her er- massive joint Russian-Chinese rors. As Pope Pius XII observed military exercise in August in his letter of February 11, 1949: 2007. “This new potent military “We are overwhelmed with sad- alliance,” writes Paul Craig ness and anguish, seeing that Roberts, “is a real world re- the wickedness of perverse men sponse to neoconservative de- has reached a degree of impiety lusions about US hegemony.”101 that is unbelievable and absolutely Delusions they are. unknown in other times.” The idea that Putin’s na- Two years later Pius XII de- tionalistic Russia no longer clared (in the encyclical Evan- poses any threat to peace and gelii praecones): “The world to- stability in the world because day is worse than before the Flood.” of a 1984 ceremony at the Vati- And Pius said these things even can which deliberately avoided before Russia’s “legalization” any mention of Russia is itself of abortion had spread to ev- a delusion. There has been no ery nation, along with the rest “martial conversion” of Russia. of Russia’s errors—precisely as Conclusion: Our Lady of Fatima predicted. Those who insist there has No “Conversion” of Any been a “conversion of Rus- Kind in Russia sia” since 1984 and that the There is no argument “Fatimists” are just “prophets against a fact, and the facts will of doom” are like those who admit no contrary conclusion: scoffed at Noah as he worked Russia has not converted in year after year on the build- any sense of the word—not to ing of his saving Ark, while it the Catholic Faith (which is the seemed to the scoffers that their only correct signification of the comfortable world would go word “convert” in this context), on forever.

48 World Peace NOW! God, in His great love for mankind, wants to give all men the great gift of world peace. In all the 6000 years of mankind’s recorded history, there have been more than 14,400 wars. God wants to bring an end to all wars but mankind does not deserve this great grace. As Our Lady of Fatima said: “War is a punish- ment for sin.” Peace, on the other hand, comes only from God through the Prince of Peace — Jesus Christ. Our generation is worse than many other times. Pope Pius XII said: “The world today (1951) is worse than before the flood.” Today, in 2010, the world is even worse with legalized crimes against God and man, such as the abortion of 50,000,000 innocent victims every year whose blood cries to Heaven for vengeance. Nevertheless, God still wants to give peace to all mankind but only if we will obey the Fatima Message. Why this Consecration? Why is it that God insists on the Consecration of Russia to bring about world peace? The reason is simple and is as follows: God knows that if He gave us this gift, this great grace of world peace, somehow proud mankind would think that they deserve it and that it was due to their own human efforts and their secular (that is, excluding God) procedures and diplomacy which brought about this peace. Thus, mankind’s state would be worse than before because it would increase men’s pride and make them even more arrogant and displeasing to God. So God cannot simply give this great gift. He has to find a way to give it to us without increasing our pride and stubbornness. That is why God will only give this gift through the merits and in- tercession of a saint. The book The Confessions of St. Augustine ex- plains that certain graces God reserves, God will not give except through the merits and intercession of the saints. World peace is a great grace and it is reserved to the Blessed Virgin Mary alone. That is why at Fatima, Our Lady says: “Only I can help you.” Why Our Lady? St. Alphonsus explains that it is a great thing for a man or a woman to live a holy enough life to actually merit to save their own soul. It is a greater thing, he tells us, for a man or woman to be holy enough to merit not only their own salvation but the sal- vation of other souls. And this, St. Alphonsus tells us, is what the canonized saints of the Catholic Church have done. But, he says, the greatest of all things is for one human per- 49 son to merit enough grace for the salvation of all other human persons and that, the Blessed Virgin Mary alone has done. That is why God has decreed that He will give the grace of world peace only through the merits and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Why this Consecration Must be Public and Solemn God wants the rest of mankind to recognize that this gift of world peace has come to them not through their own merits and their own good works and their own efforts but only through the merits and prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary. That is why He will not convert Russia unless, and until, the Pope and the bishops publicly, solemnly consecrate specifically Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary so that when the miracu- lous conversion of Russia takes place, everyone can see that it was a result of the consecration, of the dedication of that people and country to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Once Russia has for- mally and publicly and solemnly been given to Her by the chief ministers of Her Son’s One True Church, then She will be allowed by God to give the graces of conversion to the whole people of Russia at once. Sister Lucy of Fatima has pointed out that Russia is a very well-defined country and when the people of the world see that that one country is converted suddenly and miraculously, they will be able to see that it is a result of the obedience of the Pope and the bishops to the command by Jesus and Mary that Russia be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart. To Establish in the World Devotion to the Immaculate Heart Then people everywhere will recognize that it is through the merits and intercession of the Blessed Virgin that Russia has received this stupendous grace. Thereby, the world will turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary asking for Her intercession on behalf of themselves for their spiritual and temporal needs and those of their dear ones. Thus, they too will receive great graces from Our Lady because they have asked Her and prayed to Her and hon- ored Her. Thus, the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary will be established in the world. And because of this devotion, many more souls will be saved. When Lucy of Fatima asked Our Lord why without the Con- secration of Russia He would not convert Russia away from its errors and convert it into a fervent believing Catholic nation, He Continued on page 61 50 A Decisive Moment in World History In the year 2010, we face world peace in our time will precisely the situation fore- suffice, save the one God pre- warned by the Virgin at Fatima scribed for man at Fatima. For if Her request for the Consecra- once God has sent a prophet to tion of Russia were not heeded: proclaim a remedy for a prob- Russia has “spread her errors lem of the human condition — throughout the world, causing as He did with Naaman, who wars and persecutions against was told to bathe seven times the Church.” The good have in the River Jordan to cure his been martyred, with no end in leprosy — it is impossible for sight, and the Holy Father has God to revise His instruction. had, and will continue to have, God does not change His “much to suffer.” mind, nor does God retract Abortion remains ram- His commands to suit human pant around the world, while preferences. “For I am the the march of homosexualism Lord, and I change not” (Mala- through once Christian nations chi 3:6). In this case, therefore, threatens to impose criminal God will not substitute a con- penalties on those who rightly secration of the world for a uphold the Church’s condem- Consecration of Russia merely nation of sodomy. The debacle because the Pope’s advisors in Iraq, the explosive situation think a Consecration of Russia in the Middle East, the threat of is politically inadvisable. All a nuclear North Korea and a nu- human efforts to amend God’s clear China allied with Russia, instructions will produce only and the proliferation of earth- failure and ruin. Just as Naa- quakes, tsunamis, hurricanes man would have remained a and other natural disasters leper had he bathed only six around the world — combine times in the Jordan or chosen to bring us ever closer to the some other river in which to brink of an apocalypse. Even bathe, so will the decline of the non-religious people sense that world toward disaster continue the world cannot continue in to accelerate unless and until this way for much longer. As the precise remedy prescribed the Mother of God warned us, by God’s chosen prophet for if we do not act in time, “various our time — the Mother of God nations will be annihilated.” Herself — is applied. No other approach to However, there is still time

51 to avert catastrophe. Sister John Paul II himself called the Lucy’s diaries record that at obligation imposed upon the Rianjo, Spain in August 1931 Church at Fatima. Our Lord, speaking of a pro- We must pray for the Pope tracted failure of His ministers and the bishops to do the Con- to consecrate Russia, told her: secration. Jesus said: “Pray “Make it known to My very much for the Holy Father. ministers, given that they fol- He will do it, but it will be late.” low the example of the King of We must remember Our France in delaying the execu- tion of My command,103 they Lady’s promise and prediction. will follow him into misfor- She said: “In the end, My Im- tune … They [the ministers of maculate Heart will triumph. the Catholic Church] did not The Holy Father will conse- want to heed My command. crate Russia to Me, which will Like the King of France they be converted, and a period of will repent of it, and they will peace will be granted to the do it, but it will be late. Russia world.” It will be “in the end,” will already have spread her after a great struggle. We need errors throughout the world, to remember that Jesus told us, causing wars and persecu- “It is never too late to have re- tions against the Church. The Holy Father will have much to course to Jesus and Mary.” We suffer.”104 must pray, especially the Rosa- ry. Remember the Fatima Mes- How late it will be, and sage tells us: “Only Our Lady whether the final consequence of the Rosary can help you.” of the annihilation of nations can be avoided, depends upon We must remember Jesus our prayers and sacrifices and said: “Make it known to My upon those whom Our Lord ministers...” Take these words referred to as “My ministers.” of Our Lord as directed to It is they — the Pope and the yourself. Be informed about Catholic bishops of the world the full Fatima Message. Read — who are able to heed the all the booklets shown on page Virgin’s request and thus avoid 57 and be sure to tell others, the annihilation of various na- especially the bishops of the tions and the enslavement of Catholic Church, about their the whole world which is the awesome responsibility to do last unfulfilled warning of the the Consecration of Russia be- Fatima prophecy. fore it is too late for all of us in this generation! Give them Consequently, it is these a copy of this booklet and the ministers of the Catholic other Fatima booklets to re- Church who must be peti- mind them of their duty. tioned to fulfill what Pope 52 What Can You Do? What Can Catholics Do? by name, to Mary’s Immaculate What can Catholics, both Heart. lay and clerical, do to bring As Jesus told Sister Lucy, about fulfillment of the - Mes and as she confided in turn to sage of Fatima? Above all, her confessor, “[T]hey [the Pope Catholics must pray! No word and bishops] will repent of it, shall be impossible with God. and they will do it [the Conse- (Luke 1:37) Jesus said: “And all cration], but it will be late. Rus- things whatsoever you shall ask sia will already have spread her in prayer, believing, you shall errors throughout the world, receive.” (Matt. 21:22) He also causing wars and persecutions said: “Without Me you can do against the Church. The Holy nothing.” (John 15:5). We need Father will have much to suf- God’s help in all things, but es- fer.” This repentance, however, pecially in those things that are requires a movement of God’s beyond our human power or grace. And how will they re- control. ceive this grace if people do What should we pray? We not pray for it? “Pray and make should pray above all for those sacrifices for sinners,” Our things necessary for our own Lady of Fatima told us. Let us salvation and then those things pray that the Pope soon has a necessary for our neighbor’s change of heart and performs salvation. We must pray for the the consecration — before it is ends that Our Lady of Fatima too late for many more people. came to secure: the salvation It is Never Too Late of souls and world peace. For There are those that have these ends nothing is more said it is already too late to pre- important, in our time, than vent the final consequences of the collegial Consecration of failure to obey the Fatima Mes- Russia. We cannot dictate the sage. That is not so. Jesus, in Pope’s actions, but we can pray speaking to Sister Lucy, said: “It that he will have a change of is never too late to have recourse heart. Sacred Scripture tells us to Jesus and Mary.” It is never that the heart of the King is in the too late to ask Mary Mediatrix of hand of God. By our prayers we All Graces to obtain from Jesus can move the Pope’s heart so all the graces needed to actual- that he will order his bishops to ly lead the Pope and bishops to participate with him in the au- obey Her requests in time. As thentic Consecration of Russia, Pope Benedict XVI himself de-

53 for Her help, and we must ask for it by praying the Rosary. As Sister Lucy has ex- plained: “... there is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, whether temporal or above all, spiritual, in the person- al life of each one of us, of our families, of the families of the world, or of the reli- gious communities, or even of the life of peoples and na- tions that cannot be solved by the Rosary. There is no problem, I tell you, no mat- ter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary. With the Holy Rosary, we will save ourselves. We will sanctify ourselves. We will console Our Lord and obtain the sal- clared during his visit to Brazil vation of many souls.” in 2007: “There is not a single The problem of the Conse- fruit of grace in the history of cration of Russia can be solved. salvation which does not have It can be solved by enough as a necessary instrument the Catholics praying the Rosary, mediation of Our Lady.”105 fervently and frequently, for We can obtain the graces nec- the intention that the Pope and essary for the Consecration bishops consecrate Russia to of Russia by praying for Our the Immaculate Heart of Mary Lady’s intercession with Jesus. in the specific manner She- re “Only the Lady of the quested in the Fatima Message. Rosary Can Help” This, then is the most im- portant thing we Catholics can How then, should we pray? do: Pray, and pray the Rosary Here too the Message of Fatima — frequently and fervently — provides the answer. At Fatima for the proper Consecration of Our Lady said: “Only She [Our Russia to the Immaculate Heart Lady of the Rosary] can help by the Pope and the Catholic you.” To obtain Our Lady of bishops of the world. the Rosary’s help we must ask 54 Besides praying ourselves, my prayers for the conversion let us also convince others to of the parish sinner.” The Curé pray the Rosary for this inten- of Ars replied: “Did you join tion. Let us, then, organize and fasting with your prayers? Your pray the Block Rosary106 once a prayers become more powerful week, the Rosary before Sun- when joined to sacrifices for day Mass, the Rosary before the conversion of sinners.” The daily Mass. Let us form Ro- parish priest took this advice, sary prayer groups and Rosary and only a few weeks later he processions. Let us initiate and obtained the grace of that sin- maintain Rosary Crusades in ner’s conversion. our towns, our parishes, our Prayer, fasting and alms- dioceses, and throughout our giving are the three means own countries. Sacred Scripture itself admon- The Message of Fatima ishes us to employ if we seek to makes it clear to all that we must obtain God’s graces. join our sacrifices to our prayer. Now, the reader of this Our Lady’s counsel, remember, booklet, either priest or lay- was to “Pray, pray very much, man, might ask himself: Be- and make sacrifices for sinners”. sides prayer and sacrifices, A local parish priest once what else can I do concerning complained to the holy Curé Fatima if the Pope and the bish- of Ars that “God does not hear ops will not act? What Can All Men of Good Will Do? Some years ago Father receive from God if only Her Nicholas Gruner, one of the simple requests were heeded. foremost proponents of the Deeply moved by what he Message of Fatima, found him- had heard, the young man ex- self in conversation with an ear- claimed: “That is the first sign of nest young man who professed hope I have seen for the world to be an agnostic in search of the in a long time.” truth. As they conversed, the The example of this young subject turned to Fatima. The man shows us that the Message young man listened with great of Fatima has the power to ap- attention as Father Gruner ex- peal to all men of good will. For plained the Fatima apparitions, indeed, as Pope John Paul II de- the great public miracle which clared in his sermon at Fatima confirmed their heavenly ori- on May 13, 1982, the Message gin, and the Virgin’s promise “is addressed to every human of the magnificent blessings the being. The love of the Saviour’s Church and the world would Mother reaches every place 55 touched by the work of salva- What is There to Lose? tion. Her care extends to every Even if you remain skepti- individual of our time, and to all cal about the Message of Fatima societies, nations and peoples.” — indeed, even if you do not On the same occasion the believe in it at all — the question Pope, speaking precisely from that confronts you now is the the perspective of Fatima, re- same as that which confronted ferred to “the almost apocalyp- Naaman: What is there to lose by tic menaces looming over na- performing such a simple cer- tions and mankind as a whole.” emony, involving no expense or Men of good will can readily inconvenience to yourself? On see that those menaces have the other hand, consider what grown immeasurably since you could lose if the Consecra- the Pope’s words were spoken tion is not performed and vari- more than 25 years ago. ous nations are annihilated, as Today non-Catholic men of the Virgin warned in a proph- good will, confronted with the ecy whose every other warning Message of Fatima, find them- has thus far been fulfilled. selves in a situation remarkably Therefore, to all men of good similar to that of Naaman. They will who may read this booklet are not Catholics, just as Naa- we extend an earnest invitation man was not a member of the to join us in our cause. There is nation of Israel, but they have nothing to preclude non-Catho- reason to believe that if a par- lics from joining with Catholics ticular command of a prophet to petition the Pope and bishops of God is followed, they will be for the Consecration of Russia. made the beneficiaries of a great For, as Pope John Paul II him- miracle. Naaman was cured of self has declared, on May 13, his leprosy only because he had 1982 at Fatima, the Message of the faith to try a remedy which, Fatima is addressed to every although it seemed strange and human being. It was in recogni- pointless to him, offered the tion of this truth that the young prospect of an immense benefit agnostic spoke of the Message in return for the most minimal as a sign of hope for the whole effort on his part. world. And so it is.

Our Lord asked His devoted servant: What Have YOU Done to Spread Devotion to My Mother’s Immaculate Heart?107 — TO DO THIS — YOU Can Help Spread the Urgent Message of Fatima by distributing these full color, easy to read booklets. =>

56 57 Who Are We? The Fatima Center is a in the world. grassroots association* of Heaven’s Peace Plan: In Catholic priests and lay peo- response to Pope John Paul ple. Their primary mission is II’s statement that “the Mes- to make known the full Mes- sage of Fatima is addressed sage of Our Lady of Fatima to every human being,” the and, as requested by God, Fatima Center began broad- promote devotion to the Im- casting in the spring of 1987 maculate Heart of Mary. The Heaven’s Peace Plan, a world- Fatima Center Apostolate wide radio program featur- was formed in North Amer- ing Father Gruner and guests. ica in 1978 in response to A year later, the Apostolate Our Lady. The founder and began a further expansion of International Director is Fa- its radio ministry to include ther Nicholas Gruner, who regular daily short-wave for more than 30 years has broadcasts of the program dedicated his life to promot- which grew to reach more ing interest in and devotion than 190 nations overseas. to the Message of Our Lady TV Series and TV Docu- of Fatima. mentaries: The Fatima Center The Fatima Crusader: expanded its outreach fur- Shortly after the formation ther through various weekly of Our Lady’s Apostolate, Fa- television broadcasts, and ther Gruner began publish- primetime one-hour docu- ing The Fatima Crusader mag- mentaries. In 1987, Fatima — azine. This magazine is one of featuring Father Gruner and the primary means utilized to hosted by noted actor Ricardo make known Our Lady’s full Montalban — was completed. Fatima Message and its im- More recently, the one-hour pact on the Catholic Church TV documentary on the Fati- and the world. Since its first ma Message, Heaven’s Key to issue over 30 years ago, the Peace, was aired on national magazine has grown from a television in the United States modest circulation of 20,000 and Canada and is now trans- to an estimated readership of lated into various languages more than 1,000,000. It is by for broadcast overseas. In far the largest and most influ- 2008, the full length docu- ential publication on Fatima mentary, The Secret Still Si-

* It is of the type specifically permitted by the New Code of Canon Law.

58 lenced, was completed. sound Catholic books and Books and Publications: magazines on the Fatima In 1988, Immaculate Heart Message. Many more book- Publications, the Fatima Cen- lets, leaflets and pamphlets ter’s book publishing arm, have also been circulated. In published Father Gruner’s 2007 alone, over 7,000,000 first book World Enslave- pieces of Fatima literature ment or Peace... It’s Up to the were distributed in various Pope. This book is primar- languages worldwide. ily about the Consecration Bishops and Priests of Russia request and fills in World Peace Conferences: many details not possible to In 1985 the Fatima Center cover in this short booklet. hosted the first of a number (It is still available from the of Fatima Peace Conferences, Fatima Center, see address inviting Catholic bishops on page 65.) Since 1989, the and priests from around the Apostolate has published world. Conferences have more than a dozen other been held twice in Fatima, books on Fatima-related sub- Portugal; 3 times in Rome, jects, such as the first Eng- Italy; and once in each of lish-language version of The the following places: Mexico Whole Truth About Fatima by City; Hamilton, Canada; Tuy, Frère Michel de la Sainte Spain; São Paulo, Brazil; and Trinité. Chennai, India. The focus of Since 2002, over 200,000 these conferences has been copies of The Devil’s Final — and continues to be — the Battle in English, compiled eternal salvation of many and edited by Father Paul souls, the urgency of the Kramer, have been distribut- Fatima Message and its link ed. It has also been translated to true world peace. and printed in Italian, French Growing Support: De- and Portuguese. This book spite the efforts of some in- is available on the web at fluential clergy within the www.devilsfinalbattle.com. Church to relegate Fatima In 2010, the 2nd edition to the status of a mere pri- has already reached 60,000- vate revelation which can be plus circulation. The second safely ignored or to an event edition is updated, expanded which has no prophetic sig- with 100 new pages of mate- nificance for the present and rial. the near future of mankind, We have circulated more the Apostolate has been suc- than 30 million copies of cessful in garnering the en-

59 thusiastic support of many was redesigned and expand- Catholic clergy around the ed into several new websites world. A public letter to the with hundreds more articles, Holy Father on behalf of the an improved search engine Fatima Center was signed by and an On-line Rosary. 10 Archbishops, 17 bishops, Further Expansion: In 1,900 priests and religious, 1991 the Apostolate opened and 16,000 lay people. The offices in India and the Phil- Fatima Center writes to all ippines. In 1998 an office was the Catholic bishops of the opened in Rome, Italy. world each year. Over 50% The Immaculate Heart of of them have responded and Mary Orphanage: Opened to date, many Catholic bish- in 1995 at the initiative of Fa- ops have signed and sent in ther Gruner and Archbishop their written agreement to Saminini Arulappa, the Im- the Fatima Center indicat- maculate Heart of Mary Or- ing their willingness to fully phanage in Hyderabad, In- comply with Our Lady of dia continues to feed, clothe Fatima’s request for the Con- and educate over 80 children secration of Russia to Her each year and provides a rich Immaculate Heart as a condi- spiritual resource for neigh- tion for world peace. boring communities. In 1999, Outreach: Over the years, Father Gruner joined Arch- the Apostolate has expand- bishop Arulappa in inaugu- ed its outreach to Catholic rating a new fully-equipped clergy, regularly providing orphanage facility to assist important Fatima news and the Apostolate in better serv- information to nearly 160,000 ing these needy children. bishops and priests around In 1999, to further ad- the world (nearly 40% of the minister to the needs of the world’s Catholic clergy). orphans and the surround- 40 Web Sites: Our Fatima ing communities, the Fatima Network (www.fatima.org), Center built and equipped launched in May 1996, is one a medical center adjacent of the largest and most influ- to the orphanage. In 2000, ential Catholic sites on the the Apostolate built a con- Internet, with over a million vent beside the orphanage visitors and 50 million hits to ensure the well-being and each year. In 1998, versions safety of the community of in French, Spanish, Italian, nuns that staff the orphanage German, and Portuguese and medical center as well as were added. In 2004, the site teach the orphans at St. Paul’s

60 Catholic School nearby. to Pope John Paul II’s avowal Volunteers: In recent that the “Message of Fatima years the Apostolate has is more urgent and relevant” added a growing core of today than ever, Father volunteers from around the Gruner and other priests of world who help promote the Apostolate continue to Our Lady’s Fatima Message preach in various dioceses through prayerful support, throughout the world. Fa- distribution of our apostolate ther Gruner travels with the literature and other means. miraculous Pilgrim Virgin Message of Fatima: In Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, response to Pope Benedict blessed by the Pope at Fati- XVI’s proclamation that the ma, Portugal, bringing Her Message of Fatima is the Message of peace and hope most prophetic message of to all Catholics and others of the 20th Century as well as good will everywhere.

World Peace NOW! (Continued from page 50) answered: “Because I want My whole Church to acknowledge that consecration as a triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so that it may extend its homage later on, and put the devotion to this Immaculate Heart beside the devotion to My Sacred Heart.” So that Many Souls Will be Saved So many souls go to hell because of their sins committed against Her Immaculate Heart. By establishing this devotion these crimes against Our Lady will diminish or disappear altogether. So many more souls will be saved. Also, many do not realize that devotion to Our Lady is nec- essary for salvation. By establishing devotion to the Immaculate Heart throughout the world, many souls who would be lost be- cause they did not ask for Our Lady’s intercession will now be saved because they learned to turn to Her in their spiritual needs. Our Lady of Fatima said, after showing the three children the vision of hell: “You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wills to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart.” “If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.” Amen. Let us hasten to obey Her requests and also do all we can to cause all Her requests to be obeyed.

61 FOOTNOTES: (1) Frère Michel de la Sainte Trinité, The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume I: Science and the Facts, (Immaculate Heart Publications, Buffalo, New York, U.S.A., 1989) p. 182. (2) This chapter is largely taken from Frère François de Marie des Anges, Fatima: Intimate Joy World Event, Book One, The Astonishing Truth, (English edition, Immaculate Heart Publications, Buffalo, New York, 1993) Chapter III, pp. 163-198. (3) English translation of text in Sister Lucy’s, “Fourth Memoir”, Fatima in Lucia’s Own Words, (Postulation Centre, Fatima, Portugal, 1976) p. 162. See also The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume I, pp. 181-182. (4) English translation of text in Sister Lucy’s, “Third Memoir”, Fatima in Lucia’s Own Words, p. 104. See also The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume I, p. 182. (5) English translation of text in Sister Lucy’s, “Fourth Memoir”, Fatima in Lucia’s Own Words, p. 162. See also Sister Lucy, Memorias e Cartas da Irma Lucia, (Porto, Portugal, 1973, edited by Father Antonio Maria Martins) pp. 340-341; in Sister Lucy’s own handwriting there is no ellipsis after the “etc.”. See also The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume I, p. 182. (6) The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume I, pp. 180-181. (7) The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume II: The Secret and the Church, (English edition, Immaculate Heart Publications, Buffalo, New York, U.S.A., 1989) pp. 357-358. (8) O Seculo of October 15, 1917. (9) Article of October 29, 1917. See also Frère François de Marie des Anges, Fatima: The Astonishing Truth, p. 164. (10) Ilustração Portuguesa, October 29, 1917. (11) Fatima: The Astonishing Truth, pp. 171-172. (12) Ibid., pp. 172-173. (13) Ibid., p. 173. (14) The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume I, p. 337. (15) Fatima: The Astonishing Truth, p. 178. (16) Ibid. (17) Ibid. (18) Ibid. (19) Ibid. (20) Ibid. (21) Ibid. (22) Ibid. (23) Ibid., pp. 178-179. (24) Ibid., p. 179. (25) The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume I, p. 337. (26) Ibid., p. 339. (27) Ibid., p. 340. (28) Ibid. (29) Fatima: The Astonishing Truth, p. 179. (30) Ibid. (31) Ibid. There is also this fact about that miracle which is the most surprising. The quantity of energy necessary to accomplish the drying out of the ground and the clothes in such a rapid manner would have been so great that all persons present there would have been incinerated. Given that this aspect of the miracle radically contradicts the law of nature, no devil could have performed this miracle. (32) The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume I, p. 340. See also Father John de Marchi, I.M.C., Fatima from the Beginning, (Missões Consolata, Fatima, Portugal, 1981, third edition, first published in 1950) p. 141; and Joseph A. Pelletier, A.A., The Sun Danced at Fatima, (Doubleday, New York, 1983) pp. 129-130. (33) John M. Haffert, Meet the Witnesses, (AMI International Press, Fatima, Portugal, 1961) p. 62. This book was published with an Imprimatur from the Bishop of Leiria, Portugal and provides us with credible direct testimonies of numerous witnesses to the Miracle of the Sun. (34) Ibid., p. 65. (35) Ibid., pp. 86-89. (36) Documentação Crítica de Fátima, Volume II, (Santuário de Fátima, 1999) 17 cases documented on pp. 277-372; and Father John de Marchi, I.M.C., Fatima from the Beginning. (37) Father John de Marchi, I.M.C., Fatima from the Beginning, p. 136. See also Documentação Crítica de Fátima, Volume I, (Santuário de Fátima, 1992) p. 408. See also The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume I, pp. 330-331. (38) Among the many reference works, see: The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume I; John M. Haffert, Meet the Witnesses; Father John de Marchi, I.M.C., Fatima from the Beginning, pp. 135-142. (39) We find the photographic reproduction of those three articles in Fatima 50 of October 13, 1967, pp. 6-10; 14-15. (40) Novos Documentos de Fatima, Loyola editions, Sao Paulo, 1984, pp. 60-63. (41) The modernist Jesuit priest, Father Dhanis, would later attempt to “debunk” the vision of hell and the prophetic elements of the Message, including the consecration and ultimate conversion of Russia. Father Dhanis refused the invitation of Sister Lucy herself to come to Fatima and study the Fatima archives. Father Dhanis will eventually be cited as an “authority” on Fatima by key members of the Vatican apparatus in their attempt to revise the Message of Fatima according to a “commentary” published on June 26, 2000. (42) The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume II, pp. 463-464. (43) Ibid. (44) Sister Lucy’s words cited from The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume II, pp. 462-465. See also Sister Lucy’s Memorias e Cartas da Irma Lucia, pp. 463-465. (45) Collective Pastoral Letter for the Jubilee of the Apparitions in 1942, Fatima, merveille du XXe siècle, p. 338. Cited from The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume II, p. 410. (46) Salazar’s influence in the Portuguese government had been growing since 1928. He became President of the Council in 1933. Later, Salazar received for his efforts the praise and blessing of Pope Pius XII. Pius said, “I bless him with all my heart, and I cherish the most ardent desire that he be able to complete successfully his work of national restoration, both spiritual and material.” Cited from The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume II, p. 412. (47) Ibid., p. 415 (Salazar’s own words). (48) Ibid., p. 422. (49) Ibid., p. 428. (50) See The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume II, pp. 369-439. 62 (51) Ibid., p. 428. (52) Ibid., p. 405. Cardinal Cerejeira spoke these words during the 1942 Jubilee celebration of the Fatima apparitions. (53) We trust the word of a Fatima believer such as Cardinal Cerejeira, rather than a Fatima debunker. (54) Cardinal Cerejeira, Preface to Jacinta (1942), Obras Pastorais, Volume II, p. 333. Cf. also his homily of May 13, 1942, Fatima, merveille du XXe siècle, p. 339. Cited from The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume II, p. 437. (54a) cf. Sir Winston Churchill, The Second World War, Vol. 4, p. 33. (54b) Letter of May 4, 1943, Documentos de Fatima, (Porto, 1976) pp. 446-447; see also The Whole Truth About Fatima – Volume III, pp. 18-21 (letters of Sister Lucy of February 28 and May 4). (55) William Thomas Walsh, Our Lady of Fatima, (Image-Doubleday, New York, Imprimatur 1947) p. 221. Emphasis in the original. (56) Il Pellegrinaggio della Meraviglie, p. 440, Rome, 1960. This same work, published under the auspices of the Italian episcopate, affirms that this message was communicated to Pope Pius XII in June. Also, Canon Barthas mentioned that apparition in his communication to the Mariological Congress of Lisbon-Fatima, in 1967; see De Primoridiis cultus marianae, Acta congressus mariologici-mariana in Lusitania anno 1967 celebrati, p. 517, Rome, 1970. See Frère François de Marie des Anges, Fatima: Intimate Joy World Event, Book Four, Fatima: Tragedy and Triumph, pp. 21 and 37. (57) Fatima: Tragedy and Triumph, p. 218. (58) Ibid., p. 165. (59) Reported within an article by Father Pierre Caillon of Centre Saint Jean 61500 Sees, (Orne) France. This article was published by the monthly periodical Fidelite Catholique, B.P. 217- 56402, Auray Cedex, France. English translation from The Fatima Crusader, Issue 13-14, (Oct.-Dec., 1983) p. 3. (60) Fatima: Tragedy and Triumph, p. 172. (61) See Fatima e o Coraçao de Maria, pp. 101-102. (62) Fatima: Tragedy and Triumph, pp. 172-173. (63) Ibid., pp. 167-168. (64) Sol de Fatima, September 1985. (65) Chrètiens-Magazine, March 1987, #8. Cited from Fatima: Tragedy and Triumph, p. 189. (66) Father Laurentin, Multiplication des apparitions de la Vierge aujourd’hui, p. 45, Fayard, September, 1988. Cited from Fatima: Tragedy and Triumph, p. 189. (67) This testimony of Sister Lucy was reported in the early August 1987 edition of Para Ti published in Argentina. See Father Nicholas Gruner, World Enslavement or Peace ... It’s Up to the Pope, (Immaculate Heart Publications, 1989) pp. 212-213. (67a) During the pontificates of Pius XI and Pius XII, Russia was not consecrated for various reasons. See The Whole Truth About Fatima – Volume II, pp. 557-605 (for Pius XI) and pp. 715-807 (for Pius XII). (67b) Cathy Pearson, in her article “Now Is the Time: Consecrating Russia Will Help, Not Harm, Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue” in the August/September 2008 issue of Inside the Vatican, thoroughly answers this excuse. See Father Paul Kramer, editor, The Devil’s Final Battle (Terryville, Connecticut: The Missionary Association, 2010, Second Edition), footnote 249. A free copy of Cathy Pearson’s article is available from the publisher of this booklet. See page 65 for publisher contact information. (68) La Verdad sobre el Secreto de Fatima, Fatima sin mitos, Father Joaquin Alonso, (2nd edition, Ejercito Azul, Madrid, 1988) p. 78. English translation by Joseph Cain. Original Spanish reads: “... podriamos decir que Lucia ha pensado siempre que la conversión de Rusia no se entiende solo de un retorno de los pueblos de Rusia a la religion cristiano-ortodoxa, rechazando el ateismo marxista y ateo de los soviets, sino que se refiere pura y llanmente a la conversion total e integral de un retorno a la unica y verdadera Iglesia, la catolica-romana.” (69) Sarah Karush, “Foreign Priests Spark Controversy”, Associated Press, February 12, 2002. (70) Radio Free Europe Report, June 20, 2001. See also Catholic News Service, February 17, 2002. (71) “Religion in Russia,” at http://www. russianembassy.org/RUSSIA/religion.htm. (72) “Rebuff for the Pope: Vatican Fears New Persecution,” The Catholic World Report, October 2002, p. 9. (73) BBC Online, March 2, 2002. (74) AP News, March 1, 2002. (75) National Catholic Register Online Web Edition, April 28 - May 5, 2002. (76) The Catholic World Report, October 2002, p. 10. (77) U.S. Department of State, International Religious Freedom Report (2008) at http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108468.htm. (78) CWNews, March 2, 2002. (79) Ibid. (80) Zenit News, December 22, 2000. (81) CBC News, July 30, 2009, “13 million abortions a year reported in China,” at http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/07/30/abortions-china. html. (82) Father Maurer’s remarks appeared in an interview in Catholic World Report, Feb. 2001. A synopsis and commentary on this interview was published in “The Myth of a Converted Russia Exposed”, Marian Horvat, Ph.D., Catholic Family News, March 2001. (83) Ibid. (84) See Mark Fellows, “This Present Darkness”, Part III, Catholic Family News, October 2000. (85) Regarding alcohol in Russia, researchers concluded: “Russia’s rate of alcohol consumption, traditionally among the highest in the world, and rising significantly in the 1990s, is a major contributor to the country’s health crisis ... alcoholism has reached epidemic proportions, particularly among males ... A 1995 63 Russian study found that regular drunkenness affected between 25 and 60 percent of blue-collar workers ... In 1994 some 53,000 people died of alcohol poisoning, an increase of about 36,000 since 1991.” In the ten years since the alleged conversion of Russia, there has also been a sharp increase in illegal drug use: “In 1995 an estimated 2 million Russians used narcotics, more than twenty times the total recorded ten years earlier in the entire Soviet Union, with the number of users increasing 50 percent every year in the mid-1990s.” From Mark Fellows, “This Present Darkness”, Part II, Catholic Family News, Sept. 2000. See also Mark Fellows, Fatima in Twilight, (Marmion Publications, Niagara Falls, 2003) Chapter 19, p. 246. (86) “Satanism on the Rise in Russia”, compiled by John Vennari. See www.fatima.org/news/newsviews/satanism2.asp. (87) “Russia Legalizes Homosexuality”, United Press International, May 28, 1993. To quote the beginning of the article: “Russia’s homosexual activists Friday celebrated a major victory for gay rights in post-Soviet Russia following the repeal of Article 121 of the Soviet criminal code, which outlawed consensual sex between men. ‘This is great news for gays and lesbians in Russia,’ said Vladislav Ortanov, editor of the Moscow gay magazine Risk.” (88) “Activist Says Child Porn Prosecutions Will be Difficult in Indonesia, Russia”, Christine Brummitt, Associated Press, Aug. 9, 2001 (emphasis added). (89) “Big Brotherski goes too far for Staid Russians”, Mark Franchetti, Sunday Times (London), November 25, 2001. (90) Jonathan Dimbleby, Daily Mail Online, at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-566931/Russia-A-totalitarian- regime-thrall-Tsar-whos-creating-new-Facist-empire.html. (91) Richard Galpin, “Stalin’s new status in Russia,” BBC Online, December 27, 2008, at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7798497. stm. (92) Ibid. (93) Ibid. (94) “Russian youth: Stalin good, migrants must go: poll,” Reuters (July 25, 2007). (95) Richard Galpin, “Stalin’s new status in Russia,” loc. cit. (96) Electronic Telegraph, May 8, 2001. (97) Electronic Telegraph, March 2, 2000. (98) “Weapons of Mass Destruction”, at http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/rs-24.htm. (99) USA Today, “On Deadline”, January 31, 2006. (100) Marr Mazzetti and Thom Shanker, New York Times, August 5, 2009. (101) Paul Craig Roberts, “US Hegemony Spawns Russian-Chinese Military Alliance,” August 9, 2007, at http://antiwar.com/roberts/?articleid=11422. (102) For more evidence of Russia’s non-conversion, see The Devil’s Final Battle (Second Edition), 2-volume version, pp. 195-199; 1-volume version, pp. 277-283. (103) A reference to Our Lord’s command that the King of France publicly consecrate that nation to His Sacred Heart. This command was conveyed by Our Lord to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque on June 17, 1689, as part of a series of apparitions the Church has officially proclaimed worthy of belief. For 100 years the kings of France failed to heed the command. Finally, on June 17, 1789 — one hundred years to the day after Our Lord’s unheeded command was given — King Louis XVI was stripped of his authority by the Third Estate, and shortly afterwards was imprisoned. He attempted to consecrate France to the Sacred Heart in his jail cell, but without a public ceremony the attempt was unavailing. King Louis went to the guillotine, and France was convulsed by the French Revolution. (104) The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume II, pp. 543-544. See also Toute la vérité sur Fatima - Tome II: Le Secret et L’Église, pp. 344-345. (105) Sermon during Mass for canonization of Blessed Frei Galvão, Campo de Marte airfield, São Paulo, Brazil, May 11, 2007. (106) The Block Rosary consists of groups of people living within close proximity of each other praying the Rosary for the Church, their families, their communities and their country, once a week. The group meets at a different participant’s home each week at the same day and time. Prayer groups, and especially the Block Rosary, are ways in which we can truly come together to draw down grace and mercy from God through the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary. When we pray in a group, we — as members of the Church Militant — strike a powerful blow against God’s enemies. At the Block Rosary, the group should not serve refreshments or have discussions or long conversations on these occasions, as it is not a social event. The group should not let the Block Rosary in its area lose its spiritual purpose little by little by letting it turn into a social event. Let us therefore gather to pray, and commit to reciting the Rosary together once a week, and thus doing our part to convert sinners and bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (107) The Whole Truth About Fatima - Volume II, pp. 251-253. Get Your Free Consecration Petition Kit Now! Write to us at the Fatima Center (addresses on page 65) or call us at (905) 871-7607 or toll-free at 1-800-263-8160 to ask for your free Consecration Petition Kit. Each kit contains basic information on the Consecration of Russia, Consecration prayer cards and petitions for distribution among friends, family and fellow parishioners. Few things weaken Our Lady’s enemies more than the knowledge that millions of faithful and other men of good will are united in this holy mission of praying the Rosary and petitioning the Holy Father to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary according to Our Lady's Fatima request.

The Obligation and the Right of the Faithful Vatican Council II states that the faithful have the obligation and the right to make known to their pastors what their spiritual needs are (Const. on the Church, para. 37). It has been solemnly defined by Vatican I (Denzinger, 1830) and the Second Council of Lyons (Denzinger, 466) that we have the right to have recourse to Your Ho- liness in matters which pertain to ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

SendSend signed signed petitions petitions to to the the Fatima Fatima Center Center and and we we willwill ensureensure they are delivereddelivered to to the the Pope. Pope. SignSign the the enclosed enclosed Petition Petition sheet sheet or copy or thiscopy page this or page ask orfor ask your for freeyour Petition free Petition Kit now Kit atnow the at address the addresses or phone or phonenumber numbers below. below. Most Holy Father: It is because of our obligation to Jesus and Mary to do our duty, we humbly beg you to consecrate specifically Russia to the Immacu- late Heart of Mary, together with the Catholic bishops of the world, in a solemn and public manner as was commanded by Jesus and Mary in the Message of Fatima. It is only“by this means” that Russia will be converted and peace be given to our war-torn world. Signature ______Name ______Address______Apt/Box ______City ______State/Prov. ______Postal Code ______

Signature ______Name ______Address______Apt/Box ______City ______State/Prov. ______Postal Code ______

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