The Message of Fatima PDF

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CONGREGATION
FORTHEDOCTRINEOFTHEFAITH
THEMESSAGE
OFFATIMA
INTRODUCTION
Asthesecondmillenniumgiveswaytothethird,PopeJohnPaulIIhasdecidedtopublish
thetextofthethirdpartofthesecretofFatima.
Thetwentiethcenturywasoneofthemostcrucialinhumanhistory,withitstragicandcruel
eventsculminatingintheassassinationattemptonthesweetChristonearth.Nowaveilis
drawnbackonaseriesofeventswhichmakehistoryandinterpretitindepth,inaspiritual
perspectivealientopresentdayattitudes,oftentaintedwithrationalism.
Throughouthistorytherehavebeensupernaturalapparitionsandsignswhichgototheheart
ofhumaneventsandwhich,tothesurpriseofbelieversandnonbelieversalike,playtheir
partintheunfoldingofhistory.Thesemanifestationscannevercontradictthecontentof
faith,andmustthereforehavetheirfocusinthecoreofChrist'sproclamation:theFather's
lovewhichleadsmenandwomentoconversionandbestowsthegracerequiredtoabandon
oneselftohimwithfilialdevotion.ThistooisthemessageofFatimawhich,withitsurgent
calltoconversionandpenance,drawsustotheheartoftheGospel.
Fatimaisundoubtedlythemostpropheticofmodernapparitions.Thefirstandsecondparts
ofthesecretwhichareherepublishedinsequencesoastocompletethedocumentation
referespeciallytothefrighteningvisionofhell,devotiontotheImmaculateHeartof
Mary,theSecondWorldWar,andfinallythepredictionoftheimmensedamagethatRussia
woulddotohumanitybyabandoningtheChristianfaithandembracingCommunist
totalitarianism.
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000626_messagefatima_en.html
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In1917noonecouldhaveimaginedallthis:thethreepastorinhosofFatimasee,listenand
remember,andLucia,thesurvivingwitness,commitsitalltopaperwhenorderedtodosoby
theBishopofLeiriaandwithOurLady'spermission.
Fortheaccountofthefirsttwopartsofthesecret,whichhavealreadybeenpublishedand
arethereforeknown,wehavechosenthetextwrittenbySisterLuciaintheThirdMemoirof
31August1941someannotationswereaddedintheFourthMemoirof8December1941.
ThethirdpartofthesecretwaswrittenbyorderofHisExcellencytheBishopofLeiria
andtheMostHolyMother...on3January1944.
Thereisonlyonemanuscript,whichisherereproducedphotostatically.Thesealedenvelope
wasinitiallyinthecustodyoftheBishopofLeiria.Toensurebetterprotectionforthe
secrettheenvelopewasplacedintheSecretArchivesoftheHolyOfficeon4April1957.
TheBishopofLeiriainformedSisterLuciaofthis.
AccordingtotherecordsoftheArchives,theCommissaryoftheHolyOffice,FatherPierre
PaulPhilippe,OP,withtheagreementofCardinalAlfredoOttaviani,broughtthe
envelopecontainingthethirdpartofthesecretofFatimatoPopeJohnXXIIIon17August
1959.Aftersomehesitation,HisHolinesssaid:Weshallwait.Ishallpray.Ishallletyou
knowwhatIdecide.(1)
InfactPopeJohnXXIIIdecidedtoreturnthesealedenvelopetotheHolyOfficeandnotto
revealthethirdpartofthesecret.
PaulVIreadthecontentswiththeSubstitute,ArchbishopAngeloDell'Acqua,on27March
1965,andreturnedtheenvelopetotheArchivesoftheHolyOffice,decidingnottopublish
thetext.
JohnPaulII,forhispart,askedfortheenvelopecontainingthethirdpartofthesecret
followingtheassassinationattempton13May1981.On18July1981CardinalFranjoeper,
PrefectoftheCongregation,gavetwoenvelopestoArchbishopEduardoMartnezSomalo,
SubstituteoftheSecretariatofState:onewhiteenvelope,containingSisterLucia'soriginal
textinPortuguesetheotherorange,withtheItaliantranslationofthesecret.Onthe
following11August,ArchbishopMartnezreturnedthetwoenvelopestotheArchivesofthe
HolyOffice.(2)
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Asiswellknown,PopeJohnPaulIIimmediatelythoughtofconsecratingtheworldtothe
ImmaculateHeartofMaryandhehimselfcomposedaprayerforwhathecalledanActof
Entrustment,whichwastobecelebratedintheBasilicaofSaintMaryMajoron7June
1981,theSolemnityofPentecost,thedaychosentocommemoratethe1600thanniversaryof
theFirstCouncilofConstantinopleandthe1550thanniversaryoftheCouncilofEphesus.
SincethePopewasunabletobepresent,hisrecordedAddresswasbroadcast.Thefollowing
isthepartwhichrefersspecificallytotheActofEntrustment:
Motherofallindividualsandpeoples,youknowalltheirsufferingsandhopes.Inyour
motherlyheartyoufeelallthestrugglesbetweengoodandevil,betweenlightanddarkness,
thatconvulsetheworld:acceptthepleawhichwemakeintheHolySpiritdirectlytoyour
heart,andembracewiththeloveoftheMotherandHandmaidoftheLordthosewhomost
awaitthisembrace,andalsothosewhoseactofentrustmentyoutooawaitinaparticular
way.Takeunderyourmotherlyprotectionthewholehumanfamily,whichwithaffectionate
loveweentrusttoyou,OMother.Maytheredawnforeveryonethetimeofpeaceand
freedom,thetimeoftruth,ofjusticeandofhope.(3)
InordertorespondmorefullytotherequestsofOurLady,theHolyFatherdesiredto
makemoreexplicitduringtheHolyYearoftheRedemptiontheActofEntrustmentof7
May1981,whichhadbeenrepeatedinFatimaon13May1982.On25March1984inSaint
Peter'sSquare,whilerecallingthefiatutteredbyMaryattheAnnunciation,theHolyFather,
inspiritualunionwiththeBishopsoftheworld,whohadbeenconvokedbeforehand,
entrustedallmenandwomenandallpeoplestotheImmaculateHeartofMary,interms
whichrecalledtheheartfeltwordsspokenin1981:
OMotherofallmenandwomen,andofallpeoples,youwhoknowalltheirsufferingsand
theirhopes,youwhohaveamother'sawarenessofallthestrugglesbetweengoodandevil,
betweenlightanddarkness,whichafflictthemodernworld,acceptthecrywhichwe,moved
bytheHolySpirit,addressdirectlytoyourHeart.EmbracewiththeloveoftheMotherand
HandmaidoftheLord,thishumanworldofours,whichweentrustandconsecratetoyou,for
wearefullofconcernfortheearthlyandeternaldestinyofindividualsandpeoples.
Inaspecialwayweentrustandconsecratetoyouthoseindividualsandnationswhich
particularlyneedtobethusentrustedandconsecrated.
Wehaverecoursetoyourprotection,holyMotherofGod!'Despisenotourpetitionsinour
necessities.
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ThePopethencontinuedmoreforcefullyandwithmorespecificreferences,asthough
commentingontheMessageofFatimainitssorrowfulfulfilment:
Behold,aswestandbeforeyou,MotherofChrist,beforeyourImmaculateHeart,wedesire,
togetherwiththewholeChurch,touniteourselveswiththeconsecrationwhich,forloveof
us,yourSonmadeofhimselftotheFather:Fortheirsake',hesaid,Iconsecratemyselfthat
theyalsomaybeconsecratedinthetruth'(Jn17:19).Wewishtouniteourselveswithour
Redeemerinthishisconsecrationfortheworldandforthehumanrace,which,inhisdivine
Heart,hasthepowertoobtainpardonandtosecurereparation.
Thepowerofthisconsecrationlastsforalltimeandembracesallindividuals,peoplesand
nations.Itovercomeseveryevilthatthespiritofdarknessisabletoawaken,andhasinfact
awakenedinourtimes,intheheartofmanandinhishistory.
Howdeeplywefeeltheneedfortheconsecrationofhumanityandtheworldourmodern
worldinunionwithChristhimself!FortheredeemingworkofChristmustbesharedinby
theworldthroughtheChurch.
ThepresentYearoftheRedemptionshowsthis:thespecialJubileeofthewholeChurch.
Aboveallcreatures,mayyoubeblessed,you,theHandmaidoftheLord,whointhefullest
wayobeyedthedivinecall!
Hailtoyou,whoarewhollyunitedtotheredeemingconsecrationofyourSon!
MotheroftheChurch!EnlightenthePeopleofGodalongthepathsoffaith,hope,andlove!
Enlightenespeciallythepeopleswhoseconsecrationandentrustmentbyusyouareawaiting.
HelpustoliveinthetruthoftheconsecrationofChristfortheentirehumanfamilyofthe
modernworld.
Inentrustingtoyou,OMother,theworld,allindividualsandpeoples,wealsoentrusttoyou
thisveryconsecrationoftheworld,placingitinyourmotherlyHeart.
ImmaculateHeart!Helpustoconquerthemenaceofevil,whichsoeasilytakesrootinthe
heartsofthepeopleoftoday,andwhoseimmeasurableeffectsalreadyweighdownuponour
modernworldandseemtoblockthepathstowardsthefuture!
Fromfamineandwar,deliverus.
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Fromnuclearwar,fromincalculableselfdestruction,fromeverykindofwar,deliverus.
Fromsinsagainstthelifeofmanfromitsverybeginning,deliverus.
FromhatredandfromthedemeaningofthedignityofthechildrenofGod,deliverus.
Fromeverykindofinjusticeinthelifeofsociety,bothnationalandinternational,deliverus.
FromreadinesstotrampleonthecommandmentsofGod,deliverus.
FromattemptstostifleinhumanheartstheverytruthofGod,deliverus.
Fromthelossofawarenessofgoodandevil,deliverus.
FromsinsagainsttheHolySpirit,deliverus,deliverus.
Accept,OMotherofChrist,thiscryladenwiththesufferingsofallindividualhumanbeings,
ladenwiththesufferingsofwholesocieties.
HelpuswiththepoweroftheHolySpirittoconquerallsin:individualsinandthesinofthe
world',sininallitsmanifestations.
Letthereberevealed,oncemore,inthehistoryoftheworldtheinfinitesavingpowerofthe
Redemption:thepowerofmercifulLove!Mayitputastoptoevil!Mayittransform
consciences!MayyourImmaculateHeartrevealforallthelightofHope!.(4)
SisterLuciapersonallyconfirmedthatthissolemnanduniversalactofconsecration
correspondedtowhatOurLadywished(Sim,estfeita,talcomoNossaSenhoraapediu,
desdeodia25deMarode1984:YesithasbeendonejustasOurLadyasked,on25
March1984:Letterof8November1989).Henceanyfurtherdiscussionorrequestis
withoutbasis.
Inthedocumentationpresentedherefourothertextshavebeenaddedtothemanuscriptsof
SisterLucia:1)theHolyFather'sletterof19April2000toSisterLucia2)anaccountofthe
conversationof27April2000withSisterLucia3)thestatementwhichtheHolyFather
appointedCardinalAngeloSodano,SecretaryofState,toreadon13May20004)the
theologicalcommentarybyCardinalJosephRatzinger,PrefectoftheCongregationforthe
DoctrineoftheFaith.
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SisterLuciahadalreadygivenanindicationforinterpretingthethirdpartofthesecretina
lettertotheHolyFather,dated12May1982:
ThethirdpartofthesecretreferstoOurLady'swords:Ifnot[Russia]willspreadher
errorsthroughouttheworld,causingwarsandpersecutionsoftheChurch.Thegoodwillbe
martyredtheHolyFatherwillhavemuchtosuffervariousnationswillbeannihilated'(13
VII1917).
Thethirdpartofthesecretisasymbolicrevelation,referringtothispartoftheMessage,
conditionedbywhetherweacceptornotwhattheMessageitselfasksofus:Ifmyrequests
areheeded,Russiawillbeconverted,andtherewillbepeaceifnot,shewillspreadher
errorsthroughouttheworld,etc.'.
SincewedidnotheedthisappealoftheMessage,weseethatithasbeenfulfilled,Russiahas
invadedtheworldwithhererrors.Andifwehavenotyetseenthecompletefulfilmentofthe
finalpartofthisprophecy,wearegoingtowardsitlittlebylittlewithgreatstrides.Ifwedo
notrejectthepathofsin,hatred,revenge,injustice,violationsoftherightsofthehuman
person,immoralityandviolence,etc.
AndletusnotsaythatitisGodwhoispunishingusinthiswayonthecontraryitispeople
themselveswhoarepreparingtheirownpunishment.InhiskindnessGodwarnsusandcalls
ustotherightpath,whilerespectingthefreedomhehasgivenushencepeopleare
responsible.(5)
ThedecisionofHisHolinessPopeJohnPaulIItomakepublicthethirdpartofthesecret
ofFatimabringstoanendaperiodofhistorymarkedbytragichumanlustforpowerand
evil,yetpervadedbythemercifulloveofGodandthewatchfulcareoftheMotherofJesus
andoftheChurch.
TheactionofGod,theLordofhistory,andthecoresponsibilityofmaninthedramaofhis
creativefreedom,arethetwopillarsuponwhichhumanhistoryisbuilt.
OurLady,whoappearedatFatima,recallstheseforgottenvalues.Sheremindsusthatman's
futureisinGod,andthatweareactiveandresponsiblepartnersincreatingthatfuture.
TarcisioBertone,SDB
ArchbishopEmeritusofVercelli
SecretaryoftheCongregationfortheDoctrineoftheFaith
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THESECRETOFFATIMA
FIRSTANDSECONDPARTOFTHESECRET
ACCORDINGTOTHEVERSIONPRESENTEDBYSISTERLUCIA
INTHETHIRDMEMOIROF31AUGUST1941FORTHEBISHOPOFLEIRIA
FATIMA
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(translation)(6)
...Thiswillentailmyspeakingaboutthesecret,andthusansweringthefirstquestion.
Whatisthesecret?ItseemstomethatIcanrevealit,sinceIalreadyhavepermissionfrom
Heaventodoso.God'srepresentativesonearthhaveauthorizedmetodothisseveraltimes
andinvariousletters,oneofwhich,Ibelieve,isinyourkeeping.ThisletterisfromFather
JosBernardoGonalves,andinitheadvisesmetowritetotheHolyFather,suggesting,
amongotherthings,thatIshouldrevealthesecret.Ididsaysomethingaboutit.Butinorder
nottomakemylettertoolong,sinceIwastoldtokeepitshort,Iconfinedmyselftothe
essentials,leavingittoGodtoprovideanothermorefavourableopportunity.
InmysecondaccountIhavealreadydescribedindetailthedoubtwhichtormentedmefrom
13Juneuntil13July,andhowitdisappearedcompletelyduringtheApparitiononthatday.
Well,thesecretismadeupofthreedistinctparts,twoofwhichIamnowgoingtoreveal.
Thefirstpartisthevisionofhell.
OurLadyshowedusagreatseaoffirewhichseemedtobeundertheearth.Plungedinthis
fireweredemonsandsoulsinhumanform,liketransparentburningembers,allblackenedor
burnishedbronze,floatingaboutintheconflagration,nowraisedintotheairbytheflames
thatissuedfromwithinthemselvestogetherwithgreatcloudsofsmoke,nowfallingbackon
everysidelikesparksinahugefire,withoutweightorequilibrium,andamidshrieksand
groansofpainanddespair,whichhorrifiedusandmadeustremblewithfear.Thedemons
couldbedistinguishedbytheirterrifyingandrepulsivelikenesstofrightfulandunknown
animals,allblackandtransparent.Thisvisionlastedbutaninstant.Howcanweeverbe
gratefulenoughtoourkindheavenlyMother,whohadalreadypreparedusbypromising,in
thefirstApparition,totakeustoheaven.Otherwise,Ithinkwewouldhavediedoffearand
terror.
WethenlookedupatOurLady,whosaidtoussokindlyandsosadly:
Youhaveseenhellwherethesoulsofpoorsinnersgo.Tosavethem,Godwishesto
establishintheworlddevotiontomyImmaculateHeart.IfwhatIsaytoyouisdone,many
soulswillbesavedandtherewillbepeace.Thewarisgoingtoend:butifpeopledonot
ceaseoffendingGod,aworseonewillbreakoutduringthePontificateofPiusXI.Whenyou
seeanightilluminedbyanunknownlight,knowthatthisisthegreatsigngivenyoubyGod
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thatheisabouttopunishtheworldforitscrimes,bymeansofwar,famine,andpersecutions
oftheChurchandoftheHolyFather.Topreventthis,Ishallcometoaskforthe
consecrationofRussiatomyImmaculateHeart,andtheCommunionofreparationonthe
FirstSaturdays.Ifmyrequestsareheeded,Russiawillbeconverted,andtherewillbepeace
ifnot,shewillspreadhererrorsthroughouttheworld,causingwarsandpersecutionsofthe
Church.ThegoodwillbemartyredtheHolyFatherwillhavemuchtosuffervarious
nationswillbeannihilated.Intheend,myImmaculateHeartwilltriumph.TheHolyFather
willconsecrateRussiatome,andsheshallbeconverted,andaperiodofpeacewillbe
grantedtotheworld.(7)
THIRDPARTOFTHESECRET
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(translation)(8)
J.M.J.
ThethirdpartofthesecretrevealedattheCovadaIriaFatima,on13July1917.
Iwriteinobediencetoyou,myGod,whocommandmetodosothroughhisExcellencythe
BishopofLeiriaandthroughyourMostHolyMotherandmine.
AfterthetwopartswhichIhavealreadyexplained,attheleftofOurLadyandalittleabove,
wesawanAngelwithaflamingswordinhislefthandflashing,itgaveoutflamesthat
lookedasthoughtheywouldsettheworldonfirebuttheydiedoutincontactwiththe
splendourthatOurLadyradiatedtowardshimfromherrighthand:pointingtotheearthwith
hisrighthand,theAngelcriedoutinaloudvoice:Penance,Penance,Penance!'.Andwe
sawinanimmenselightthatisGod:somethingsimilartohowpeopleappearinamirror
whentheypassinfrontofit'aBishopdressedinWhitewehadtheimpressionthatitwas
theHolyFather'.OtherBishops,Priests,menandwomenReligiousgoingupasteep
mountain,atthetopofwhichtherewasabigCrossofroughhewntrunksasofacorktree
withthebarkbeforereachingtheretheHolyFatherpassedthroughabigcityhalfinruins
andhalftremblingwithhaltingstep,afflictedwithpainandsorrow,heprayedforthesouls
ofthecorpseshemetonhiswayhavingreachedthetopofthemountain,onhiskneesatthe
footofthebigCrosshewaskilledbyagroupofsoldierswhofiredbulletsandarrowsathim,
andinthesamewaytherediedoneafteranothertheotherBishops,Priests,menandwomen
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Religious,andvariouslaypeopleofdifferentranksandpositions.Beneaththetwoarmsof
theCrossthereweretwoAngelseachwithacrystalaspersoriuminhishand,inwhichthey
gatheredupthebloodoftheMartyrsandwithitsprinkledthesoulsthatweremakingtheir
waytoGod.
Tuy311944.
INTERPRETATIONOFTHESECRET
LETTEROFHISHOLINESSPOPEJOHNPAULII
TOSISTERLUCIA
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(translation)
TotheReverendSister
MariaLucia
oftheConventofCoimbra
InthegreatjoyofEaster,IgreetyouwiththewordstheRisenJesusspoketothedisciples:
Peacebewithyou!
IwillbehappytobeabletomeetyouonthelongawaiteddayoftheBeatificationof
FranciscoandJacinta,which,pleaseGod,Iwillcelebrateon13Mayofthisyear.
Sinceonthatdaytherewillbetimeonlyforabriefgreetingandnotaconversation,Iam
sendingHisExcellencyArchbishopTarcisioBertone,SecretaryoftheCongregationforthe
DoctrineoftheFaith,tospeakwithyou.ThisistheCongregationwhichworksmostclosely
withthePopeindefendingthetrueCatholicfaith,andwhichsince1957,asyouknow,has
keptyourhandwrittenlettercontainingthethirdpartofthesecretrevealedon13July
1917atCovadaIria,Fatima.
ArchbishopBertone,accompaniedbytheBishopofLeiria,HisExcellencyBishopSerafim
deSousaFerreiraeSilva,willcomeinmynametoaskcertainquestionsaboutthe
interpretationofthethirdpartofthesecret.
SisterMariaLucia,youmayspeakopenlyandcandidlytoArchbishopBertone,whowill
reportyouranswersdirectlytome.
IprayferventlytotheMotheroftheRisenLordforyou,ReverendSister,fortheCommunity
ofCoimbraandforthewholeChurch.MayMary,Motherofpilgrimhumanity,keepus
alwaysunitedtoJesus,herbelovedSonandourbrother,theLordoflifeandglory.
WithmyspecialApostolicBlessing.
IOANNESPAULUSPP.II
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FromtheVatican,19April2000.
CONVERSATION
WITHSISTERMARIALUCIAOFJESUS
ANDTHEIMMACULATEHEART
ThemeetingbetweenSisterLucia,ArchbishopTarcisioBertone,Secretaryofthe
CongregationfortheDoctrineoftheFaith,sentbytheHolyFather,andBishopSerafimde
SousaFerreiraeSilva,BishopofLeiriaFatima,tookplaceonThursday,27April2000,in
theCarmelofSaintTeresainCoimbra.
SisterLuciawaslucidandateaseshewasveryhappythattheHolyFatherwasgoingto
FatimafortheBeatificationofFranciscoandJacinta,somethingshehadlookedforwardto
foralongtime.
TheBishopofLeiriaFatimareadtheautographletteroftheHolyFather,whichexplained
thereasonsforthevisit.SisterLuciafelthonouredbythisandrereadtheletterherself,
contemplatingitinownherhands.Shesaidthatshewaspreparedtoanswerallquestions
frankly.
Atthispoint,ArchbishopBertonepresentedtwoenvelopestoher:thefirstcontainingthe
second,whichheldthethirdpartofthesecretofFatima.Immediately,touchingitwithher
fingers,shesaid:Thisismyletter,andthenwhilereadingit:Thisismywriting.
Theoriginaltext,inPortuguese,wasreadandinterpretedwiththehelpoftheBishopof
LeiriaFatima.SisterLuciaagreedwiththeinterpretationthatthethirdpartofthesecret
wasapropheticvision,similartothoseinsacredhistory.Sherepeatedherconvictionthatthe
visionofFatimaconcernsaboveallthestruggleofatheisticCommunismagainsttheChurch
andagainstChristians,anddescribestheterriblesufferingsofthevictimsofthefaithinthe
twentiethcentury.
Whenasked:IstheprincipalfigureinthevisionthePope?,SisterLuciarepliedatonce
thatitwas.SherecalledthatthethreechildrenwereverysadaboutthesufferingofthePope,
andthatJacintakeptsaying:CoitadinhodoSantoPadre,tenhomuitapenados
pecadores!(PoorHolyFather,Iamverysadforsinners!).SisterLuciacontinued:We
didnotknowthenameofthePopeOurLadydidnottellusthenameofthePopewedid
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notknowwhetheritwasBenedictXVorPiusXIIorPaulVIorJohnPaulIIbutitwasthe
Popewhowassufferingandthatmadeussuffertoo.
AsregardsthepassageabouttheBishopdressedinwhite,thatis,theHolyFatherasthe
childrenimmediatelyrealizedduringthevisionwhoisstruckdeadandfallstothe
ground,SisterLuciawasinfullagreementwiththePope'sclaimthatitwasamother'shand
thatguidedthebullet'spathandinhisthroesthePopehaltedatthethresholdofdeath(Pope
JohnPaulII,MeditationfromthePoliclinicoGemellitotheItalianBishops,13May1994).
BeforegivingthesealedenvelopecontainingthethirdpartofthesecrettothethenBishop
ofLeiriaFatima,SisterLuciawroteontheoutsideenvelopethatitcouldbeopenedonly
after1960,eitherbythePatriarchofLisbonortheBishopofLeiria.ArchbishopBertone
thereforeasked:Whyonlyafter1960?WasitOurLadywhofixedthatdate?SisterLucia
replied:ItwasnotOurLady.IfixedthedatebecauseIhadtheintuitionthatbefore1960it
wouldnotbeunderstood,butthatonlylaterwoulditbeunderstood.Nowitcanbebetter
understood.IwrotedownwhatIsawhoweveritwasnotformetointerpretit,butforthe
Pope.
Finally,mentionwasmadeoftheunpublishedmanuscriptwhichSisterLuciahaspreparedas
areplytothemanylettersthatcomefromMariandevoteesandfrompilgrims.Theworkis
calledOsapelosdaMensagemdeFatima,anditgatherstogetherinthestyleofcatechesis
andexhortationthoughtsandreflectionswhichexpressSisterLucia'sfeelingsandherclear
andunaffectedspirituality.Shewasaskedifshewouldbehappytohaveitpublished,and
shereplied:IftheHolyFatheragrees,thenIamhappy,otherwiseIobeywhatevertheHoly
Fatherdecides.SisterLuciawantstopresentthetextforecclesiasticalapproval,andshe
hopesthatwhatshehaswrittenwillhelptoguidemenandwomenofgoodwillalongthe
paththatleadstoGod,thefinalgoalofeveryhumanlonging.Theconversationendswithan
exchangeofrosaries.SisterLuciaisgivenarosarysentbytheHolyFather,andsheinturn
offersanumberofrosariesmadebyherself.
ThemeetingconcludeswiththeblessingimpartedinthenameoftheHolyFather.
ANNOUNCEMENTMADEBYCARDINALANGELOSODANO
SECRETARYOFSTATE
AttheendoftheMasspresidedoverbytheHolyFatheratFatima,CardinalAngeloSodano,
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theSecretaryofState,madethisannouncementinPortuguese,whichisgivenhereinEnglish
translation:
BrothersandSistersintheLord!
Attheconclusionofthissolemncelebration,IfeelboundtoofferourbelovedHolyFather
PopeJohnPaulII,onbehalfofallpresent,heartfeltgoodwishesforhisapproaching80th
BirthdayandtothankhimforhisvitalpastoralministryforthegoodofallGod'sHoly
ChurchwepresenttheheartfeltwishesofthewholeChurch.
OnthissolemnoccasionofhisvisittoFatima,HisHolinesshasdirectedmetomakean
announcementtoyou.Asyouknow,thepurposeofhisvisittoFatimahasbeentobeatifythe
twolittleshepherds.Neverthelesshealsowisheshispilgrimagetobearenewedgestureof
gratitudetoOurLadyforherprotectionduringtheseyearsofhispapacy.Thisprotection
seemsalsotobelinkedtothesocalledthirdpartofthesecretofFatima.
ThattextcontainsapropheticvisionsimilartothosefoundinSacredScripture,whichdonot
describephotographicallythedetailsoffutureevents,butsynthesizeandcompressagainsta
singlebackgroundfactswhichextendthroughtimeinanunspecifiedsuccessionand
duration.Asaresult,thetextmustbeinterpretedinasymbolickey.
ThevisionofFatimaconcernsaboveallthewarwagedbyatheisticsystemsagainstthe
ChurchandChristians,anditdescribestheimmensesufferingenduredbythewitnessesof
thefaithinthelastcenturyofthesecondmillennium.ItisaninterminableWayoftheCross
ledbythePopesofthetwentiethcentury.
Accordingtotheinterpretationofthelittleshepherds,whichwasalsoconfirmedrecently
bySisterLucia,theBishopclothedinwhitewhopraysforallthefaithfulisthePope.As
hemakeshiswaywithgreatdifficultytowardstheCrossamidthecorpsesofthosewhowere
martyred(Bishops,priests,menandwomenReligiousandmanylaypeople),hetoofallsto
theground,apparentlydead,underahailofgunfire.
Aftertheassassinationattemptof13May1981,itappearedevidentthatitwasamother's
handthatguidedthebullet'spath,enablingthePopeinhisthroestohaltatthethreshold
ofdeath(PopeJohnPaulII,MeditationfromthePoliclinicoGemellitotheItalianBishops,
Insegnamenti,XVII,1[1994],1061).OntheoccasionofavisittoRomebythethenBishop
ofLeiriaFatima,thePopedecidedtogivehimthebulletwhichhadremainedinthejeep
aftertheassassinationattempt,sothatitmightbekeptintheshrine.BytheBishop's
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decision,thebulletwaslatersetinthecrownofthestatueofOurLadyofFatima.
Thesuccessiveeventsof1989led,bothintheSovietUnionandinanumberofcountriesof
EasternEurope,tothefalloftheCommunistregimeswhichpromotedatheism.Forthistoo
HisHolinessoffersheartfeltthankstotheMostHolyVirgin.Inotherpartsoftheworld,
however,attacksagainsttheChurchandagainstChristians,withtheburdenofsufferingthey
bring,tragicallycontinue.EveniftheeventstowhichthethirdpartofthesecretofFatima
refersnowseempartofthepast,OurLady'scalltoconversionandpenance,issuedatthe
startofthetwentiethcentury,remainstimelyandurgenttoday.TheLadyofthemessage
seemstoreadthesignsofthetimesthesignsofourtimewithspecialinsight...The
insistentinvitationofMaryMostHolytopenanceisnothingbutthemanifestationofher
maternalconcernforthefateofthehumanfamily,inneedofconversionandforgiveness
(PopeJohnPaulII,Messageforthe1997WorldDayoftheSick,No.1,Insegnamenti,XIX,
2[1996],561).
InorderthatthefaithfulmaybetterreceivethemessageofOurLadyofFatima,thePopehas
chargedtheCongregationfortheDoctrineoftheFaithwithmakingpublicthethirdpartof
thesecret,afterthepreparationofanappropriatecommentary.
Brothersandsisters,letusthankOurLadyofFatimaforherprotection.Tohermaternal
intercessionletusentrusttheChurchoftheThirdMillennium.
Subtuumpraesidiumconfugimus,SanctaDeiGenetrix!IntercedeproEcclesia.Intercede
proPapanostroIoannePauloII.Amen.
Fatima,13May2000
THEOLOGICALCOMMENTARY
AcarefulreadingofthetextofthesocalledthirdsecretofFatima,publishedhereinits
entiretylongafterthefactandbydecisionoftheHolyFather,willprobablyprove
disappointingorsurprisingafterallthespeculationithasstirred.Nogreatmysteryis
revealednoristhefutureunveiled.WeseetheChurchofthemartyrsofthecenturywhich
hasjustpassedrepresentedinascenedescribedinalanguagewhichissymbolicandnoteasy
todecipher.IsthiswhattheMotheroftheLordwishedtocommunicatetoChristianityand
tohumanityatatimeofgreatdifficultyanddistress?Isitofanyhelptousatthebeginning
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ofthenewmillennium?Oraretheseonlyprojectionsoftheinnerworldofchildren,brought
upinaclimateofprofoundpietybutshakenatthesametimebythetempestswhich
threatenedtheirowntime?Howshouldweunderstandthevision?Whatarewetomakeof
it?
PublicRevelationandprivaterevelationstheirtheologicalstatus
Beforeattemptinganinterpretation,themainlinesofwhichcanbefoundinthestatement
readbyCardinalSodanoon13MayofthisyearattheendoftheMasscelebratedbythe
HolyFatherinFatima,thereisaneedforsomebasicclarificationofthewayinwhich,
accordingtoChurchteaching,phenomenasuchasFatimaaretobeunderstoodwithinthelife
offaith.TheteachingoftheChurchdistinguishesbetweenpublicRevelationandprivate
revelations.Thetworealitiesdiffernotonlyindegreebutalsoinessence.Thetermpublic
RevelationreferstotherevealingactionofGoddirectedtohumanityasawholeandwhich
findsitsliteraryexpressioninthetwopartsoftheBible:theOldandNewTestaments.Itis
calledRevelationbecauseinitGodgraduallymadehimselfknowntomen,tothepointof
becomingmanhimself,inordertodrawtohimselfthewholeworldanduniteitwithhimself
throughhisIncarnateSon,JesusChrist.Itisnotamatterthereforeofintellectual
communication,butofalifegivingprocessinwhichGodcomestomeetman.Atthesame
timethisprocessnaturallyproducesdatapertainingtothemindandtotheunderstandingof
themysteryofGod.Itisaprocesswhichinvolvesmaninhisentiretyandthereforereasonas
well,butnotreasonalone.BecauseGodisone,history,whichheshareswithhumanity,is
alsoone.Itisvalidforalltime,andithasreacheditsfulfilmentinthelife,deathand
resurrectionofJesusChrist.InChrist,Godhassaideverything,thatis,hehasrevealed
himselfcompletely,andthereforeRevelationcametoanendwiththefulfilmentofthe
mysteryofChristasenunciatedintheNewTestament.Toexplainthefinalityand
completenessofRevelation,theCatechismoftheCatholicChurchquotesatextofSaint
JohnoftheCross:IngivingushisSon,hisonlyWord(forhepossessesnoother),hespoke
everythingtousatonceinthissoleWordandhehasnomoretosay...becausewhathe
spokebeforetotheprophetsinparts,hehasnowspokenallatoncebygivingustheAllWho
isHisSon.AnypersonquestioningGodordesiringsomevisionorrevelationwouldbe
guiltynotonlyoffoolishbehaviourbutalsoofoffendinghim,bynotfixinghiseyesentirely
uponChristandbylivingwiththedesireforsomeothernovelty(No.65SaintJohnofthe
Cross,TheAscentofMountCarmel,II,22).
BecausethesingleRevelationofGodaddressedtoallpeoplescomestocompletionwith
ChristandthewitnessbornetohiminthebooksoftheNewTestament,theChurchistiedto
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thisuniqueeventofsacredhistoryandtothewordoftheBible,whichguaranteesand
interpretsit.ButthisdoesnotmeanthattheChurchcannowlookonlytothepastandthat
sheiscondemnedtosterilerepetition.TheCatechismoftheCatholicChurchsaysinthis
regard:...evenifRevelationisalreadycomplete,ithasnotbeenmadefullyexplicitit
remainsforChristianfaithgraduallytograspitsfullsignificanceoverthecourseofthe
centuries(No.66).ThewayinwhichtheChurchisboundtoboththeuniquenessofthe
eventandprogressinunderstandingitisverywellillustratedinthefarewelldiscourseofthe
Lordwhen,takingleaveofhisdisciples,hesays:Ihaveyetmanythingstosaytoyou,but
youcannotbearthemnow.WhentheSpiritoftruthcomes,hewillguideyouintoallthe
truthforhewillnotspeakonhisownauthority...Hewillglorifyme,forhewilltakewhatis
mineanddeclareittoyou(Jn16:1214).Ontheonehand,theSpiritactsasaguidewho
disclosesaknowledgepreviouslyunreachablebecausethepremisewasmissingthisisthe
boundlessbreadthanddepthofChristianfaith.Ontheotherhand,tobeguidedbytheSpirit
isalsotodrawfromtherichesofJesusChristhimself,theinexhaustibledepthsofwhich
appearinthewaytheSpiritleads.Inthisregard,theCatechismcitesprofoundwordsofPope
GregorytheGreat:ThesacredScripturesgrowwiththeonewhoreadsthem(No.94
GregorytheGreat,HomiliainEzechielemI,7,8).TheSecondVaticanCouncilnotesthree
essentialwaysinwhichtheSpiritguidesintheChurch,andthereforethreewaysinwhich
thewordgrows:throughthemeditationandstudyofthefaithful,throughthedeep
understandingwhichcomesfromspiritualexperience,andthroughthepreachingofthose
who,inthesuccessionoftheepiscopate,havereceivedthesurecharismoftruth(Dei
Verbum,8).
Inthiscontext,itnowbecomespossibletounderstandrightlytheconceptofprivate
revelation,whichreferstoallthevisionsandrevelationswhichhavetakenplacesincethe
completionoftheNewTestament.Thisisthecategorytowhichwemustassignthemessage
ofFatima.Inthisrespect,letuslistenonceagaintotheCatechismoftheCatholicChurch:
Throughouttheages,therehavebeensocalledprivate'revelations,someofwhichhave
beenrecognizedbytheauthorityoftheChurch...ItisnottheirroletocompleteChrist's
definitiveRevelation,buttohelplivemorefullybyitinacertainperiodofhistory(No.67).
Thisclarifiestwothings:
1.Theauthorityofprivaterevelationsisessentiallydifferentfromthatofthedefinitive
publicRevelation.ThelatterdemandsfaithinitinfactGodhimselfspeakstousthrough
humanwordsandthemediationofthelivingcommunityoftheChurch.FaithinGodandin
hiswordisdifferentfromanyotherhumanfaith,trustoropinion.ThecertaintythatitisGod
whoisspeakinggivesmetheassurancethatIamintouchwithtruthitself.Itgivesmea
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certitudewhichisbeyondverificationbyanyhumanwayofknowing.Itisthecertitudeupon
whichIbuildmylifeandtowhichIentrustmyselfindying.
2.Privaterevelationisahelptothisfaith,andshowsitscredibilitypreciselybyleadingme
backtothedefinitivepublicRevelation.Inthisregard,CardinalProsperoLambertini,the
futurePopeBenedictXIV,saysinhisclassictreatise,whichlaterbecamenormativefor
beatificationsandcanonizations:AnassentofCatholicfaithisnotduetorevelations
approvedinthiswayitisnotevenpossible.Theserevelationsseekratheranassentof
humanfaithinkeepingwiththerequirementsofprudence,whichputsthembeforeusas
probableandcredibletopiety.TheFlemishtheologianE.Dhanis,aneminentscholarinthis
field,statessuccinctlythatecclesiasticalapprovalofaprivaterevelationhasthreeelements:
themessagecontainsnothingcontrarytofaithormoralsitislawfultomakeitpublicand
thefaithfulareauthorizedtoacceptitwithprudence(E.Dhanis,SguardosuFatimae
bilanciodiunadiscussione,inLaCiviltCattolica104[1953],II,392406,inparticular
397).SuchamessagecanbeagenuinehelpinunderstandingtheGospelandlivingitbetter
ataparticularmomentintimethereforeitshouldnotbedisregarded.Itisahelpwhichis
offered,butwhichoneisnotobligedtouse.
Thecriterionforthetruthandvalueofaprivaterevelationisthereforeitsorientationto
Christhimself.Whenitleadsusawayfromhim,whenitbecomesindependentofhimor
evenpresentsitselfasanotherandbetterplanofsalvation,moreimportantthantheGospel,
thenitcertainlydoesnotcomefromtheHolySpirit,whoguidesusmoredeeplyintothe
Gospelandnotawayfromit.Thisdoesnotmeanthataprivaterevelationwillnotoffernew
emphasesorgiverisetonewdevotionalforms,ordeepenandspreadolderforms.Butinall
ofthistheremustbeanurturingoffaith,hopeandlove,whicharetheunchangingpathto
salvationforeveryone.Wemightaddthatprivaterevelationsoftenspringfrompopularpiety
andleavetheirstamponit,givingitanewimpulseandopeningthewayfornewformsofit.
Nordoesthisexcludethattheywillhaveaneffectevenontheliturgy,asweseeforinstance
inthefeastsofCorpusChristiandoftheSacredHeartofJesus.Fromonepointofview,the
relationshipbetweenRevelationandprivaterevelationsappearsintherelationshipbetween
theliturgyandpopularpiety:theliturgyisthecriterion,itisthelivingformoftheChurchas
awhole,feddirectlybytheGospel.Popularpietyisasignthatthefaithisspreadingitsroots
intotheheartofapeopleinsuchawaythatitreachesintodailylife.Popularreligiosityisthe
firstandfundamentalmodeofinculturationofthefaith.Whileitmustalwaystakeitslead
anddirectionfromtheliturgy,itinturnenrichesthefaithbyinvolvingtheheart.
Wehavethusmovedfromthesomewhatnegativeclarifications,initiallyneeded,toa
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positivedefinitionofprivaterevelations.Howcantheybeclassifiedcorrectlyinrelationto
Scripture?Towhichtheologicalcategorydotheybelong?TheoldestletterofSaintPaul
whichhasbeenpreserved,perhapstheoldestoftheNewTestamenttexts,theFirstLetterto
theThessalonians,seemstometopointtheway.TheApostlesays:Donotquenchthe
Spirit,donotdespiseprophesying,buttesteverything,holdingfasttowhatisgood(5:19
21).IneveryagetheChurchhasreceivedthecharismofprophecy,whichmustbe
scrutinizedbutnotscorned.Onthispoint,itshouldbekeptinmindthatprophecyinthe
biblicalsensedoesnotmeantopredictthefuturebuttoexplainthewillofGodforthe
present,andthereforeshowtherightpathtotakeforthefuture.Apersonwhoforetellswhat
isgoingtohappenrespondstothecuriosityofthemind,whichwantstodrawbacktheveil
onthefuture.Theprophetspeakstotheblindnessofwillandofreason,anddeclaresthewill
ofGodasanindicationanddemandforthepresenttime.Inthiscase,predictionofthefuture
isofsecondaryimportance.WhatisessentialistheactualizationofthedefinitiveRevelation,
whichconcernsmeatthedeepestlevel.Thepropheticwordisawarningoraconsolation,or
bothtogether.Inthissensethereisalinkbetweenthecharismofprophecyandthecategory
ofthesignsofthetimes,whichVaticanIIbroughttolightanew:Youknowhowto
interprettheappearanceofearthandskywhythendoyounotknowhowtointerpretthe
presenttime?(Lk12:56).InthissayingofJesus,thesignsofthetimesmustbe
understoodasthepathhewastaking,indeeditmustbeunderstoodasJesushimself.To
interpretthesignsofthetimesinthelightoffaithmeanstorecognizethepresenceofChrist
ineveryage.IntheprivaterevelationsapprovedbytheChurchandthereforealsoin
Fatimathisisthepoint:theyhelpustounderstandthesignsofthetimesandtorespondto
themrightlyinfaith.
Theanthropologicalstructureofprivaterevelations
Inthesereflectionswehavesoughtsofartoidentifythetheologicalstatusofprivate
revelations.BeforeundertakinganinterpretationofthemessageofFatima,wemuststill
attemptbrieflytooffersomeclarificationoftheiranthropological(psychological)character.
Inthisfield,theologicalanthropologydistinguishesthreeformsofperceptionorvision:
visionwiththesenses,andhenceexteriorbodilyperception,interiorperception,andspiritual
vision(visiosensibilisimaginativaintellectualis).ItisclearthatinthevisionsofLourdes,
Fatimaandotherplacesitisnotaquestionofnormalexteriorperceptionofthesenses:the
imagesandformswhichareseenarenotlocatedspatially,asisthecaseforexamplewitha
treeorahouse.Thisisperfectlyobvious,forinstance,asregardsthevisionofhell(described
inthefirstpartoftheFatimasecret)oreventhevisiondescribedinthethirdpartofthe
secret.Butthesamecanbeveryeasilyshownwithregardtoothervisions,especiallysince
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noteverybodypresentsawthem,butonlythevisionaries.Itisalsoclearthatitisnota
matterofavisioninthemind,withoutimages,asoccursatthehigherlevelsofmysticism.
Thereforewearedealingwiththemiddlecategory,interiorperception.Forthevisionary,this
perceptioncertainlyhastheforceofapresence,equivalentforthatpersontoanexternal
manifestationtothesenses.
Interiorvisiondoesnotmeanfantasy,whichwouldbenomorethananexpressionofthe
subjectiveimagination.Itmeansratherthatthesoulistouchedbysomethingreal,evenif
beyondthesenses.Itisrenderedcapableofseeingthatwhichisbeyondthesenses,that
whichcannotbeseenseeingbymeansoftheinteriorsenses.Itinvolvestrueobjects,
whichtouchthesoul,eveniftheseobjectsdonotbelongtoourhabitualsensoryworld.
Thisiswhythereisaneedforaninteriorvigilanceoftheheart,whichisusuallyprecluded
bytheintensepressureofexternalrealityandoftheimagesandthoughtswhichfillthesoul.
Thepersonisledbeyondpureexteriorityandistouchedbydeeperdimensionsofreality,
whichbecomevisibletohim.Perhapsthisexplainswhychildrentendtobetheonesto
receivetheseapparitions:theirsoulsareasyetlittledisturbed,theirinteriorpowersof
perceptionarestillnotimpaired.Onthelipsofchildrenandofbabesyouhavefound
praise,repliesJesuswithaphraseofPsalm8(v.3)tothecriticismoftheHighPriestsand
elders,whohadjudgedthechildren'scriesofhosannainappropriate(cf.Mt21:16).
Interiorvisionisnotfantasybut,aswehavesaid,atrueandvalidmeansofverification.
Butitalsohasitslimitations.Eveninexteriorvisionthesubjectiveelementisalways
present.Wedonotseethepureobject,butitcomestousthroughthefilterofoursenses,
whichcarryoutaworkoftranslation.Thisisstillmoreevidentinthecaseofinteriorvision,
especiallywhenitinvolvesrealitieswhichinthemselvestranscendourhorizon.Thesubject,
thevisionary,isstillmorepowerfullyinvolved.Heseesinsofarasheisable,inthemodesof
representationandconsciousnessavailabletohim.Inthecaseofinteriorvision,theprocess
oftranslationisevenmoreextensivethaninexteriorvision,forthesubjectsharesinan
essentialwayintheformationoftheimageofwhatappears.Hecanarriveattheimageonly
withintheboundsofhiscapacitiesandpossibilities.Suchvisionsthereforeareneversimple
photographsoftheotherworld,butareinfluencedbythepotentialitiesandlimitationsof
theperceivingsubject.
Thiscanbedemonstratedinallthegreatvisionsofthesaintsandnaturallyitisalsotrueof
thevisionsofthechildrenatFatima.Theimagesdescribedbythemarebynomeansa
simpleexpressionoftheirfantasy,buttheresultofarealperceptionofahigherandinterior
origin.Butneithershouldtheybethoughtofasifforamomenttheveiloftheotherworld
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weredrawnback,withheavenappearinginitspureessence,asonedaywehopetoseeitin
ourdefinitiveunionwithGod.Rathertheimagesare,inamannerofspeaking,asynthesisof
theimpulsecomingfromonhighandthecapacitytoreceivethisimpulseinthevisionaries,
thatis,thechildren.Forthisreason,thefigurativelanguageofthevisionsissymbolic.Inthis
regard,CardinalSodanostated:[they]donotdescribephotographicallythedetailsoffuture
events,butsynthesizeandcompressagainstasinglebackgroundfactswhichextendthrough
timeinanunspecifiedsuccessionandduration.Thiscompressionoftimeandplaceina
singleimageistypicalofsuchvisions,whichforthemostpartcanbedecipheredonlyin
retrospect.Noteveryelementofthevisionhastohaveaspecifichistoricalsense.Itisthe
visionasawholethatmatters,andthedetailsmustbeunderstoodonthebasisoftheimages
takenintheirentirety.Thecentralelementoftheimageisrevealedwhereitcoincideswith
whatisthefocalpointofChristianprophecyitself:thecentreisfoundwherethevision
becomesasummonsandaguidetothewillofGod.
AnattempttointerpretthesecretofFatima
ThefirstandsecondpartsofthesecretofFatimahavealreadybeensoamplydiscussedin
therelativeliteraturethatthereisnoneedtodealwiththemagainhere.Iwouldjustliketo
recallbrieflythemostsignificantpoint.Foroneterriblemoment,thechildrenweregivena
visionofhell.Theysawthefallofthesoulsofpoorsinners.Andnowtheyaretoldwhy
theyhavebeenexposedtothismoment:inordertosavesoulstoshowthewayto
salvation.ThewordsoftheFirstLetterofPetercometomind:Astheoutcomeofyourfaith
youobtainthesalvationofyoursouls(1:9).Toreachthisgoal,thewayindicated
surprisinglyforpeoplefromtheAngloSaxonandGermanculturalworldisdevotiontothe
ImmaculateHeartofMary.Abriefcommentmaysufficetoexplainthis.Inbiblical
language,theheartindicatesthecentreofhumanlife,thepointwherereason,will,
temperamentandsensitivityconverge,wherethepersonfindshisunityandhisinterior
orientation.AccordingtoMatthew5:8,theimmaculateheartisaheartwhich,withGod's
grace,hascometoperfectinteriorunityandthereforeseesGod.Tobedevotedtothe
ImmaculateHeartofMarymeansthereforetoembracethisattitudeofheart,whichmakes
thefiatyourwillbedonethedefiningcentreofone'swholelife.Itmightbeobjected
thatweshouldnotplaceahumanbeingbetweenourselvesandChrist.Butthenwe
rememberthatPauldidnothesitatetosaytohiscommunities:imitateme(1Cor4:16Phil
3:171Th1:62Th3:7,9).IntheApostletheycouldseeconcretelywhatitmeanttofollow
Christ.ButfromwhommightwebetterlearnineveryagethanfromtheMotherofthe
Lord?
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ThuswecomefinallytothethirdpartofthesecretofFatimawhichforthefirsttimeis
beingpublishedinitsentirety.Asisclearfromthedocumentationpresentedhere,the
interpretationofferedbyCardinalSodanoinhisstatementof13Maywasfirstputpersonally
toSisterLucia.SisterLuciarespondedbypointingoutthatshehadreceivedthevisionbut
notitsinterpretation.Theinterpretation,shesaid,belongednottothevisionarybuttothe
Church.Afterreadingthetext,however,shesaidthatthisinterpretationcorrespondedto
whatshehadexperiencedandthatonherpartshethoughttheinterpretationcorrect.Inwhat
follows,therefore,wecanonlyattempttoprovideadeeperfoundationforthisinterpretation,
onthebasisofthecriteriaalreadyconsidered.
Tosavesoulshasemergedasthekeywordofthefirstandsecondpartsofthesecret,
andthekeywordofthisthirdpartisthethreefoldcry:Penance,Penance,Penance!The
beginningoftheGospelcomestomind:RepentandbelievetheGoodNews(Mk1:15).To
understandthesignsofthetimesmeanstoaccepttheurgencyofpenanceofconversion
offaith.Thisisthecorrectresponsetothismomentofhistory,characterizedbythegrave
perilsoutlinedintheimagesthatfollow.Allowmetoaddhereapersonalrecollection:ina
conversationwithmeSisterLuciasaidthatitappearedevermoreclearlytoherthatthe
purposeofalltheapparitionswastohelppeopletogrowmoreandmoreinfaith,hopeand
loveeverythingelsewasintendedtoleadtothis.
Letusnowexaminemorecloselythesingleimages.Theangelwiththeflamingswordonthe
leftoftheMotherofGodrecallssimilarimagesintheBookofRevelation.Thisrepresents
thethreatofjudgementwhichloomsovertheworld.Todaytheprospectthattheworldmight
bereducedtoashesbyaseaoffirenolongerseemspurefantasy:manhimself,withhis
inventions,hasforgedtheflamingsword.Thevisionthenshowsthepowerwhichstands
opposedtotheforceofdestructionthesplendouroftheMotherofGodand,stemming
fromthisinacertainway,thesummonstopenance.Inthisway,theimportanceofhuman
freedomisunderlined:thefutureisnotinfactunchangeablyset,andtheimagewhichthe
childrensawisinnowayafilmpreviewofafutureinwhichnothingcanbechanged.
Indeed,thewholepointofthevisionistobringfreedomontothesceneandtosteerfreedom
inapositivedirection.Thepurposeofthevisionisnottoshowafilmofanirrevocablyfixed
future.Itsmeaningisexactlytheopposite:itismeanttomobilizetheforcesofchangeinthe
rightdirection.Thereforewemusttotallydiscountfatalisticexplanationsofthesecret,
suchas,forexample,theclaimthatthewouldbeassassinof13May1981wasmerelyan
instrumentofthedivineplanguidedbyProvidenceandcouldnotthereforehaveactedfreely,
orothersimilarideasincirculation.Rather,thevisionspeaksofdangersandhowwemight
besavedfromthem.
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Thenextphrasesofthetextshowveryclearlyonceagainthesymboliccharacterofthe
vision:Godremainsimmeasurable,andisthelightwhichsurpasseseveryvisionofours.
Humanpersonsappearasinamirror.Wemustalwayskeepinmindthelimitsinthevision
itself,whichhereareindicatedvisually.Thefutureappearsonlyinamirrordimly(1Cor
13:12).Letusnowconsidertheindividualimageswhichfollowinthetextofthesecret.
Theplaceoftheactionisdescribedinthreesymbols:asteepmountain,agreatcityreduced
toruinsandfinallyalargeroughhewncross.Themountainandcitysymbolizethearenaof
humanhistory:historyasanarduousascenttothesummit,historyasthearenaofhuman
creativityandsocialharmony,butatthesametimeaplaceofdestruction,whereman
actuallydestroysthefruitsofhisownwork.Thecitycanbetheplaceofcommunionand
progress,butalsoofdangerandthemostextrememenace.Onthemountainstandsthecross
thegoalandguideofhistory.Thecrosstransformsdestructionintosalvationitstandsasa
signofhistory'smiserybutalsoasapromiseforhistory.
Atthispointhumanpersonsappear:theBishopdressedinwhite(wehadtheimpression
thatitwastheHolyFather),otherBishops,priests,menandwomenReligious,andmenand
womenofdifferentranksandsocialpositions.ThePopeseemstoprecedetheothers,
tremblingandsufferingbecauseofallthehorrorsaroundhim.Notonlydothehousesofthe
cityliehalfinruins,buthemakeshiswayamongthecorpsesofthedead.TheChurch'spath
isthusdescribedasaViaCrucis,asajourneythroughatimeofviolence,destructionand
persecution.Thehistoryofanentirecenturycanbeseenrepresentedinthisimage.Justas
theplacesoftheeartharesyntheticallydescribedinthetwoimagesofthemountainandthe
city,andaredirectedtowardsthecross,sotootimeispresentedinacompressedway.Inthe
visionwecanrecognizethelastcenturyasacenturyofmartyrs,acenturyofsufferingand
persecutionfortheChurch,acenturyofWorldWarsandthemanylocalwarswhichfilled
thelastfiftyyearsandhaveinflictedunprecedentedformsofcruelty.Inthemirrorofthis
visionweseepassingbeforeusthewitnessesofthefaithdecadebydecade.Hereitwouldbe
appropriatetomentionaphrasefromtheletterwhichSisterLuciawrotetotheHolyFather
on12May1982:Thethirdpartofthesecret'referstoOurLady'swords:Ifnot,[Russia]
willspreadhererrorsthroughouttheworld,causingwarsandpersecutionsoftheChurch.
ThegoodwillbemartyredtheHolyFatherwillhavemuchtosuffervariousnationswillbe
annihilated'.
IntheViaCrucisofanentirecentury,thefigureofthePopehasaspecialrole.Inhisarduous
ascentofthemountainwecanundoubtedlyseeaconvergenceofdifferentPopes.Beginning
fromPiusXuptothepresentPope,theyallsharedthesufferingsofthecenturyandstroveto
goforwardthroughalltheanguishalongthepathwhichleadstotheCross.Inthevision,the
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Popetooiskilledalongwiththemartyrs.When,aftertheattemptedassassinationon13May
1981,theHolyFatherhadthetextofthethirdpartofthesecretbroughttohim,wasitnot
inevitablethatheshouldseeinithisownfate?Hehadbeenveryclosetodeath,andhe
himselfexplainedhissurvivalinthefollowingwords:...itwasamother'shandthatguided
thebullet'spathandinhisthroesthePopehaltedatthethresholdofdeath(13May1994).
Thathereamother'shandhaddeflectedthefatefulbulletonlyshowsoncemorethatthere
isnoimmutabledestiny,thatfaithandprayerareforceswhichcaninfluencehistoryandthat
intheendprayerismorepowerfulthanbulletsandfaithmorepowerfulthanarmies.
TheconcludingpartofthesecretusesimageswhichLuciamayhaveseenindevotional
booksandwhichdrawtheirinspirationfromlongstandingintuitionsoffaith.Itisa
consolingvision,whichseekstoopenahistoryofbloodandtearstothehealingpowerof
God.Beneaththearmsofthecrossangelsgatherupthebloodofthemartyrs,andwithitthey
givelifetothesoulsmakingtheirwaytoGod.Here,thebloodofChristandthebloodofthe
martyrsareconsideredasone:thebloodofthemartyrsrunsdownfromthearmsofthecross.
ThemartyrsdieincommunionwiththePassionofChrist,andtheirdeathbecomesonewith
his.ForthesakeofthebodyofChrist,theycompletewhatisstilllackinginhisafflictions
(cf.Col1:24).TheirlifehasitselfbecomeaEucharist,partofthemysteryofthegrainof
wheatwhichindyingyieldsabundantfruit.Thebloodofthemartyrsistheseedof
Christians,saidTertullian.AsfromChrist'sdeath,fromhiswoundedside,theChurchwas
born,sothedeathofthewitnessesisfruitfulforthefuturelifeoftheChurch.Therefore,the
visionofthethirdpartofthesecret,sodistressingatfirst,concludeswithanimageof
hope:nosufferingisinvain,anditisasufferingChurch,aChurchofmartyrs,which
becomesasignpostformaninhissearchforGod.ThelovingarmsofGodwelcomenot
onlythosewhosufferlikeLazarus,whofoundgreatsolacethereandmysteriouslyrepresents
Christ,whowishedtobecomeforusthepoorLazarus.Thereissomethingmore:fromthe
sufferingofthewitnessestherecomesapurifyingandrenewingpower,becausetheir
sufferingistheactualizationofthesufferingofChristhimselfandacommunicationinthe
hereandnowofitssavingeffect.
Andsowecometothefinalquestion:WhatisthemeaningofthesecretofFatimaasa
whole(initsthreeparts)?Whatdoesitsaytous?FirstofallwemustaffirmwithCardinal
Sodano:...theeventstowhichthethirdpartofthesecret'ofFatimarefersnowseempart
ofthepast.Insofarasindividualeventsaredescribed,theybelongtothepast.Thosewho
expectedexcitingapocalypticrevelationsabouttheendoftheworldorthefuturecourseof
historyareboundtobedisappointed.Fatimadoesnotsatisfyourcuriosityinthisway,justas
Christianfaithingeneralcannotbereducedtoanobjectofmerecuriosity.Whatremainswas
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alreadyevidentwhenwebeganourreflectionsonthetextofthesecret:theexhortationto
prayerasthepathofsalvationforsoulsand,likewise,thesummonstopenanceand
conversion.
Iwouldlikefinallytomentionanotherkeyexpressionofthesecretwhichhasbecome
justlyfamous:myImmaculateHeartwilltriumph.Whatdoesthismean?TheHeartopen
toGod,purifiedbycontemplationofGod,isstrongerthangunsandweaponsofeverykind.
ThefiatofMary,thewordofherheart,haschangedthehistoryoftheworld,becauseit
broughttheSaviourintotheworldbecause,thankstoherYes,Godcouldbecomemanin
ourworldandremainssoforalltime.TheEvilOnehaspowerinthisworld,asweseeand
experiencecontinuallyhehaspowerbecauseourfreedomcontinuallyletsitselfbeledaway
fromGod.ButsinceGodhimselftookahumanheartandhasthussteeredhumanfreedom
towardswhatisgood,thefreedomtochooseevilnolongerhasthelastword.Fromthattime
forth,thewordthatprevailsisthis:Intheworldyouwillhavetribulation,buttakeheartI
haveovercometheworld(Jn16:33).ThemessageofFatimainvitesustotrustinthis
promise.
JosephCard.Ratzinger
PrefectoftheCongregation
fortheDoctrineoftheFaith
(1)FromthediaryofJohnXXIII,17August1959:Audiences:FatherPhilippe,
CommissaryoftheHolyOffice,whobroughtmethelettercontainingthethirdpartofthe
secretsofFatima.IintendtoreaditwithmyConfessor.
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(2)TheHolyFather'scommentattheGeneralAudienceof14October1981onWhat
happenedinMay:AGreatDivineTrialshouldberecalled:InsegnamentidiGiovanniPaolo
II,IV,2(VaticanCity,1981),409412.
(3)RadiomessageduringtheCeremonyofVeneration,ThanksgivingandEntrustmenttothe
VirginMaryTheotokosintheBasilicaofSaintMaryMajor:InsegnamentidiGiovanni
PaoloII,IV,1(VaticanCity,1981),1246.
(4)OntheJubileeDayforFamilies,thePopeentrustedindividualsandnationstoOurLady:
InsegnamentidiGiovanniPaoloII,VII,1(VaticanCity,1984),775777.
(5)
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(6)IntheFourthMemoirof8December1941SisterLuciawrites:Ishallbeginthenmy
newtask,andthusfulfilthecommandsreceivedfromYourExcellencyaswellasthedesires
ofDrGalamba.WiththeexceptionofthatpartoftheSecretwhichIamnotpermittedto
revealatpresent,Ishallsayeverything.Ishallnotknowinglyomitanything,thoughI
supposeImayforgetjustafewsmalldetailsofminorimportance.
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(7)IntheFourthMemoirSisterLuciaadds:InPortugal,thedogmaofthefaithwill
alwaysbepreserved,etc.....
(8)Inthetranslation,theoriginaltexthasbeenrespected,evenasregardstheimprecise
punctuation,whichneverthelessdoesnotimpedeanunderstandingofwhatthevisionary
wishedtosay.
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