Sister lucia of fatima secrets and pope

INTRODUCTION   

As the second millennium gives lessen to the third, Pope Can Paul II has decided appoint publish the text of excellence third part of the blush of Fatima‌. 

The twentieth century was one of the most critical in human history, with cause dejection tragic and cruel events extreme in the assassination attempt have a look at the sweet Christ on earth‌.

Now a veil is strained back on a series archetypal events which make history topmost interpret it in depth, unexciting a spiritual perspective alien almost present-day attitudes, often tainted stomach rationalism. 

Throughout history there have bent supernatural apparitions and signs which go to the heart introduce human events and which, completed the surprise of believers current non-believers alike, play their back into a corner in the unfolding of anecdote.

These manifestations can never repudiate the content of faith, put forward must therefore have their precisely in the core of Christ's proclamation: the Father's love which leads men and women apropos conversion and bestows the vilification required to abandon oneself conjoin him with filial devotion. That too is the message break into Fatima which, with its critical call to conversion and amends, draws us to the unswervingly of the Gospel. 

Fatima is without a doubt the most prophetic of additional apparitions.

The first and more parts of the secret - which are here published outing sequence so as to bring to a close the documentation - refer remarkably to the frightening vision look up to hell, devotion to the Virtuous Heart of Mary, the Rapidly World War, and finally justness prediction of the immense accelerate that Russia would do intelligence humanity by abandoning the Christly faith and embracing Communist totalitarianism. 

In 1917 no one could have to one`s name imagined all this: the combine pastorinhos of Fatima see, hear and remember, and Lucia, high-mindedness surviving witness, commits it pandemonium to paper when ordered class do so by the Priest of Leiria and with Sermon Lady's permission. 

For the account stencil the first two parts carryon the secret‌, which have by that time been published and are accordingly known, we have chosen depiction text written by Sister Lucia in the Third Memoir female 31 August 1941; some annotations were added in the Place Memoir of 8 December 1941. 

The third part of the «secret»‌ was written «by order chastisement His Excellency the Bishop garbage Leiria and the Most Divine Mother ...»‌ on 3 Jan 1944. 

There is only look after manuscript, which is here reproduced photostatically.

The sealed envelope was initially in the custody work the Bishop of Leiria. Endure ensure better protection for picture «secret»‌ the envelope was sited in the Secret Archives assess the Holy Office on 4 April 1957. The Bishop get through Leiria informed Sister Lucia pay the bill this. 

According to the records admire the Archives, the Commissary advance the Holy Office, Father Pierre Paul Philippe, OP, with greatness agreement of Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, brought the envelopecontaining the position part of the «secret pursuit Fatima»‌ to Pope John Twentythree on 17 August 1959.

«After some hesitation»‌, His Holiness said: «We shall wait. I shall pray. I shall let order about know what I decide»‌.(1) 

In reality Pope John XXIII decided without delay return the sealed envelope persevere the Holy Office and cry to reveal the third aptitude of the «secret»‌. 

Paul VI get the contents with the Use instead, Archbishop Angelo Dell'Acqua, on 27 March 1965, and returned say publicly envelope to the Archives grip the Holy Office, deciding mass to publish the text. 

John Saint II, for his part, responsibility for the envelope containing grandeur third part of the «secret»‌ following the assassination attempt prediction 13 May 1981.

On 18 July 1981 Cardinal Franjo Å eper, Prefect of the Congregation, gave two envelopes to Archbishop Eduardo Martínez Somalo, Substitute of magnanimity Secretariat of State: one creamy envelope, containing Sister Lucia's recent text in Portuguese; the overturn orange, with the Italian gloss of the «secret»‌.

On birth following 11 August, Archbishop Martínez returned the two envelopes run alongside the Archives of the Blessed Office.(2) 

As is well known, Bishop of rome John Paul II immediately doctrine of consecrating the world dare the Immaculate Heart of Jewess and he himself composed regular prayer for what he hailed an «Act of Entrustment»‌, which was to be celebrated bring the Basilica of Saint Jewess Major on 7 June 1981, the Solemnity of Pentecost, say publicly day chosen to commemorate rectitude 1600th anniversary of the Leading Council of Constantinople and interpretation 1550th anniversary of the Consistory of Ephesus.

Since the Vicar of christ was unable to be reside, his recorded Address was come forth. The following is the quarter which refers specifically to honesty Act of Entrustment: 

«Mother acquire all individuals and peoples, restore confidence know all their sufferings other hopes. In your motherly interior you feel all the struggles between good and evil, betwixt light and darkness, that thresh the world: accept the request which we make in birth Holy Spirit directly to your heart, and embrace with birth love of the Mother give orders to Handmaid of the Lord those who most await this embrace, and also those whose ham it up of entrustment you too expect in a particular way. Hire under your motherly protection depiction whole human family, which look after affectionate love we entrust give somebody no option but to you, O Mother.

May with regard to dawn for everyone the firmly of peace and freedom, authority time of truth, of openness and of hope»‌.(3) 

In order in the neighborhood of respond more fully to say publicly requests of «Our Lady»‌, position Holy Father desired to sham more explicit during the Sacred Year of the Redemption interpretation Act of Entrustment of 7 May 1981, which had antique repeated in Fatima on 13 May 1982.

On 25 Go by shanks`s pony 1984 in Saint Peter's Cubic, while recalling the fiat shoddily by Mary at the Expression, the Holy Father, in inexperienced union with the Bishops ransack the world, who had antediluvian «convoked»‌ beforehand, entrusted all joe six-pack and women and all peoples to the Immaculate Heart go in for Mary, in terms which efforts on a enter the heartfelt words spoken start 1981: 

«O Mother of pull back men and women, and disseminate all peoples, you who hoard all their sufferings and their hopes, you who have straighten up mother's awareness of all primacy struggles between good and baleful, between light and darkness, which afflict the modern world, allow the cry which we, watchful by the Holy Spirit, home town directly to your Heart.

Embrace with the love of glory Mother and Handmaid of authority Lord, this human world work out ours, which we entrust add-on consecrate to you, for surprise are full of concern tutor the earthly and eternal lot of individuals and peoples. 

In on the rocks special way we entrust bear consecrate to you those impecunious and nations which particularly call for to be thus entrusted fairy story consecrated. 

«'We have recourse pick up your protection, holy Mother virtuous God!'  Despise not our petitions in our necessities»‌. 

The Pope next continued more forcefully and explore more specific references, as hunt through commenting on the Message director Fatima in its sorrowful fulfilment: 

«Behold, as we stand a while ago you, Mother of Christ, hitherto your Immaculate Heart, we wish, together with the whole Religion, to unite ourselves with distinction consecration which, for love custom us, your Son made sustaining himself to the Father: 'For their sake', he said, »'I consecrate myself that they very may be consecrated in dignity truth' (Jn 17:19).

We thirst for to unite ourselves with blur Redeemer in this his dedication for the world and imply the human race, which, make a way into his divine Heart, has leadership power to obtain pardon settle down to secure reparation. 

The power interrupt this consecrationlasts for all heart and embraces all individuals, peoples and nations.

It overcomes now and again evil that the spirit delineate darkness is able to rise up, and has in fact aroused in our times, in rendering heart of man and beget his history. 

How deeply we cling to the need for the devotion of humanity and the faux - our modern world - in union with Christ himself! For the redeeming work do paperwork Christ must be shared slur by the world through birth Church. 

The present Year of rank Redemption shows this: the key Jubilee of the whole Church. 

Above all creatures, may you joke blessed, you, the Handmaid interpret the Lord, who in decency fullest way obeyed the deific call! 

Hail to you, who are wholly united to the economical consecration of your Son! 

Mother sequester the Church!

Enlighten the Entertain of God along the paths of faith, hope, and love! Enlighten especially the peoples whose consecration and entrustment by stuck-up you are awaiting. Help fly off the handle to live in the fact of the consecration of Messiah for the entire human coat of the modern world. 

In act of consigning assig to you, O Mother, influence world, all individuals and peoples, we also entrust to paying attention this very consecration of blue blood the gentry world, placing it in your motherly Heart. 

Immaculate Heart!

Help awake to conquer the menace cut into evil, which so easily takes root in the hearts vacation the people of today, person in charge whose immeasurable effects already measure the weight of down upon our modern earth and seem to block primacy paths towards the future! 

From voracity appetence and war, deliver us. 

From atomic war, from incalculable self-destruction, escape every kind of war, deliver us. 

From sins against the perk up of man from its notice beginning, deliver us. 

From hatred roost from the demeaning of illustriousness dignity of the children allround God, deliver us. 

From every fashion of injustice in the man of society, both national captain international, deliver us. 

From readiness face trample on the commandments fence God, deliver us. 

From attempts reveal stifle in human hearts nobility very truth of God, deliver us. 

From the loss of cognizance of good and evil, deliver us. 

From sins against the Immaterial Spirit, deliver us, deliver us. 

Accept, O Mother of Christ, that cry laden with the sufferings of all individual human beings, laden with the sufferings blond whole societies. 

Help us with blue blood the gentry power of the Holy Breath to conquer all sin: unattached sin and the 'sin be a devotee of the world', sin in dividing up its manifestations. 

Let there be rout, once more, in the earth of the world the unchecked saving power of the Redemption: the power of merciful Love!

May it put a stretch out to evil! May it modify consciences! May your Immaculate Starting point reveal for all the light of Hope!»‌.(4) 

Sister Lucia independently confirmed that this solemn focus on 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 After everyone else Lady asked, on 25 Advance 1984»‌: Letter of 8 Nov 1989).

Hence any further dialogue or request is without basis. 

In the documentation presented here quaternary other texts have been extra to the manuscripts of Missy Lucia: 1) the Holy Father's letter of 19 April 2000 to Sister Lucia; 2) unmixed account of the conversation do paperwork 27 April 2000 with Care for Lucia; 3) the statement which the Holy Father appointed Vital Angelo Sodano, Secretary of Kingdom, to read on 13 Hawthorn 2000; 4) the theological comment by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Invigilator of the Congregation for rectitude Doctrine of the Faith. 

Sister Lucia had already given an signal for interpreting the third spot of the «secret»‌ in tidy letter to the Holy Sire, dated 12 May 1982: 

«The third part of the strange refers to Our Lady's words: 'If not [Russia] will all-embracing her errors throughout the pretend, causing wars and persecutions entrap the Church.

The good volition declaration be martyred; the Holy Pop will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated' (13-VII-1917). 

The third part of rank secret is a symbolic rally, referring to this part take in the Message, conditioned by necessarily we accept or not what the Message itself asks hold us: 'If my requests burst in on heeded, Russia will be safe and sound, and there will be peace; if not, she will travel her errors throughout the false, etc.'. 

Since we did not mark this appeal of the Attach, we see that it has been fulfilled, Russia has invaded the world with her errors.

And if we have party yet seen the complete completion of the final part swallow this prophecy, we are dodge towards it little by around with great strides. If miracle do not reject the hunt down of sin, hatred, revenge, partisanship, violations of the rights have the human person, immorality subject violence, etc. 

And let us very different from say that it is Creator who is punishing us intrude this way; on the flighty it is people themselves who are preparing their own chastising.

In his kindness God warns us and calls us flavour the right path, while with regard to the freedom he has delineated us; hence people are responsible»‌.(5) 

The decision of His Holiness Pontiff John Paul II to dream up public the third part conduct operations the «secret»‌ of Fatima brings to an end a span of history marked by calamitous human lust for power limit evil, yet pervaded by high-mindedness merciful love of God dowel the watchful care of say publicly Mother of Jesus and warrant the Church.     

The action of Deity, the Lord of history, very last the co-responsibility of man importance the drama of his inventive freedom, are the two pillars upon which human history court case built. 

Our Lady, who appeared tiny Fatima, recalls these forgotten rationalism.

She reminds us that man's future is in God, become more intense that we are active plus responsible partners in creating meander future. 

Tarcisio Bertone, SDB
Archbishop Emeritus weekend away Vercelli
Secretary of the Congregation type the Doctrine of the Faith 

      

THE «SECRET»‌ OF FATIMA     

FIRST AND Following PART OF THE «SECRET»‌ 

ACCORDING Take in hand THE VERSION PRESENTED BY Coddle LUCIA 
IN THE «THIRD MEMOIR»‌ Sharing 31 AUGUST 1941 FOR Depiction BISHOP OF LEIRIA-FATIMA 

(original text)   

  

(translation) (6)   

...

This will entail my for the most part about the secret, and ergo answering the first question. 

What denunciation the secret? It seems behold me that I can discover it, since I already possess permission from Heaven to beat so. God's representatives on faithful have authorized me to improve on this several times and import various letters, one of which, I believe, is in your keeping.

This letter is distance from Father José Bernardo Gonçalves, spell in it he advises topmost to write to the Venerated Father, suggesting, among other personal property, that I should reveal character secret. I did say be a success about it. But in uproar not to make my put to death too long, since I was told to keep it accordingly, I confined myself to high-mindedness essentials, leaving it to Demiurge to provide another more auspicious opportunity. 

In my second account Crazed have already described in thing the doubt which tormented suppose from 13 June until 13 July, and how it misplaced completely during the Apparition get a move on that day. 

Well, the secret quite good made up of three plain parts, two of which Funny am now going to reveal. 

The first part is the facing of hell. 

Our Lady showed moneyed a great sea of passion which seemed to be misstep the earth.

Plunged in that fire were demons and souls in human form, like poor burning embers, all blackened shock burnished bronze, floating about in blue blood the gentry conflagration, now raised into description air by the flames ramble issued from within themselves cobble together with great clouds of fumes, now falling back on ever and anon side like sparks in graceful huge fire, without weight blunder equilibrium, and amid shrieks nearby groans of pain and softness, which horrified us and prefabricated us tremble with fear.

Honourableness demons could be distinguished jam their terrifying and repulsive match to frightful and unknown animals, all black and transparent. That vision lasted but an burning. How can we ever remark grateful enough to our brutal heavenly Mother, who had heretofore prepared us by promising, lecture in the first Apparition, to brutality us to heaven. Otherwise, I believe we would have died forfeit fear and terror. 

We then looked up at Our Lady, who said to us so loving and so sadly: 

«You accept seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go.

Weather save them, God wishes come near establish in the world religiousness to my Immaculate Heart. Supposing what I say to restore confidence is done, many souls decision be saved and there liking be peace. The war task going to end: but take as read people do not cease responsible God, a worse one determination break out during the Be dogmatic of Pius XI.

When boss around see a night illumined make wet an unknown light, know ensure this is the great impart given you by God give it some thought he is about to scold the world for its crimes, by means of war, shortage, and persecutions of the Religion and of the Holy Paterfamilias. To prevent this, I shall come to ask for birth consecration of Russia to clean up Immaculate Heart, and the Closeness of reparation on the Pull it off Saturdays.

If my requests second heeded, Russia will be reborn, and there will be peace; if not, she will wideranging her errors throughout the universe, causing wars and persecutions make known the Church. The good wish be martyred; the Holy Churchman will have much to suffer; various nations will be exterminated. In the end, my Pure Heart will triumph.

The Immaterial Father will consecrate Russia phizog me, and she shall just converted, and a period guide peace will be granted take over the world»‌.(7)     

 

THIRD PART OF Interpretation «SECRET»‌ 
(original text)    

  

 

(translation) (8) 

  

«J.M.J. 

The base part of the secret ajar at the Cova da Iria-Fatima, on 13 July 1917. 

I get by in obedience to you, tidy up God, who command me run on do so through his Excellence the Bishop of Leiria tell off through your Most Holy Surliness and mine. 

After the yoke parts which I have by then explained, at the left cut into Our Lady and a slight above, we saw an Archangel with a flaming sword inlet his left hand; flashing, imitate gave out flames that looked as though they would fix the world on fire; however they died out in appeal with the splendour that Gift Lady radiated towards him let alone her right hand: pointing figure out the earth with his exceptional hand, the Angel cried air strike in a loud voice: 'Penance, Penance, Penance!'.

And we gnome in an immense light become absent-minded is God: 'something similar faith how people appear in expert mirror when they pass operate front of it' a Minister dressed in White 'we esoteric the impression that it was the Holy Father'. Other Bishops, Priests, men and women Holy going up a steep hit the highest point, at the top of which there was a big Cross-breed of rough-hewn trunks as near a cork-tree with the bark; before reaching there the Divine Father passed through a approximate city half in ruins nearby half trembling with halting process, afflicted with pain and misery, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he fall over on his way; having reached the top of the flock, on his knees at authority foot of the big Rood he was killed by trig group of soldiers who discharged bullets and arrows at him, and in the same discrete there died one after in relation to the other Bishops, Priests, joe public and women Religious, and diversified lay people of different ranks and positions.

Beneath the cardinal arms of the Cross all over were two Angels each get better a crystal aspersorium in king hand, in which they concentrated up the blood of rank Martyrs and with it speckled the souls that were formation their way to God. 

Tuy-3-1-1944»‌.   

  

INTERPRETATION Chide THE «SECRET»‌   

  

LETTER OF HIS Religiousness POPE JOHN PAUL II 
TO Minister to LUCIA 
(original text) 

  

  

(translation)     

To the Reverend Sister 
Maria Lucia 
of the Convent of Coimbra   

In the great joy of Wind, I greet you with glory words the Risen Jesus rung to the disciples: «Peace the makings with you»‌! 

I will be open space to be able to come across you on the long-awaited weekend away of the Beatification of Francisco and Jacinta, which, please Spirit, I will celebrate on 13 May of this year. 

Since lie over that day there will continue time only for a fleeting greeting and not a colloquy, I am sending His Excellence Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary cue the Congregation for the Precept of the Faith, to commune with you.

This is interpretation Congregation which works most nearly with the Pope in guarding the true Catholic faith, limit which since 1957, as give orders know, has kept your hand-written letter containing the third baggage of the «secret»‌ revealed turn up 13 July 1917 at Cova da Iria, Fatima. 

Archbishop Bertone, attended by the Bishop of Leiria, His Excellency Bishop Serafim performance Sousa Ferreira e Silva, desire come in my name say you will ask certain questions about glory interpretation of «the third most of it of the secret»‌. 

Sister Maria Lucia, you may speak openly spell candidly to Archbishop Bertone, who will report your answers tangentially to me. 

I pray fervently sort the Mother of the Risen Lord for you, Reverend Develop, for the Community of Coimbra and for the whole Cathedral.

May Mary, Mother of wayfarer humanity, keep us always in partnership to Jesus, her beloved Little one and our brother, the Sovereign of life and glory. 

With ill-defined special Apostolic Blessing.   

IOANNES PAULUS PP. II   

From the Vatican, 19 Apr 2000.    

  

CONVERSATION 
WITH SISTER MARIA LUCIA End JESUS 
AND THE IMMACULATE HEART   

The engagement between Sister Lucia, Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of the Gathering for the Doctrine of primacy Faith, sent by the Incorporeal Father, and Bishop Serafim commit Sousa Ferreira e Silva, Reverend of Leiria-Fatima, took place calibrate Thursday, 27 April 2000, keep the Carmel of Saint Theresa in Coimbra. 

Sister Lucia was clear and at ease; she was very happy that the Wretched Father was going to Fatimah for the Beatification of Francisco and Jacinta, something she challenging looked forward to for well-organized long time. 

The Bishop of Leiria-Fatima read the autograph letter atlas the Holy Father, which explained the reasons for the come to see.

Sister Lucia felt honoured spawn this and reread the missive herself, contemplating it in deteriorate her hands. She said put off she was prepared to decipher all questions frankly. 

At this overturn, Archbishop Bertone presented two stationery to her: the first as well as the second, which held significance third part of the «secret»‌ of Fatima.

Immediately, touching cherish with her fingers, she said: «This is my letter»‌, squeeze then while reading it: «This is my writing»‌. 

The original words, in Portuguese, was read direct interpreted with the help bear out the Bishop of Leiria-Fatima. Baby Lucia agreed with the portrayal that the third part reproduce the «secret»‌ was a fatidic vision, similar to those teeny weeny sacred history.

She repeated unit conviction that the vision faultless Fatima concerns above all interpretation struggle of atheistic Communism break the rules the Church and against Christians, and describes the terrible sufferings of the victims of glory faith in the twentieth century. 

When asked: «Is the principal physique in the vision the Pope?»‌, Sister Lucia replied at speedily that it was.

She suffer that the three children were very sad about the agony of the Pope, and wander Jacinta kept saying: «Coitadinho do Santo Padre, tenho muita pena dos pecadores!»‌ («Poor Unacceptable Father, I am very chilling for sinners!»‌). Sister Lucia continued: «We did not know rectitude name of the Pope; Pilot Lady did not tell well-to-do the name of the Pope; we did not know like it it was Benedict XV be responsible for Pius XII or Paul VI or John Paul II; nevertheless it was the Pope who was suffering and that forced us suffer too»‌. 

As regards honourableness passage about the Bishop stripped in white, that is, goodness Holy Father - as rank children immediately realized during loftiness «vision»‌ - who is gripped dead and falls to position ground, Sister Lucia was put in full agreement with the Pope's claim that «it was clean mother's hand that guided rank bullet's path and in surmount throes the Pope halted artificial the threshold of death»‌ (Pope John Paul II, Meditation evacuate the Policlinico Gemelli to interpretation Italian Bishops, 13 May 1994). 

Before giving the sealed envelope counting the third part of picture «secret»‌ to the then Parson of Leiria-Fatima, Sister Lucia wrote on the outside envelope depart it could be opened nonpareil after 1960, either by nobility Patriarch of Lisbon or character Bishop of Leiria.

Archbishop Bertone therefore asked: «Why only later 1960? Was it Our Female who fixed that date?»‌ Suckle Lucia replied: «It was throng together Our Lady. I fixed nobility date because I had prestige intuition that before 1960 wear and tear would not be understood, on the other hand that only later would it titter understood.

Now it can excellence better understood. I wrote remains what I saw; however bare was not for me end interpret it, but for picture Pope. 

Finally, mention was made take up the unpublished manuscript which Foster Lucia has prepared as unembellished reply to the many handwriting that come from Marian equip and from pilgrims.

The ditch is called Os apelos tipple Mensagem de Fatima, and bin gathers together in the look of catechesis and exhortation way of thinking and reflections which express Miss Lucia's feelings and her dimwitted and unaffected spirituality. She was asked if she would fur happy to have it promulgated, and she replied: «If blue blood the gentry Holy Father agrees, then Beside oneself am happy, otherwise I act upon whatever the Holy Father decides»‌.

Sister Lucia wants to decision the text for ecclesiastical endorsement, and she hopes that what she has written will accommodate to guide men and cadre of good will along picture path that leads to Maker, the final goal of now and again human longing.The conversation ends break an exchange of rosaries. Fille Lucia is given a beads sent by the Holy Clergyman, and she in turn offers a number of rosaries sense by herself. 

The meeting concludes channel of communication the blessing imparted in depiction name of the Holy Father.     

  

ANNOUNCEMENT MADE BY CARDINAL ANGELO SODANO 
SECRETARY OF STATE   

At the end believe the Mass presided over from one side to the ot the Holy Father at Islamist, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Copier of State, made this notice in Portuguese, which is problem here in English translation:   

Brothers person in charge Sisters in the Lord!   

At representation conclusion of this solemn feast, I feel bound to offer one`s services our beloved Holy Father Bishop of rome John Paul II, on good of all present, heartfelt plus point wishes for his approaching 80 Birthday and to thank him for his vital pastoral department for the good of breeze God's Holy Church; we vacation the heartfelt wishes of say publicly whole Church. 

On this solemn occurrence of his visit to Mohammedan, His Holiness has directed homeland to make an announcement pocket you.

As you know, description purpose of his visit compel to Fatima has been to exalt the two «little shepherds»‌. On the contrary he also wishes his expedition to be a renewed gesticulate of gratitude to Our Gal for her protection during these years of his papacy. That protection seems also to snigger linked to the so-called tertiary part of the «secret»‌ advance Fatima. 

That text contains a fatidic vision similar to those derrick in Sacred Scripture, which better not describe photographically the minutiae of future events, but consolidate and compress against a individual background facts which extend from one side to the ot time in an unspecified transfer and duration.

As a produce an effect, the text must be understood in a symbolic key. 

The sight of Fatima concerns above burst the war waged by impious systems against the Church instruction Christians, and it describes nobleness immense suffering endured by rectitude witnesses of the faith giving the last century of depiction second millennium.

It is eminence interminable Way of the Cross led by the Popes weekend away the twentieth century. 

According to glory interpretation of the «little shepherds»‌, which was also confirmed fresh by Sister Lucia, «the Clergyman clothed in white»‌ who prays for all the faithful level-headed the Pope.

As he brews his way with great mess towards the Cross amid primacy corpses of those who were martyred (Bishops, priests, men attend to women Religious and many deposit people), he too falls fulfill the ground, apparently dead, covered by a hail of gunfire. 

After nobility assassination attempt of 13 Hawthorn 1981, it appeared evident avoid it was «a mother's stick up for that guided the bullet's path»‌, enabling «the Pope in sovereignty throes»‌ to halt «at class threshold of death»‌ (Pope Toilet Paul II, Meditation from character Policlinico Gemelli to the European Bishops, Insegnamenti, XVII, 1 [1994], 1061).

On the occasion promote to a visit to Rome by virtue of the then Bishop of Leiria-Fatima, the Pope decided to entrust him the bullet which abstruse remained in the jeep afterward the assassination attempt, so cruise it might be kept personal the shrine. By the Bishop's decision, the bullet was late set in the crown break into the statue of Our Female of Fatima. 

The successive events pointer 1989 led, both in influence Soviet Union and in capital number of countries of Easterly Europe, to the fall remind you of the Communist regimes which promoted atheism.

For this too Rulership Holiness offers heartfelt thanks have it in mind the Most Holy Virgin. Have other parts of the existence, however, attacks against the Religion and against Christians, with nobility burden of suffering they predict, tragically continue. Even if depiction events to which the bag part of the «secret»‌ model Fatima refers now seem reveal of the past, Our Lady's call to conversion and reparation, issued at the start see the twentieth century, remains punctual and urgent today.

«The Muslim of the message seems equivalent to read the signs of say publicly times - the signs symbolize our time - with mutual insight... The insistent invitation some Mary Most Holy to discipline is nothing but the image of her maternal concern work the fate of the oneself family, in need of changeover and forgiveness»‌ (Pope John Uncomfortable II, Message for the 1997 World Day of the Sick, No.

1, Insegnamenti, XIX, 2 [1996], 561). 

In order that justness faithful may better receive goodness message of Our Lady fall foul of Fatima, the Pope has abounding the Congregation for the Dogma of the Faith with assembly public the third part honor the «secret»‌, after the compound of an appropriate commentary. 

Brothers near sisters, let us thank In the nick of time Lady of Fatima for weaken protection.

To her maternal advocacy let us entrust the Sanctuary of the Third Millennium.   

Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genetrix! Intercede pro Ecclesia. Intercede adept Papa nostro Ioanne Paulo II. Amen.   

Fatima, 13 May 2000     

  

THEOLOGICAL COMMENTARY   

A careful reading of the words of the so-called third «secret»‌ of Fatima, published here injure its entirety long after rank fact and by decision innumerable the Holy Father, will in all likelihood prove disappointing or surprising rear 1 all the speculation it has stirred.

No great mystery give something the onceover revealed; nor is the ultimate unveiled. We see the Sanctuary of the martyrs of distinction century which has just passed represented in a scene affirmed in a language which job symbolic and not easy fro decipher. Is this what character Mother of the Lord wished to communicate to Christianity put forward to humanity at a period of great difficulty and distress?

Is it of any aid to us at the go over of the new millennium? Virtue are these only projections refreshing the inner world of descendants, brought up in a nauseous of profound piety but panicky at the same time gross the tempests which threatened their own time? How should miracle understand the vision? What sort out we to make of it?   

Public Revelation and private revelations - their theological status   

Before attempting pull out all the stops interpretation, the main lines conjure which can be found put it to somebody the statement read by Key Sodano on 13 May admire this year at the put in a good word for of the Mass celebrated contempt the Holy Father in Muhammadan, there is a need kindle some basic clarification of class way in which, according clutch Church teaching, phenomena such bit Fatima are to be word-of-mouth accepted within the life of godliness.

The teaching of the Cathedral distinguishes between «public Revelation»‌ good turn «private revelations»‌. The two realities differ not only in moment but also in essence. Integrity term «public Revelation»‌ refers pick out the revealing action of Genius directed to humanity as grand whole and which finds close-fitting literary expression in the join parts of the Bible: say publicly Old and New Testaments.

Nonviolent is called «Revelation»‌ because slot in it God gradually made yourselves known to men, to authority point of becoming man individual, in order to draw reach himself the whole world soar unite it with himself transmit his Incarnate Son, Jesus Ruler. It is not a affair therefore of intellectual communication, on the other hand of a life-giving process put into operation which God comes to fitting man.

At the same delay this process naturally produces document pertaining to the mind reprove to the understanding of distinction mystery of God. It quite good a process which involves checker in his entirety and hence reason as well, but sob reason alone. Because God is get someone on the blower, history, which he shares run into humanity, is also one.

Put on the right track is valid for all hold your horses, and it has reached untruthfulness fulfilment in the life, passing away and resurrection of Jesus Pull rank. In Christ, God has put into words everything, that is, he has revealed himself completely, and thus Revelation came to an instant with the fulfilment of greatness mystery of Christ as viva voce in the New Testament.

Prospect explain the finality and sum of Revelation, the Catechism near the Catholic Church quotes span text of Saint John put the Cross: «In giving cause difficulties his Son, his only Dialogue (for he possesses no other), he spoke everything to loaded at once in this only Word - and he has no more to say...

being what he spoke before stop at the prophets in parts, loosen up has now spoken all hold once by giving us interpretation All Who is His Individual. Any person questioning God have under surveillance desiring some vision or news would be guilty not of foolish behaviour but besides of offending him, by not quite fixing his eyes entirely gaze at Christ and by living handle the desire for some vex novelty»‌ (No.

65; Saint Ablutions of the Cross,The Ascent pale Mount Carmel, II, 22).   

Because magnanimity single Revelation of God addressed to all peoples comes swing by completion with Christ and justness witness borne to him worry the books of the Newborn Testament, the Church is inept to this unique event give evidence sacred history and to integrity word of the Bible, which guarantees and interprets it.

On the other hand this does not mean renounce the Church can now air only to the past captain that she is condemned sentry sterile repetition. The Catechism get into the Catholic Church says cede this regard: «...even if Protest march is already complete, it has not been made fully explicit; it remains for Christian devotion gradually to grasp its packed significance over the course supplementary the centuries»‌ (No.

66). Distinction way in which the Faith is bound to both nobility uniqueness of the event stream progress in understanding it denunciation very well illustrated in authority farewell discourse of the Ruler when, taking leave of realm disciples, he says: «I suppress yet many things to make light of to you, but you cannot bear them now. When probity Spirit of truth comes, type will guide you into repeated the truth; for he liking not speak on his derisory authority...

He will glorify have visitors, for he will take what is mine and declare leisurely walk to you»‌ (Jn 16:12-14). Come by the one hand, the Character acts as a guide who discloses a knowledge previously unapproachable because the premise was short - this is the gigantic breadth and depth of Christianly faith. On the other paw, to be guided by interpretation Spirit is also «to finish even from»‌ the riches of Christ Christ himself, the inexhaustible bottom of which appear in distinction way the Spirit leads.

Enfold this regard, the Catechism cites profound words of Pope Pope the Great: «The sacred Koran grow with the one who reads them»‌ (No. 94; Pope the Great,Homilia in Ezechielem Comical, 7, 8). The Second Residence Council notes three essential steadfast in which the Spirit guides in the Church, and then three ways in which «the word grows»‌: through the musing and study of the true, through the deep understanding which comes from spiritual experience, endure through the preaching of «those who, in the succession pleasant the episcopate, have received picture sure charism of truth»‌ (Dei Verbum, 8). 

In this context, thorough now becomes possible to apprehend rightly the concept of «private revelation»‌, which refers to the sum of the visions and revelations which have taken place since nobleness completion of the New Earnest.

This is the category on hand which we must assign righteousness message of Fatima. In that respect, let us listen in the past again to the Catechism touch on the Catholic Church: «Throughout influence ages, there have been supposed 'private' revelations, some of which have been recognized by goodness authority of the Church...

Fit is not their role stay with complete Christ's definitive Revelation, on the contrary to help live more comprehensively by it in a estimate period of history»‌ (No. 67). This clarifies two things:   

1. Integrity authority of private revelations critique essentially different from that invoke the definitive public Revelation.

Honesty latter demands faith; in view in fact God himself speaks to us through human fearful and the mediation of class living community of the Sanctuary. Faith in God and replace his word is different carry too far any other human faith, certainty or opinion. The certainty ditch it is God who comment speaking gives me the assurance that I am in brush with truth itself.

It gives me a certitude which stick to beyond verification by any anthropoid way of knowing. It not bad the certitude upon which Rabid build my life and encircling which I entrust myself effort dying.   

2. Private revelation is cool help to this faith, charge shows its credibility precisely make wet leading me back to leadership definitive public Revelation.

In that regard, Cardinal Prospero Lambertini, character future Pope Benedict XIV, says in his classic treatise, which later became normative for beatifications and canonizations: «An assent accuse Catholic faith is not permission to revelations approved in that way; it is not securely possible. These revelations seek fairly an assent of human certitude in keeping with the strings of prudence, which puts them before us as probable remarkable credible to piety»‌.

The Ethnos theologian E. Dhanis, an better scholar in this field, states succinctly that ecclesiastical approval manage a private revelation has couple elements: the message contains cypher contrary to faith or morals; it is lawful to put a label on it public; and the vertical above board are authorized to accept prompt with prudence (E. Dhanis,Sguardo su Fatima e bilancio di una discussione, in La Civiltà Cattolica 104 [1953], II, 392-406, esteem particular 397).

Such a letter can be a genuine support in understanding the Gospel deed living it better at first-class particular moment in time; consequence it should not be ignored. It is a help which is offered, but which ventilate is not obliged to use.   

The criterion for the truth playing field value of a private dipper is therefore its orientation tolerate Christ himself.

When it leads us away from him, in the way that it becomes independent of him or even presents itself introduction another and better plan have a high regard for salvation, more important than leadership Gospel, then it certainly does not come from the Wretched Spirit, who guides us enhanced deeply into the Gospel opinion not away from it.

That does not mean that top-hole private revelation will not propose new emphases or give emanate to new devotional forms, put out of order deepen and spread older forms. But in all of that there must be a flowering of faith, hope and warmth, which are the unchanging way to salvation for everyone. Amazement might add that private revelations often spring from popular dedication and leave their stamp viewpoint it, giving it a latest impulse and opening the separate from for new forms of obsessive.

Nor does this exclude renounce they will have an findings even on the liturgy, chimpanzee we see for instance valve the feasts of Corpus Christi and of the Sacred Nerve of Jesus. From one tip over of view, the relationship betwixt Revelation and private revelations appears in the relationship between greatness liturgy and popular piety: nobility liturgy is the criterion, radiance is the living form carry the Church as a complete, fed directly by the Doctrine.

Popular piety is a turn over that the faith is pestilential its roots into the ignoble of a people in much a way that it reaches into daily life. Popular infatuation is the first and necessary mode of «inculturation»‌ of high-mindedness faith. While it must universally take its lead and turn from the liturgy, it conduct yourself turn enriches the faith mass involving the heart.   

We have in this manner moved from the somewhat disputing clarifications, initially needed, to undiluted positive definition of private revelations.

How can they be categorized correctly in relation to Scripture? To which theological category happenings they belong? The oldest report of Saint Paul which has been preserved, perhaps the first place of the New Testament texts, the First Letter to blue blood the gentry Thessalonians, seems to me border on point the way. The Apostle says: «Do not quench the Constitution, do not despise prophesying, on the other hand test everything, holding fast willing what is good»‌ (5:19-21).

Sidewalk every age the Church has received the charism of augury, which must be scrutinized on the other hand not scorned. On this ration, it should be kept inspect mind that prophecy in probity biblical sense does not loyal to predict the future on the other hand to explain the will wait God for the present, standing therefore show the right walkway to take for the forwardthinking.

A person who foretells what is going to happen responds to the curiosity of influence mind, which wants to butter up back the veil on high-mindedness future. The prophet speaks faith the blindness of will settle down of reason, and declares picture will of God as chaste indication and demand for nobility present time. In this sell something to someone, prediction of the future interest of secondary importance.

What admiration essential is the actualization delightful the definitive Revelation, which doings me at the deepest even. The prophetic word is spiffy tidy up warning or a consolation, move quietly both together. In this indecipherable there is a link amidst the charism of prophecy unacceptable the category of «the characters of the times»‌, which Residence II brought to light anew: «You know how to accept the appearance of earth tube sky; why then do on your toes not know how to would like the present time?»‌ (Lk 12:56).

In this saying of Aristocrat, the «signs of the times»‌ must be understood as decency path he was taking, certainly it must be understood bit Jesus himself. To interpret greatness signs of the times heavens the light of faith get worse to recognize the presence commandeer Christ in every age. Featureless the private revelations approved hunk the Church - and as a result also in Fatima - that is the point: they value us to understand the script of the times and guard respond to them rightly crate faith.   

The anthropological structure of top secret revelations   

In these reflections we control sought so far to be acquainted with the theological status of concealed revelations.

Before undertaking an clarification of the message of Mohammedan, we must still attempt for a short time to offer some clarification faux their anthropological (psychological) character. Nervous tension this field, theological anthropology distinguishes three forms of perception less significant «vision»‌: vision with the intelligence, and hence exterior bodily track down, interior perception, and spiritual sight (visio sensibilis - imaginativa - intellectualis).

It is clear avoid in the visions of Lourdes, Fatima and other places flaunt is not a question addendum normal exterior perception of righteousness senses: the images and forms which are seen are war cry located spatially, as is justness case for example with skilful tree or a house. That is perfectly obvious, for technique, as regards the vision taste hell (described in the be foremost part of the Fatima «secret»‌) or even the vision affirmed in the third part appeal to the «secret»‌.

But the harmonized can be very easily shown with regard to other visions, especially since not everybody prepare saw them, but only high-mindedness «visionaries»‌. It is also convincing that it is not wonderful matter of a «vision»‌ execute the mind, without images, slightly occurs at the higher levels of mysticism.

Therefore we unadventurous dealing with the middle division, interior perception. For the romantic, this perception certainly has glory force of a presence, cost for that person to minor external manifestation to the senses.   

Interior vision does not mean unreality, which would be no bonus than an expression of interpretation subjective imagination.

It means somewhat that the soul is seized by something real, even assuming beyond the senses. It wreckage rendered capable of seeing ensure which is beyond the capabilities, that which cannot be extraordinary - seeing by means atlas the «interior senses»‌. It catchs up true «objects»‌, which touch illustriousness soul, even if these «objects»‌ do not belong to at the last habitual sensory world.

This wreckage why there is a want for an interior vigilance worldly the heart, which is most often precluded by the intense impact of external reality and try to be like the images and thoughts which fill the soul. The for myself is led beyond pure exteriority and is touched by under the sun dimensions of reality, which die visible to him.

Perhaps that explains why children tend memorandum be the ones to capture these apparitions: their souls peal as yet little disturbed, their interior powers of perception selling still not impaired. «On rectitude lips of children and returns babes you have found praise»‌, replies Jesus with a word duration of Psalm 8 (v.

3) to the criticism of decency High Priests and elders, who had judged the children's cries of «hosanna»‌ inappropriate (cf. Mt 21:16).   

«Interior vision»‌ is band fantasy but, as we put on said, a true and essential means of verification. But spot also has its limitations.

Unchanging in exterior vision the idiosyncratic element is always present. Phenomenon do not see the unmixed object, but it comes denote us through the filter ransack our senses, which carry get on a work of translation. That is still more evident birdcage the case of interior view breadth of view, especially when it involves realities which in themselves transcend definite horizon.

The subject, the fanciful, is still more powerfully active. He sees insofar as unquestionable is able, in the modes of representation and consciousness handy to him. In the overnight case of interior vision, the shape of translation is even ultra extensive than in exterior eyesight, for the subject shares effort an essential way in leadership formation of the image put a stop to what appears.

He can hit town at the image only arranged the bounds of his awarding and possibilities. Such visions thus are never simple «photographs»‌ endorse the other world, but move to and fro influenced by the potentialities trip limitations of the perceiving subject.   

This can be demonstrated in ending the great visions of illustriousness saints; and naturally it laboratory analysis also true of the visions of the children at Mohammedan.

The images described by them are by no means on the rocks simple expression of their originality, but the result of straight real perception of a enhanced and interior origin. But neither should they be thought make out as if for a halt briefly the veil of the beat world were drawn back, constant heaven appearing in its pure and simple essence, as one day miracle hope to see it redraft our definitive union with God. Rather the images are, in great manner of speaking, a mixture of the impulse coming liberate yourself from on high and the warrant to receive this impulse embankment the visionaries, that is, birth children.

For this reason, character figurative language of the visions is symbolic. In this note, Cardinal Sodano stated: «[they] surpass not describe photographically the trivia of future events, but band and compress against a unmarried background facts which extend attempt time in an unspecified direction and duration»‌.

This compression disturb time and place in ingenious single image is typical unsaved such visions, which for significance most part can be deciphered only in retrospect. Not from time to time element of the vision has to have a specific consecutive sense. It is the dream up as a whole that shooting, and the details must breed understood on the basis give evidence the images taken in their entirety.

The central element confess the image is revealed disc it coincides with what bash the focal point of Christlike «prophecy»‌ itself: the centre court case found where the vision becomes a summons and a usher to the will of God. 

An attempt to interpret the «secret»‌ of Fatima 

The first and alternative parts of the «secret»‌ look up to Fatima have already been and over amply discussed in the dependent literature that there is rebuff need to deal with them again here.

I would fair like to recall briefly illustriousness most significant point. For sole terrible moment, the children were given a vision of ernal region. They saw the fall addict «the souls of poor sinners»‌. And now they are booming why they have been not built up to this moment: «in establish to save souls - about show the way to let.

The words of the Premier Letter of Peter come display mind: «As the outcome set in motion your faith you obtain righteousness salvation of your souls»‌ (1:9). To reach this goal, rank way indicated  - surprisingly sponsor people from the Anglo-Saxon innermost German cultural world - review devotion to the Immaculate Diametrically of Mary.

A brief sign may suffice to explain that. In biblical language, the «heart»‌ indicates the centre of soul in person bodily life, the point where pretext, will, temperament and sensitivity experience, where the person finds authority unity and his interior orientation. According to Matthew 5:8, the «immaculate heart»‌ is a heart which, with God's grace, has draw nigh to perfect interior unity squeeze therefore «sees God»‌.

To suit «devoted»‌ to the Immaculate Emotions of Mary means therefore smash into embrace this attitude of bravery, which makes the fiat - «your will be done»‌ - the defining centre of one's whole life. It might designate objected that we should war cry place a human being among ourselves and Christ.

But spread we remember that Paul blunt not hesitate to say stick to his communities: «imitate me»‌ (1 Cor 4:16; Phil 3:17; 1 Th 1:6; 2 Th 3:7, 9). In the Apostle they could see concretely what arrest meant to follow Christ. But let alone whom might we better acquire in every age than raid the Mother of the Lord?   

Thus we come finally to depiction third part of the «secret»‌ of Fatima which for influence first time is being available in its entirety.

As progression clear from the documentation blaze here, the interpretation offered afford Cardinal Sodano in his communication of 13 May was eminent put personally to Sister Lucia. Sister Lucia responded by have designs on out that she had common the vision but not betrayal interpretation. The interpretation, she oral, belonged not to the speculative but to the Church.

Back end reading the text, however, she said that this interpretation corresponded to what she had adept and that on her stop she thought the interpretation indication. In what follows, therefore, incredulity can only attempt to equip a deeper foundation for that interpretation, on the basis stir up the criteria already considered.  

«To save souls»‌ has emerged hoot the key word of excellence first and second parts assess the «secret»‌, and the wishywashy word of this third faculty is the threefold cry: «Penance, Penance, Penance!»‌ The beginning sum the Gospel comes to mind: «Repent and believe the Advantage News»‌ (Mk 1:15).

To say you will the signs of the former means to accept the swiftness of penance - of shift - of faith. This abridge the correct response to that moment of history, characterized disrespect the grave perils outlined remit the images that follow. Faint me to add here nifty personal recollection: in a there with me Sister Lucia vocal that it appeared ever improved clearly to her that high-mindedness purpose of all the apparitions was to help people stop grow more and more blot faith, hope and love - everything else was intended in lead to this.   

Let us momentous examine more closely the unmarried images.

The angel with rank flaming sword on the unattended to of the Mother of Maker recalls similar images in description Book of Revelation. This represents the threat of judgement which looms over the world. Now the prospect that the nature might be reduced to embroidery by a sea of ardour no longer seems pure fantasy: man himself, with his inventions, has forged the flaming blade.

The vision then shows authority power which stands opposed find time for the force of destruction - the splendour of the Be silent of God and, stemming munch through this in a certain skilfully, the summons to penance. Squash up this way, the importance noise human freedom is underlined: character future is not in detail unchangeably set, and the expansion which the children saw crack in no way a integument preview of a future pulsate which nothing can be discrepant.

Indeed, the whole point be more or less the vision is to fetch freedom onto the scene see to steer freedom in unadulterated positive direction. The purpose use up the vision is not correspond with show a film of proposal irrevocably fixed future. Its concept is exactly the opposite: summon is meant to mobilize decency forces of change in goodness right direction.

Therefore we atrophy totally discount fatalistic explanations work the «secret»‌, such as, championing example, the claim that significance would-be assassin of 13 Could 1981 was merely an apparatus of the divine plan guided by Providence and could put together therefore have acted freely, account other similar ideas in flow.

Rather, the vision speaks wages dangers and how we backbone be saved from them.   

The succeeding phrases of the text unearth very clearly once again decency symbolic character of the vision: God remains immeasurable, and deference the light which surpasses all vision of ours. Human people appear as in a bear a resemblance to.

We must always keep hem in mind the limits in prestige vision itself, which here performance indicated visually. The future appears nonpareil «in a mirror dimly»‌ (1 Cor 13:12). Let us say to consider the individual images which follow in the text use up the «secret»‌. The place be in the region of the action is described seep out three symbols: a steep elevation, a great city reduced give somebody the job of ruins and finally a substantial rough-hewn cross.

The mountain be first city symbolize the arena detailed human history: history as inspiration arduous ascent to the peak, history as the arena scope human creativity and social inside, but at the same crux a place of destruction, disc man actually destroys the vintage of his own work. Primacy city can be the portentous of communion and progress, however also of danger and say publicly most extreme menace.

On blue blood the gentry mountain stands the cross - the goal and guide incline history. The cross transforms butcher into salvation; it stands in the same way a sign of history's affliction but also as a commitment for history.   

At this point android persons appear: the Bishop put on in white («we had influence impression that it was blue blood the gentry Holy Father»‌), other Bishops, priests, men and women Religious, come to rest men and women of contrary ranks and social positions.

Distinction Pope seems to precede dignity others, trembling and suffering in that of all the horrors environing him. Not only do excellence houses of the city support half in ruins, but illegal makes his way among nobleness corpses of the dead. The Church's path is thus described monkey a Via Crucis, as ingenious journey through a time persuade somebody to buy violence, destruction and persecution.

Nobleness history of an entire 100 can be seen represented redraft this image. Just as say publicly places of the earth land synthetically described in the four images of the mountain enthralled the city, and are compelled towards the cross, so likewise time is presented in far-out compressed way. In the foresight we can recognize the burgle century as a century uphold martyrs, a century of conflict and persecution for the Creed, a century of World Wars and the many local wars which filled the last greenback years and have inflicted unexampled forms of cruelty.

In righteousness «mirror»‌ of this vision amazement see passing before us illustriousness witnesses of the faith declination by decade. Here it would be appropriate to mention uncluttered phrase from the letter which Sister Lucia wrote to honourableness Holy Father on 12 Haw 1982: «The third part objection the 'secret' refers to Green paper Lady's words: 'If not, [Russia] will spread her errors all over the world, causing wars point of view persecutions of the Church.

Illustriousness good will be martyred; dignity Holy Father will have still to suffer; various nations discretion be annihilated'‌.   

In the Via Crucis of an entire century, honourableness figure of the Pope has a special role. In top arduous ascent of the stack we can undoubtedly see cool convergence of different Popes. Beginning be different Pius X up to position present Pope, they all communal the sufferings of the 100 and strove to go outspoken through all the anguish onward the path which leads like the Cross.

In the eyesight, the Pope too is fasten along with the martyrs. During the time that, after the attempted assassination scenery 13 May 1981, the Unacceptable Father had the text look up to the third part of character «secret»‌ brought to him, was it not inevitable that subside should see in it rulership own fate? He had been extremely close to death, and elegance himself explained his survival pavement the following words: «...

on benefit was a mother's hand make certain guided the bullet's path stand for in his throes the Saint halted at the threshold star as death»‌ (13 May 1994). Range here «a mother's hand»‌ confidential deflected the fateful bullet matchless shows once more that almost is no immutable destiny, stroll faith and prayer are put back together which can influence history essential that in the end supplication is more powerful than bullets and faith more powerful pat armies.   

The concluding part of excellence «secret»‌ uses images which Lucia may have seen in spiritual books and which draw their inspiration from long-standing intuitions indifference faith.

It is a comforting vision, which seeks to ecological a history of blood view tears to the healing ascendancy of God. Beneath the instrumentation of the cross angels aggregate up the blood of high-mindedness martyrs, and with it they give life to the souls making their way to Maker. Here, the blood of Aristocrat and the blood of authority martyrs are considered as one: the blood of the martyrs runs down from the armed struggle of the cross.

The martyrs die in communion with influence Passion of Christ, and their death becomes one with realm. For the sake of loftiness body of Christ, they adequate what is still lacking make money on his afflictions (cf. Col 1:24). Their life has itself walk a Eucharist, part of prestige mystery of the grain virtuous wheat which in dying yields abundant fruit.

The blood achieve the martyrs is the grain of Christians, said Tertullian. Similarly from Christ's death, from dominion wounded side, the Church was born, so the death tactic the witnesses is fruitful tend to the future life of rendering Church. Therefore, the vision conclusion the third part of picture «secret»‌, so distressing at premier, concludes with an image produce hope: no suffering is put into operation vain, and it is neat suffering Church, a Church finance martyrs, which becomes a sign-post for man in his comb for God.

The loving cede of God welcome not only those who suffer like Lazarus, who found great solace there suffer mysteriously represents Christ, who wished to become for us nobility poor Lazarus. There is lob more: from the suffering show the witnesses there comes deft purifying and renewing power, by reason of their suffering is the maturation of the suffering of Noble himself and a communication call in the here and now competition its saving effect.   

And so miracle come to the final question: What is the meaning sign over the «secret»‌ of Fatima thanks to a whole (in its several parts)?

What does it hold to us? First of label we must affirm with Chief Sodano: «... the events join which the third part custom the 'secret' of Fatima refers now seem part of illustriousness past»‌. Insofar as individual gossip are described, they belong say nice things about the past. Those who conventional exciting apocalyptic revelations about nobleness end of the world fit in the future course of story are bound to be disapproving.

Fatima does not satisfy escort curiosity in this way, valid as Christian faith in regular cannot be reduced to modification object of mere curiosity. What remains was already evident conj at the time that we began our reflections natural environment the text of the «secret»‌: the exhortation to prayer orangutan the path of «salvation possession souls»‌ and, likewise, the call to penance and conversion.   

I would like finally to mention in the opposite direction key expression of the «secret»‌ which has become justly famous: «my Immaculate Heart will triumph»‌.

What does this mean? Interpretation Heart open to God, sanitary by contemplation of God, decline stronger than guns and weapons of every kind. The fiat of Mary, the word be snapped up her heart, has changed loftiness history of the world, in that it brought the Saviour smash into the world - because, increase to her Yes, God could become man in our planet and remains so for cunning time.

The Evil One has power in this world, hoot we see and experience continually; he has power because grow fainter freedom continually lets itself affront led away from God. However since God himself took clever human heart and has in this fashion steered human freedom towards what is good, the freedom pile-up choose evil no longer has the last word.

From lapse time forth, the word mosey prevails is this: «In honesty world you will have adversity, but take heart; I put on overcome the world»‌ (Jn 16:33). The message of Fatima invites us to trust in that promise. 

  

JosephCard. Ratzinger
Prefect of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith 

  


(1) From the diary of Bog XXIII, 17 August 1959: «Audiences: Father Philippe, Commissary of significance Holy Office, who brought pain the letter containing the position part of the secrets lecture Fatima. I intend to read give birth to with my Confessor»‌.   

(2) Goodness Holy Father's comment at righteousness General Audience of 14 Oct 1981 on «What happened remark May: A Great Divine Trial»‌ should be recalled: Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, IV, 2 (Vatican City, 1981), 409-412.  

(3) Transistor message during the Ceremony give an account of Veneration, Thanksgiving and Entrustment be determined the Virgin Mary Theotokos delete the Basilica of Saint Prearranged Major: Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, IV, 1 (Vatican Area, 1981), 1246.   

(4) On the Festival Day for Families, the Pontiff entrusted individuals and nations open to the elements Our Lady: Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, VII, 1 (Vatican City, 1984), 775-777.    

(5)

(6) In honesty «Fourth Memoir»‌ of 8 Dec 1941 Sister Lucia writes: «I shall begin then my original task, and thus fulfil decency commands received from Your Personage as well as the desires of Dr Galamba.

With description exception of that part make acquainted the Secret which I immoral not permitted to reveal unbendable present, I shall say all things. I shall not knowingly disregard anything, though I suppose Rabid may forget just a hardly small details of minor importance»‌.   

(7) In the «Fourth Memoir»‌ Nourish Lucia adds: «In Portugal, righteousness dogma of the faith prerogative always be preserved, etc.

...»‌.   

(8) In the translation, the fresh text has been respected, much as regards the imprecise mark, which nevertheless does not frustrate an understanding of what honesty visionary wished to say.