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The Message of Fatima
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June 13, 1917
July 13, 1917
August 15, 1917
September 13, 1917
October 13, 1917
May 13, 1917
The three seers were playing at the Cova so Iria when they saw two flashes like lightning, after which they saw the Mother of God above the holm oak. She was, according to the description of Lucia, "a Lady dressed all in white, more brilliant than the sun, shedding a light that was clearer and more intense than that of a crystal goblet filled with crystalline water and struck by the rays of the most brilliant sun." Her face, indescribably beautiful, was "neither sad nor happy, but serious," with an air of mild reproach. Her hands, joined together as if she were praying were resting at her breast and pointing upward. A rosary hung from her right hand. Her clothes seemed to be made of light. The tunic was white. The veil was white and edged with gold. It covered the head of the Virgin and descended to her feet. Neither her hair nor her ears could be seen. Lucia could never describe her features, for it was impossible for her to fix her gaze on the dazzling heavenly face. The seers were so close to Our Lady — about a yard and a half away — that they stood within the light that radiated from and enveloped her. (Prophecies p. 40)
Our Lady: Do not be afraid. I will do you no harm.
Lucia: Where are you from?
Our Lady: I am from Heaven.
Lucia: What do you want of me?
Our Lady: I have come to ask you to come here for six months in succession, on the thirteenth of day, at this same hour. Later on, I will tell you who I am and what I want. Afterwards, I will return here yet a seventh time.
Lucia: Shall I go to heaven too?
Our Lady: Yes, you will.
Lucia: And Jacinta?
Our Lady: She will go also.
Lucia: And Francisco?
Our Lady: He will go there too, but he must say many Rosaries.
Lucia: Is Maria das Neves in heaven?
Our Lady: Yes, she is.
Lucia: And Amélia?
Our Lady: She will be in purgatory until the end of the world. Are you willing to offer yourselves to God and bear all the sufferings He wills to send you, as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and of supplication for the conversion of sinners?
Lucia: Yes, we are willing.
Our Lady: Then you are going to have much to suffer, but the grace of God will be your comfort.
"As she pronounced these last words 'the grace of God will be your comfort', Our Lady opened her hands for the first time, communicating to us a light so intense that, as it streamed from her hands, its rays penetrated our heart and the innermost depths of our souls, making us see ourselves in God, Who was the light, more clearly that we see ourselves in the best of mirrors. Then, moved by an interior impulse that was also communicated to us, we fell on our knees, repeating in our hearts: 'O most Holy Trinity, I adore you! My God, my God, I love you in the most Blessed Sacrament!' "
Our Lady: Pray the Rosary every day, in order to obtain peace for the world, and the end of the war.
"Then she began to rise serenely, going up towards the east, until she disappeared in the immensity of space." (Fatima In Lucia's Own Words pp. 67, 159-161)
June 13, 1917
Preceding the second apparition, the seers once again saw a great brilliance, which they called lightning, but rather was the glare of the approaching light. Some of the approximately fifty spectators who had come to the place noticed that the light of the sun became dimmer during the first few minutes of the conversation. Others said that the to of the budding holm oak bent down, as if under the weight of something, a moment before Lucia spoke. During Our Lady's conversation with the seers, some of the bystanders heard a whispering like the humming of a bee. (Prophecies p. 44)
Lucia: What do you want of me?
Our Lady: I wish you to come here on the thirteenth of next month, to pray the Rosary every day, and to learn to read. Later, I will tell you what I want. (Lucia asked for the cure of a sick person)
If he is converted, he will be cured during the year.
Lucia: I would like to ask you to take us to heaven.
Our Lady: Yes. I will take Jacinta and Francisco soon. But you are to stay here for some time longer. Jesus wishes to make use of you to make me known and loved. He wants to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. I promise salvation to those who embrace it, and these souls will be loved by God, like flowers placed by me to adorn His throne.
Lucia: Am I to stay here alone?
Our Lady: No, my daughter. Are you suffering a great deal? Don't lose heart. I will never forsake you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.
"As Our Lady spoke these last words, she opened her hands and for the second time, she communicated to us the rays of that same immense light. We saw ourselves in this light, as it were, immersed in God. Jacinta and Francisco seemed to be in that part of the light which rose towards heaven, and I in that which was poured out on the earth. In front of the palm of Our Lady's right hand was a heard encircled by thorns which pierced it. We understood that this was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, outraged by the sins of humanity, and seeking reparation. (Fatima In Lucia's Own Words pp. 69, 163-165, 191)
When this vision ceased, the Lady, still surrounded by the light that she radiated, rose from the little tree and glided toward the east until she disappeared completely. Several persons who were closer noticed that the buds at the top of the holm oak were bent in the same direction, as if the had been drawn by the Lady's clothes. They returned to their usual position only some hours later. (Prophecies p. 48-49)
July 13, 1917
Mr. Marto, father of Jacinta and Francisco, says that when the third apparition began, a little grayish clod hovered over the holm oak, the sunlight became dimmer, and a cool breeze blew over the mountain range, even though it was the height of summer. He also heard something that sounded like fies inside an empty jug. The seers saw the customary glare, and, immediately afterward, they saw Our Lady over the holm oak. (Prophecies p. 49)
Lucia: What do you want of me?
Our Lady: I want you to come here on the thirteenth of next month, to continue to pray the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war, because only she can help you.
Lucia: I would like to ask you to tell us who you are, and to work a miracle so that everybody will believe that you are appearing to us.
Our Lady: Continue to come here every month. In October, I will tell you who I am and what I want, and I will perform a miracle for all to see and believe.
"I then made some requests, but I cannot recall now just what they were. What I do remember is that Our Lady said it was necessary for such people to pray the Rosary in order to obtain these graces during the year. And she continued:
Our Lady: Sacrifice yourselves for sinners, and say many times, especially whenever you make some sacrifice: 'O Jesus, it is for love You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.'
The Secret of Fatima
"As Our Lady spoke these last words, she opened her hands once more, as she had done during the two precious months. The rays of light seemed to penetrate the earth and we saw as it were a sea of fire. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in the conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames that issued from within themselves together with great clouds of smoke now falling back on every side like sparks in a huge fire, without weight or equilibrium, and amid shrieks and groans with fear. The demons could be distinguished by their terrifying and repellent likeness to frightful and unknown animals all black and transparent. Terrified and as if to plead for succor, we looked up at Our Lady, who said to us, so kindly and so sadly:
Our Lady: You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, may souls will be saved and there will be peace. The war is going to end; but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the pontificate of Pius IX. When you see a light illuminated by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given you by God that He is about to punish the world for its crimes, by means of war, famine, and persecutions of the Church and of the Holy Father.
To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of reparation of the First Saturdays. 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 of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she will be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world. In Portugal, the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved.
"at the left of Our Lady and a little above, we saw an Angel with a flaming sword in his left hand; flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendor that Our Lady radiated towards him from her right hand: pointing to the earth with his right hand, the Angel cried out in a loud voice: 'Penance, Penance, Penance!'. And we saw in an immense light that is God: 'something similar to how people appear in a mirror when they pass in front of it' a Bishop dressed in White 'we had the impression that it was the Holy Father'. Other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious going up a steep mountain, at the top of which there was a big Cross of rough-hewn trunks as of a cork-tree with the bark; before reaching there the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins and half trembling with halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way; having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the big Cross he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him, and in the same way there died one after another the other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions. Beneath the two arms of the Cross there were two Angels each with a crystal aspersorium in his hand, in which they gathered up the blood of the Martyrs and with it sprinkled the souls that were making their way to God." Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - The Message of Fatima
Our Lady: Do not tell this to anybody. Francisco, yes, you may tell him. When you pray the Rosary, say after each mystery: 'O my Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fire of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are most in need.'
Lucia: Is there anything more that you want of me?
Our Lady: No, I do not want anything more of you today.
"Then, as before Our Lady began to ascend towards the east, until she finally disappeared in the immense distance of the firmament." (Fatima In Lucia's Own Words pp. 108, 165-169)
August 15, 1917
Lucia: What do you want of me?
Our Lady: I want you to continue going to the Cova da Iria on the thirteenth, and to continue praying the Rosary every day. In the last month, I will perform a miracle so that all may believe.
Lucia: What do you want done with the money that the people leave in the Cova da Iria?
Our Lady: Have two litters made. One is to be carried by you and Jacinta and two other girls dressed in white; the other one is to be carried by Francisco and three other boys. The money from the litters is for the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and what is left over will help towards the construction of a chapel that is to be built here.
Lucia: I would like to ask you to cure some sick persons.
Our Lady: Yes, I will cure some of them during the year. "Then looking very sad, Our Lady said:"
Our Lady: Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to hell, because there are none to sacrifice themselves and to pray for them.
"And she began to ascend as usual towards the east." (Fatima In Lucia's Own Words pp. 108, 169-171)
September 13, 1917
A crowd estimated at twenty thousand observed atmospheric phenomena similar to those of the previous apparitions: the sudden cooling of the air, a dimming of the sun to the point where the stars could be seen, and rain resembling iridescent petals or snowflakes that disappeared before touching the ground. This time, a luminous globe was noticed which moved slowly and majestically through the sky from east to west and, at the end of the apparition, in the opposite direction. The seers saw a light, and, immediately following this, they saw Our Lady over the holm oak. (Prophecies p. 61)
Our Lady: Continue to pray the Rosary in order to obtain the end of the war. In October Our Lord will come, as well as Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Carmel. Saint Joseph will appear with the Child Jesus to bless the world. God is pleased with your sacrifices. He does not want you to sleep with the rope on, but only to wear it during the daytime.
Lucia: I was told to ask you many things, the cure of some sick people, of a deaf-mute..."
Our Lady: Yes, I will cure some, but not others. In October I will perform a miracle so that all may believe.
"Then Our Lady began to rise as usual, and disappeared." (Fatima In Lucia's Own Words pp. 79, 172)
October 13, 1917
Lucia: What do you want of me?
Our Lady: I want to tell you that a chapel is to be built here in my honor. I am the Lady of the Rosary. Continue always to pray the Rosary every day. The war is going to end, and the soldiers will soon return to their homes.
Lucia: I have many things to ask you: the cure of some sick persons, the conversion of sinners, and other things...
Our Lady: Some yes, but not others. The must amend their lives and ask forgiveness for their sins.
"Looking very sad, Our Lady said:"
Our Lady: Do not offend the Lord our God any more, because He is already so much offended.
"Then opening her hands, she made them reflect on the sun itself."
Lucia: Look at the sun! (Fatima In Lucia's Own Words pp. 82, 172-173)
Once Our Lady had disappeared in the expanse of the firmament, three scenes followed in succession, symbolizing first the joyful mysteries of the Rosary, the the sorrowful mysteries, and, finally, the glorious mysteries. Lucia alone saw the three scenes; Francisco and Jacinta saw only the first. (Prophecies p. 63)
First Scene: Saint Joseph appeared beside the sun with the Child Jesus and Our Lady of the Rosary. It was the Holy Family. The Virgin was dressed in white, and the Child Jesus in light red. Saint Joseph blessed the crowd, making the Sign of the Cross three times. The Child Jesus did the same.
Second Scene: This was followed by the vision of Our Lady of Sorrows, without the sword in her breast, and of Our Lord overwhelmed with sorrow on the way to Calvary. Our Lord made the Sign of the Cross to bless the people. Lucia could only see the upper part of Our Lord's body.
Third Scene: Finally, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, crowned queen of heaven and earth, appeared in a glorious vision with the Child Jesus in her bosom.
While the scenes took place, the great throng of about seventy thousand spectators witnessed the miracle of the sun.
It had rained all during the apparition. At the end of the conversation between Our Lady and Lucia — when the Blessed Virgin rose and Lucia shouted, "Look at the sun!" — the clouds opened up, revealing the sun as an immense silver disk. It shone with an intensity never before seen, but it did not blind. This lasted only an instant. The the immense ball began to "dance." The sun began to spin rapidly like a gigantic circle of fire. Then it stopped momentarily, only to begin spinning vertiginously again. Its rim became scarlet; whirling, it scattered red flames across the sky. Their light was reflected on the ground, on the trees, on the bushes, and on the very faces and clothing of the people, which took on brilliant hues and changing colors.
After performing the bizarre pattern three times, the globe of fire seemed to tremble, shake, and then plunge in a zigzag toward the terrified crowd.
All this lasted about ten minutes. Finally, the sun zigzagged back to its original place and once again became still and brilliant, shining with its everyday brightness. (Prophecies p. 63)
Sources
Borelli, Antonio A., Spann, John R., Corrêa de Olivieira, Plinio. Our Lady at Fatima: Prophecies of Tragedy or Hope for America and the World?. The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, 1985
ed. Kondor SVD, Fr. Louis. Fatima in Lucia's Own Words. Postulation Centre, Fatima, Portugal.