The Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Vision and Message of June 13, 1929

"I had sought and obtained permission from my superiors and confessor to make a Holy Hour from eleven o'clock to midnight, every Thursday to Friday night. Being alone on night, I knelt near the altar rails in the middle of the chapel and, prostrate, I prayed the prayers of the Angel. Feeling tired, I then stood up and continued to say the prayers with my arms in the form of a cross. The only light was that of the sanctuary lamp. Suddenly the whole chapel was illuminated by a supernatural light, and above the altar appeared a cross of light, reaching to the ceiling. In a brighter light on the upper part of the cross, could be seen the face of a man and his body as far as the waist; upon his breast was a dove of light; nailed to the cross was the body of another man. A little below the waist, I could see a chalice and a large host suspended in the air, on to which drops of blood were falling from the face of Jesus Crucified and from the wound in his side. These drops ran down on to the host and fell into the chalice. Beneath the right arm of the cross was Our Lady and in her hand was the Immaculate Heart. (It was Our Lady of Fatima, with her Immaculate Heart in her left hand, without sword or roses, but with the crown of thorns and flames). Under the left arm of the cross, large letters, as if of crystal clear water which ran down upon the altar, formed these words: 'Grace and Mercy' "

"I understood that it was the Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity which was shown to me, and I received light about this mystery which I am not permitted to reveal."

"Our Lady then said to me:

' The moment has come in which God asks the Holy Father, in union with all the Bishops of the world, to make the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, promising to save it by this means. There are so many souls whom the Justice of God condemns for sins committed against me, that I have come to ask reparation: sacrifice yourself for this intention and pray.'

"I gave an account of this to the confessor, who ordered me to write down what Our Lady wanted done." (Fatima In Lucia's Own Words pp. 198-199)

In a letter to her confessor Father José Bernardo Gonçalves, S.J., dated May 29, 1930, Sister Lucia says:

"If I am not mistaken, the good Lord promises to put an end to the persecution in Russia if the Holy Father deigns to make a solemn and public act of reparation and consecration of Russia to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and orders all the bishops of the Catholic world to do the same. The Holy Father must also promise to approve and recommend the reparative devotion already indicated in return for the cease of this persecution." (Prophecies p. 83)

Later, through another interior communication, Our Lord complained to Sister Lucia that the consecration of Russia had not been made: (Prophecies p. 83) " 'They did not wish to heed my request. Like the King of France,* they will repent and do it, but it will be late. Russia will have already spread her errors throughout the world, provoking wars, and persecutions of the Church; the Holy Father will have much to suffer.' " (Fatima In Lucia's Own Words pp. 199)

* This is an allusion to the promise Our Lord made to Louis XIV through Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. Our Lord promised to give the king a life of grace and eternal glory, as well as victory over his enemies, if he would consecrate himself to the Sacred Heart, let It reign in his palace, paint It on his banners, and have It engraved on his coat of arms. In 1792, after Louis XVI had been imprisoned in the Tower of the Temple, this request had still not been heeded. The king then made the vow to consecrate himself, his family, and his kingdom to the Sacred Heart of Jesus if he regained his freedom, the crown, and royal power, It was too late; the king left prison only for his execution. (Prophecies - footnote p. 83)

In a letter dated May 18, 1936 to Father José Bernardo Gonçalves, S.J., Sister Lucia stated:

"I have spoken to Our Lord inwardly about the subject, and not too long ago I asked Him why He would not convert Russia without the Holy Father making that consecration.

'Because I want my whole Church to acknowledge that consecration as a triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so as to subsequently extend the devotion to it and place it alongside the devotion to My Sacred Heart.'

"But my God, the Holy Father will not believe me, unless You move him with a special inspiration."

'The Holy Father! Pray very much for the Holy Father! He will do it, but it will be late. Nevertheless, the Immaculate Heart of Mary will save Russia, who has been entrusted to it.' "

The Consecration of the World to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

On December 2, 1940, Sister Lucia wrote to Pope Pius XII:

"In 1929, during another apparition, Our Lady asked for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart, promising its conversion and to prevent the propagation of its errors by this means... In several interior communications, Our Lord has not ceased to insist on this request, promising recently to shorten the days of tribulation with which he has determined to punish the nations for their crimes — through war, famine, and persecutions of Holy Church and Your Holiness — if Your Holiness deigns to consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, with special mention of Russia, and orders all the bishops of the world to do the same simultaneously in union with Your Holiness."

In a radio message on October 31, 1942, Pius XII consecrated the Church and the human race to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

In 1952, Pius XII consecrated the peoples of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in an apostolic letter. (Prophecies p. 87-88)

On March 25, 1984, John Paul II, in spiritual union with the Bishops of the world, who had been "convoked" beforehand, entrusted all individuals and nations which "particularly need to be thus entrusted and consecrated". Russia is never specifically mentioned, however, Sister Lucia personally confirmed that this solemn and universal act of consecration corresponded to what Our Lady wished ("Sim, està feita, tal como Nossa Senhora a pediu, desde o dia 25 de Março de 1984": "Yes it has been done just as Our Lady asked, on 25 March 1984": Letter of 8 November 1989). ( cf. The Message of Fatima, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith)