The Message of Fatima.pdf

07/07/2015 TheMessageofFatima

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000626_messagefatima_en.html 1/37

CONGREGATIONFORTHEDOCTRINEOFTHEFAITH

THEMESSAGEOFFATIMA

INTRODUCTION

Asthesecondmillenniumgiveswaytothethird,PopeJohnPaulIIhasdecidedtopublishthetextofthethirdpartofthesecretofFatima.

Thetwentiethcenturywasoneofthemostcrucialinhumanhistory,withitstragicandcrueleventsculminatingintheassassinationattemptonthesweetChristonearth.Nowaveilisdrawnbackonaseriesofeventswhichmakehistoryandinterpretitindepth,inaspiritualperspectivealientopresentdayattitudes,oftentaintedwithrationalism.

Throughouthistorytherehavebeensupernaturalapparitionsandsignswhichgototheheartofhumaneventsandwhich,tothesurpriseofbelieversandnonbelieversalike,playtheirpartintheunfoldingofhistory.Thesemanifestationscannevercontradictthecontentoffaith,andmustthereforehavetheirfocusinthecoreofChrist'sproclamation:theFather'slovewhichleadsmenandwomentoconversionandbestowsthegracerequiredtoabandononeselftohimwithfilialdevotion.ThistooisthemessageofFatimawhich,withitsurgentcalltoconversionandpenance,drawsustotheheartoftheGospel.

Fatimaisundoubtedlythemostpropheticofmodernapparitions.Thefirstandsecondpartsofthesecretwhichareherepublishedinsequencesoastocompletethedocumentationreferespeciallytothefrighteningvisionofhell,devotiontotheImmaculateHeartofMary,theSecondWorldWar,andfinallythepredictionoftheimmensedamagethatRussiawoulddotohumanitybyabandoningtheChristianfaithandembracingCommunisttotalitarianism.



In1917noonecouldhaveimaginedallthis:thethreepastorinhosofFatimasee,listenandremember,andLucia,thesurvivingwitness,commitsitalltopaperwhenorderedtodosobytheBishopofLeiriaandwithOurLady'spermission.

Fortheaccountofthefirsttwopartsofthesecret,whichhavealreadybeenpublishedandarethereforeknown,wehavechosenthetextwrittenbySisterLuciaintheThirdMemoirof31August1941someannotationswereaddedintheFourthMemoirof8December1941.

ThethirdpartofthesecretwaswrittenbyorderofHisExcellencytheBishopofLeiriaandtheMostHolyMother...on3January1944.

Thereisonlyonemanuscript,whichisherereproducedphotostatically.ThesealedenvelopewasinitiallyinthecustodyoftheBishopofLeiria.ToensurebetterprotectionforthesecrettheenvelopewasplacedintheSecretArchivesoftheHolyOfficeon4April1957.TheBishopofLeiriainformedSisterLuciaofthis.

AccordingtotherecordsoftheArchives,theCommissaryoftheHolyOffice,FatherPierrePaulPhilippe,OP,withtheagreementofCardinalAlfredoOttaviani,broughttheenvelopecontainingthethirdpartofthesecretofFatimatoPopeJohnXXIIIon17August1959.Aftersomehesitation,HisHolinesssaid:Weshallwait.Ishallpray.IshallletyouknowwhatIdecide.(1)

InfactPopeJohnXXIIIdecidedtoreturnthesealedenvelopetotheHolyOfficeandnottorevealthethirdpartofthesecret.

PaulVIreadthecontentswiththeSubstitute,ArchbishopAngeloDell'Acqua,on27March1965,andreturnedtheenvelopetotheArchivesoftheHolyOffice,decidingnottopublishthetext.

JohnPaulII,forhispart,askedfortheenvelopecontainingthethirdpartofthesecretfollowingtheassassinationattempton13May1981.On18July1981CardinalFranjoeper,PrefectoftheCongregation,gavetwoenvelopestoArchbishopEduardoMartnezSomalo,SubstituteoftheSecretariatofState:onewhiteenvelope,containingSisterLucia'soriginaltextinPortuguesetheotherorange,withtheItaliantranslationofthesecret.Onthefollowing11August,ArchbishopMartnezreturnedthetwoenvelopestotheArchivesoftheHolyOffice.(2)



Asiswellknown,PopeJohnPaulIIimmediatelythoughtofconsecratingtheworldtotheImmaculateHeartofMaryandhehimselfcomposedaprayerforwhathecalledanActofEntrustment,whichwastobecelebratedintheBasilicaofSaintMaryMajoron7June1981,theSolemnityofPentecost,thedaychosentocommemoratethe1600thanniversaryoftheFirstCouncilofConstantinopleandthe1550thanniversaryoftheCouncilofEphesus.SincethePopewasunabletobepresent,hisrecordedAddresswasbroadcast.ThefollowingisthepartwhichrefersspecificallytotheActofEntrustment:

Motherofallindividualsandpeoples,youknowalltheirsufferingsandhopes.Inyourmotherlyheartyoufeelallthestrugglesbetweengoodandevil,betweenlightanddarkness,thatconvulsetheworld:acceptthepleawhichwemakeintheHolySpiritdirectlytoyourheart,andembracewiththeloveoftheMotherandHandmaidoftheLordthosewhomostawaitthisembrace,andalsothosewhoseactofentrustmentyoutooawaitinaparticularway.Takeunderyourmotherlyprotectionthewholehumanfamily,whichwithaffectionateloveweentrusttoyou,OMother.Maytheredawnforeveryonethetimeofpeaceandfreedom,thetimeoftruth,ofjusticeandofhope.(3)

InordertorespondmorefullytotherequestsofOurLady,theHolyFatherdesiredtomakemoreexplicitduringtheHolyYearoftheRedemptiontheActofEntrustmentof7May1981,whichhadbeenrepeatedinFatimaon13May1982.On25March1984inSaintPeter'sSquare,whilerecallingthefiatutteredbyMaryattheAnnunciation,theHolyFather,inspiritualunionwiththeBishopsoftheworld,whohadbeenconvokedbeforehand,entrustedallmenandwomenandallpeoplestotheImmaculateHeartofMary,intermswhichrecalledtheheartfeltwordsspokenin1981:

OMotherofallmenandwomen,andofallpeoples,youwhoknowalltheirsufferingsandtheirhopes,youwhohaveamother'sawarenessofallthestrugglesbetweengoodandevil,betweenlightanddarkness,whichafflictthemodernworld,acceptthecrywhichwe,movedbytheHolySpirit,addressdirectlytoyourHeart.EmbracewiththeloveoftheMotherandHandmaidoftheLord,thishumanworldofours,whichweentrustandconsecratetoyou,forwearefullofconcernfortheearthlyandeternaldestinyofindividualsandpeoples.

Inaspecialwayweentrustandconsecratetoyouthoseindividualsandnationswhichparticularlyneedtobethusentrustedandconsecrated.

Wehaverecoursetoyourprotection,holyMotherofGod!'Despisenotourpetitionsinournecessities.



ThePopethencontinuedmoreforcefullyandwithmorespecificreferences,asthoughcommentingontheMessageofFatimainitssorrowfulfulfilment:

Behold,aswestandbeforeyou,MotherofChrist,beforeyourImmaculateHeart,wedesire,togetherwiththewholeChurch,touniteourselveswiththeconsecrationwhich,forloveofus,yourSonmadeofhimselftotheFather:Fortheirsake',hesaid,Iconsecratemyselfthattheyalsomaybeconsecratedinthetruth'(Jn17:19).WewishtouniteourselveswithourRedeemerinthishisconsecrationfortheworldandforthehumanrace,which,inhisdivineHeart,hasthepowertoobtainpardonandtosecurereparation.

Thepowerofthisconsecrationlastsforalltimeandembracesallindividuals,peoplesandnations.Itovercomeseveryevilthatthespiritofdarknessisabletoawaken,andhasinfactawakenedinourtimes,intheheartofmanandinhishistory.

HowdeeplywefeeltheneedfortheconsecrationofhumanityandtheworldourmodernworldinunionwithChristhimself!FortheredeemingworkofChristmustbesharedinbytheworldthroughtheChurch.

ThepresentYearoftheRedemptionshowsthis:thespecialJubileeofthewholeChurch.

Aboveallcreatures,mayyoubeblessed,you,theHandmaidoftheLord,whointhefullestwayobeyedthedivinecall!

Hailtoyou,whoarewhollyunitedtotheredeemingconsecrationofyourSon!

MotheroftheChurch!EnlightenthePeopleofGodalongthepathsoffaith,hope,andlove!Enlightenespeciallythepeopleswhoseconsecrationandentrustmentbyusyouareawaiting.HelpustoliveinthetruthoftheconsecrationofChristfortheentirehumanfamilyofthemodernworld.

Inentrustingtoyou,OMother,theworld,allindividualsandpeoples,wealsoentrusttoyouthisveryconsecrationoftheworld,placingitinyourmotherlyHeart.

ImmaculateHeart!Helpustoconquerthemenaceofevil,whichsoeasilytakesrootintheheartsofthepeopleoftoday,andwhoseimmeasurableeffectsalreadyweighdownuponourmodernworldandseemtoblockthepathstowardsthefuture!

Fromfamineandwar,deliverus.



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:individualsinandthesinoftheworld',sininallitsmanifestations.

Letthereberevealed,oncemore,inthehistoryoftheworldtheinfinitesavingpoweroftheRedemption:thepowerofmercifulLove!Mayitputastoptoevil!Mayittransformconsciences!MayyourImmaculateHeartrevealforallthelightofHope!.(4)

SisterLuciapersonallyconfirmedthatthissolemnanduniversalactofconsecrationcorrespondedtowhatOurLadywished(Sim,estfeita,talcomoNossaSenhoraapediu,desdeodia25deMarode1984:YesithasbeendonejustasOurLadyasked,on25March1984:Letterof8November1989).Henceanyfurtherdiscussionorrequestiswithoutbasis.

InthedocumentationpresentedherefourothertextshavebeenaddedtothemanuscriptsofSisterLucia:1)theHolyFather'sletterof19April2000toSisterLucia2)anaccountoftheconversationof27April2000withSisterLucia3)thestatementwhichtheHolyFatherappointedCardinalAngeloSodano,SecretaryofState,toreadon13May20004)thetheologicalcommentarybyCardinalJosephRatzinger,PrefectoftheCongregationfortheDoctrineoftheFaith.



SisterLuciahadalreadygivenanindicationforinterpretingthethirdpartofthesecretinalettertotheHolyFather,dated12May1982:

ThethirdpartofthesecretreferstoOurLady'swords:Ifnot[Russia]willspreadhererrorsthroughouttheworld,causingwarsandpersecutionsoftheChurch.ThegoodwillbemartyredtheHolyFatherwillhavemuchtosuffervariousnationswillbeannihilated'(13VII1917).

Thethirdpartofthesecretisasymbolicrevelation,referringtothispartoftheMessage,conditionedbywhetherweacceptornotwhattheMessageitselfasksofus:Ifmyrequestsareheeded,Russiawillbeconverted,andtherewillbepeaceifnot,shewillspreadhererrorsthroughouttheworld,etc.'.

SincewedidnotheedthisappealoftheMessage,weseethatithasbeenfulfilled,Russiahasinvadedtheworldwithhererrors.Andifwehavenotyetseenthecompletefulfilmentofthefinalpartofthisprophecy,wearegoingtowardsitlittlebylittlewithgreatstrides.Ifwedonotrejectthepathofsin,hatred,revenge,injustice,violationsoftherightsofthehumanperson,immoralityandviolence,etc.

AndletusnotsaythatitisGodwhoispunishingusinthiswayonthecontraryitispeoplethemselveswhoarepreparingtheirownpunishment.InhiskindnessGodwarnsusandcallsustotherightpath,whilerespectingthefreedomhehasgivenushencepeopleareresponsible.(5)

ThedecisionofHisHolinessPopeJohnPaulIItomakepublicthethirdpartofthesecretofFatimabringstoanendaperiodofhistorymarkedbytragichumanlustforpowerandevil,yetpervadedbythemercifulloveofGodandthewatchfulcareoftheMotherofJesusandoftheChurch.

TheactionofGod,theLordofhistory,andthecoresponsibilityofmaninthedramaofhiscreativefreedom,arethetwopillarsuponwhichhumanhistoryisbuilt.

OurLady,whoappearedatFatima,recallstheseforgottenvalues.Sheremindsusthatman'sfutureisinGod,andthatweareactiveandresponsiblepartnersincreatingthatfuture.

TarcisioBertone,SDBArchbishopEmeritusofVercelli

SecretaryoftheCongregationfortheDoctrineoftheFaith



THESECRETOFFATIMA

FIRSTANDSECONDPARTOFTHESECRET

ACCORDINGTOTHEVERSIONPRESENTEDBYSISTERLUCIAINTHETHIRDMEMOIROF31AUGUST1941FORTHEBISHOPOFLEIRIA

FATIMA

(originaltext)



(translation)(6)

...Thiswillentailmyspeakingaboutthesecret,andthusansweringthefirstquestion.

Whatisthesecret?ItseemstomethatIcanrevealit,sinceIalreadyhavepermissionfromHeaventodoso.God'srepresentativesonearthhaveauthorizedmetodothisseveraltimesandinvariousletters,oneofwhich,Ibelieve,isinyourkeeping.ThisletterisfromFatherJosBernardoGonalves,andinitheadvisesmetowritetotheHolyFather,suggesting,amongotherthings,thatIshouldrevealthesecret.Ididsaysomethingaboutit.Butinordernottomakemylettertoolong,sinceIwastoldtokeepitshort,Iconfinedmyselftotheessentials,leavingittoGodtoprovideanothermorefavourableopportunity.

InmysecondaccountIhavealreadydescribedindetailthedoubtwhichtormentedmefrom13Juneuntil13July,andhowitdisappearedcompletelyduringtheApparitiononthatday.

Well,thesecretismadeupofthreedistinctparts,twoofwhichIamnowgoingtoreveal.

Thefirstpartisthevisionofhell.

OurLadyshowedusagreatseaoffirewhichseemedtobeundertheearth.Plungedinthisfireweredemonsandsoulsinhumanform,liketransparentburningembers,allblackenedorburnishedbronze,floatingaboutintheconflagration,nowraisedintotheairbytheflamesthatissuedfromwithinthemselvestogetherwithgreatcloudsofsmoke,nowfallingbackoneverysidelikesparksinahugefire,withoutweightorequilibrium,andamidshrieksandgroansofpainanddespair,whichhorrifiedusandmadeustremblewithfear.Thedemonscouldbedistinguishedbytheirterrifyingandrepulsivelikenesstofrightfulandunknownanimals,allblackandtransparent.Thisvisionlastedbutaninstant.HowcanweeverbegratefulenoughtoourkindheavenlyMother,whohadalreadypreparedusbypromising,inthefirstApparition,totakeustoheaven.Otherwise,Ithinkwewouldhavediedoffearandterror.

WethenlookedupatOurLady,whosaidtoussokindlyandsosadly:

Youhaveseenhellwherethesoulsofpoorsinnersgo.Tosavethem,GodwishestoestablishintheworlddevotiontomyImmaculateHeart.IfwhatIsaytoyouisdone,manysoulswillbesavedandtherewillbepeace.Thewarisgoingtoend:butifpeopledonotceaseoffendingGod,aworseonewillbreakoutduringthePontificateofPiusXI.Whenyouseeanightilluminedbyanunknownlight,knowthatthisisthegreatsigngivenyoubyGod



thatheisabouttopunishtheworldforitscrimes,bymeansofwar,famine,andpersecutionsoftheChurchandoftheHolyFather.Topreventthis,IshallcometoaskfortheconsecrationofRussiatomyImmaculateHeart,andtheCommunionofreparationontheFirstSaturdays.Ifmyrequestsareheeded,Russiawillbeconverted,andtherewillbepeaceifnot,shewillspreadhererrorsthroughouttheworld,causingwarsandpersecutionsoftheChurch.ThegoodwillbemartyredtheHolyFatherwillhavemuchtosuffervariousnationswillbeannihilated.Intheend,myImmaculateHeartwilltriumph.TheHolyFatherwillconsecrateRussiatome,andsheshallbeconverted,andaperiodofpeacewillbegrantedtotheworld.(7)

THIRDPARTOFTHESECRET(originaltext)



(translation)(8)

J.M.J.

ThethirdpartofthesecretrevealedattheCovadaIriaFatima,on13July1917.

Iwriteinobediencetoyou,myGod,whocommandmetodosothroughhisExcellencytheBishopofLeiriaandthroughyourMostHolyMotherandmine.

AfterthetwopartswhichIhavealreadyexplained,attheleftofOurLadyandalittleabove,wesawanAngelwithaflamingswordinhislefthandflashing,itgaveoutflamesthatlookedasthoughtheywouldsettheworldonfirebuttheydiedoutincontactwiththesplendourthatOurLadyradiatedtowardshimfromherrighthand:pointingtotheearthwithhisrighthand,theAngelcriedoutinaloudvoice:Penance,Penance,Penance!'.AndwesawinanimmenselightthatisGod:somethingsimilartohowpeopleappearinamirrorwhentheypassinfrontofit'aBishopdressedinWhitewehadtheimpressionthatitwastheHolyFather'.OtherBishops,Priests,menandwomenReligiousgoingupasteepmountain,atthetopofwhichtherewasabigCrossofroughhewntrunksasofacorktreewiththebarkbeforereachingtheretheHolyFatherpassedthroughabigcityhalfinruinsandhalftremblingwithhaltingstep,afflictedwithpainandsorrow,heprayedforthesoulsofthecorpseshemetonhiswayhavingreachedthetopofthemountain,onhiskneesatthefootofthebigCrosshewaskilledbyagroupofsoldierswhofiredbulletsandarrowsathim,andinthesamewaytherediedoneafteranothertheotherBishops,Priests,menandwomen



Religious,andvariouslaypeopleofdifferentranksandpositions.BeneaththetwoarmsoftheCrossthereweretwoAngelseachwithacrystalaspersoriuminhishand,inwhichtheygatheredupthebloodoftheMartyrsandwithitsprinkledthesoulsthatweremakingtheirwaytoGod.

Tuy311944.

INTERPRETATIONOFTHESECRET

LETTEROFHISHOLINESSPOPEJOHNPAULIITOSISTERLUCIA

(originaltext)



(translation)

TotheReverendSisterMariaLucia

oftheConventofCoimbra

InthegreatjoyofEaster,IgreetyouwiththewordstheRisenJesusspoketothedisciples:Peacebewithyou!

IwillbehappytobeabletomeetyouonthelongawaiteddayoftheBeatificationofFranciscoandJacinta,which,pleaseGod,Iwillcelebrateon13Mayofthisyear.

Sinceonthatdaytherewillbetimeonlyforabriefgreetingandnotaconversation,IamsendingHisExcellencyArchbishopTarcisioBertone,SecretaryoftheCongregationfortheDoctrineoftheFaith,tospeakwithyou.ThisistheCongregationwhichworksmostcloselywiththePopeindefendingthetrueCatholicfaith,andwhichsince1957,asyouknow,haskeptyourhandwrittenlettercontainingthethirdpartofthesecretrevealedon13July1917atCovadaIria,Fatima.

ArchbishopBertone,accompaniedbytheBishopofLeiria,HisExcellencyBishopSerafimdeSousaFerreiraeSilva,willcomeinmynametoaskcertainquestionsabouttheinterpretationofthethirdpartofthesecret.

SisterMariaLucia,youmayspeakopenlyandcandidlytoArchbishopBertone,whowillreportyouranswersdirectlytome.

IprayferventlytotheMotheroftheRisenLordforyou,ReverendSister,fortheCommunityofCoimbraandforthewholeChurch.MayMary,Motherofpilgrimhumanity,keepusalwaysunitedtoJesus,herbelovedSonandourbrother,theLordoflifeandglory.

WithmyspecialApostolicBlessing.

IOANNESPAULUSPP.II



FromtheVatican,19April2000.

CONVERSATIONWITHSISTERMARIALUCIAOFJESUS

ANDTHEIMMACULATEHEART

ThemeetingbetweenSisterLucia,ArchbishopTarcisioBertone,SecretaryoftheCongregationfortheDoctrineoftheFaith,sentbytheHolyFather,andBishopSerafimdeSousaFerreiraeSilva,BishopofLeiriaFatima,tookplaceonThursday,27April2000,intheCarmelofSaintTeresainCoimbra.

SisterLuciawaslucidandateaseshewasveryhappythattheHolyFatherwasgoingtoFatimafortheBeatificationofFranciscoandJacinta,somethingshehadlookedforwardtoforalongtime.

TheBishopofLeiriaFatimareadtheautographletteroftheHolyFather,whichexplainedthereasonsforthevisit.SisterLuciafelthonouredbythisandrereadtheletterherself,contemplatingitinownherhands.Shesaidthatshewaspreparedtoanswerallquestionsfrankly.

Atthispoint,ArchbishopBertonepresentedtwoenvelopestoher:thefirstcontainingthesecond,whichheldthethirdpartofthesecretofFatima.Immediately,touchingitwithherfingers,shesaid:Thisismyletter,andthenwhilereadingit:Thisismywriting.

Theoriginaltext,inPortuguese,wasreadandinterpretedwiththehelpoftheBishopofLeiriaFatima.SisterLuciaagreedwiththeinterpretationthatthethirdpartofthesecretwasapropheticvision,similartothoseinsacredhistory.SherepeatedherconvictionthatthevisionofFatimaconcernsaboveallthestruggleofatheisticCommunismagainsttheChurchandagainstChristians,anddescribestheterriblesufferingsofthevictimsofthefaithinthetwentiethcentury.

Whenasked:IstheprincipalfigureinthevisionthePope?,SisterLuciarepliedatoncethatitwas.SherecalledthatthethreechildrenwereverysadaboutthesufferingofthePope,andthatJacintakeptsaying:CoitadinhodoSantoPadre,tenhomuitapenadospecadores!(PoorHolyFather,Iamverysadforsinners!).SisterLuciacontinued:WedidnotknowthenameofthePopeOurLadydidnottellusthenameofthePopewedid



notknowwhetheritwasBenedictXVorPiusXIIorPaulVIorJohnPaulIIbutitwasthePopewhowassufferingandthatmadeussuffertoo.

AsregardsthepassageabouttheBishopdressedinwhite,thatis,theHolyFatherasthechildrenimmediatelyrealizedduringthevisionwhoisstruckdeadandfallstotheground,SisterLuciawasinfullagreementwiththePope'sclaimthatitwasamother'shandthatguidedthebullet'spathandinhisthroesthePopehaltedatthethresholdofdeath(PopeJohnPaulII,MeditationfromthePoliclinicoGemellitotheItalianBishops,13May1994).

BeforegivingthesealedenvelopecontainingthethirdpartofthesecrettothethenBishopofLeiriaFatima,SisterLuciawroteontheoutsideenvelopethatitcouldbeopenedonlyafter1960,eitherbythePatriarchofLisbonortheBishopofLeiria.ArchbishopBertonethereforeasked:Whyonlyafter1960?WasitOurLadywhofixedthatdate?SisterLuciareplied:ItwasnotOurLady.IfixedthedatebecauseIhadtheintuitionthatbefore1960itwouldnotbeunderstood,butthatonlylaterwoulditbeunderstood.Nowitcanbebetterunderstood.IwrotedownwhatIsawhoweveritwasnotformetointerpretit,butforthePope.

Finally,mentionwasmadeoftheunpublishedmanuscriptwhichSisterLuciahaspreparedasareplytothemanylettersthatcomefromMariandevoteesandfrompilgrims.TheworkiscalledOsapelosdaMensagemdeFatima,anditgatherstogetherinthestyleofcatechesisandexhortationthoughtsandreflectionswhichexpressSisterLucia'sfeelingsandherclearandunaffectedspirituality.Shewasaskedifshewouldbehappytohaveitpublished,andshereplied:IftheHolyFatheragrees,thenIamhappy,otherwiseIobeywhatevertheHolyFatherdecides.SisterLuciawantstopresentthetextforecclesiasticalapproval,andshehopesthatwhatshehaswrittenwillhelptoguidemenandwomenofgoodwillalongthepaththatleadstoGod,thefinalgoalofeveryhumanlonging.Theconversationendswithanexchangeofrosaries.SisterLuciaisgivenarosarysentbytheHolyFather,andsheinturnoffersanumberofrosariesmadebyherself.

ThemeetingconcludeswiththeblessingimpartedinthenameoftheHolyFather.

ANNOUNCEMENTMADEBYCARDINALANGELOSODANOSECRETARYOFSTATE

AttheendoftheMasspresidedoverbytheHolyFatheratFatima,CardinalAngeloSodano,



theSecretaryofState,madethisannouncementinPortuguese,whichisgivenhereinEnglishtranslation:

BrothersandSistersintheLord!

Attheconclusionofthissolemncelebration,IfeelboundtoofferourbelovedHolyFatherPopeJohnPaulII,onbehalfofallpresent,heartfeltgoodwishesforhisapproaching80thBirthdayandtothankhimforhisvitalpastoralministryforthegoodofallGod'sHolyChurchwepresenttheheartfeltwishesofthewholeChurch.

OnthissolemnoccasionofhisvisittoFatima,HisHolinesshasdirectedmetomakeanannouncementtoyou.Asyouknow,thepurposeofhisvisittoFatimahasbeentobeatifythetwolittleshepherds.NeverthelesshealsowisheshispilgrimagetobearenewedgestureofgratitudetoOurLadyforherprotectionduringtheseyearsofhispapacy.ThisprotectionseemsalsotobelinkedtothesocalledthirdpartofthesecretofFatima.

ThattextcontainsapropheticvisionsimilartothosefoundinSacredScripture,whichdonotdescribephotographicallythedetailsoffutureevents,butsynthesizeandcompressagainstasinglebackgroundfactswhichextendthroughtimeinanunspecifiedsuccessionandduration.Asaresult,thetextmustbeinterpretedinasymbolickey.

ThevisionofFatimaconcernsaboveallthewarwagedbyatheisticsystemsagainsttheChurchandChristians,anditdescribestheimmensesufferingenduredbythewitnessesofthefaithinthelastcenturyofthesecondmillennium.ItisaninterminableWayoftheCrossledbythePopesofthetwentiethcentury.

Accordingtotheinterpretationofthelittleshepherds,whichwasalsoconfirmedrecentlybySisterLucia,theBishopclothedinwhitewhopraysforallthefaithfulisthePope.AshemakeshiswaywithgreatdifficultytowardstheCrossamidthecorpsesofthosewhoweremartyred(Bishops,priests,menandwomenReligiousandmanylaypeople),hetoofallstotheground,apparentlydead,underahailofgunfire.

Aftertheassassinationattemptof13May1981,itappearedevidentthatitwasamother'shandthatguidedthebullet'spath,enablingthePopeinhisthroestohaltatthethresholdofdeath(PopeJohnPaulII,MeditationfromthePoliclinicoGemellitotheItalianBishops,Insegnamenti,XVII,1[1994],1061).OntheoccasionofavisittoRomebythethenBishopofLeiriaFatima,thePopedecidedtogivehimthebulletwhichhadremainedinthejeepaftertheassassinationattempt,sothatitmightbekeptintheshrine.BytheBishop's



decision,thebulletwaslatersetinthecrownofthestatueofOurLadyofFatima.

Thesuccessiveeventsof1989led,bothintheSovietUnionandinanumberofcountriesofEasternEurope,tothefalloftheCommunistregimeswhichpromotedatheism.ForthistooHisHolinessoffersheartfeltthankstotheMostHolyVirgin.Inotherpartsoftheworld,however,attacksagainsttheChurchandagainstChristians,withtheburdenofsufferingtheybring,tragicallycontinue.EveniftheeventstowhichthethirdpartofthesecretofFatimarefersnowseempartofthepast,OurLady'scalltoconversionandpenance,issuedatthestartofthetwentiethcentury,remainstimelyandurgenttoday.TheLadyofthemessageseemstoreadthesignsofthetimesthesignsofourtimewithspecialinsight...TheinsistentinvitationofMaryMostHolytopenanceisnothingbutthemanifestationofhermaternalconcernforthefateofthehumanfamily,inneedofconversionandforgiveness(PopeJohnPaulII,Messageforthe1997WorldDayoftheSick,No.1,Insegnamenti,XIX,2[1996],561).

InorderthatthefaithfulmaybetterreceivethemessageofOurLadyofFatima,thePopehaschargedtheCongregationfortheDoctrineoftheFaithwithmakingpublicthethirdpartofthesecret,afterthepreparationofanappropriatecommentary.

Brothersandsisters,letusthankOurLadyofFatimaforherprotection.TohermaternalintercessionletusentrusttheChurchoftheThirdMillennium.

Subtuumpraesidiumconfugimus,SanctaDeiGenetrix!IntercedeproEcclesia.IntercedeproPapanostroIoannePauloII.Amen.

Fatima,13May2000

THEOLOGICALCOMMENTARY

AcarefulreadingofthetextofthesocalledthirdsecretofFatima,publishedhereinitsentiretylongafterthefactandbydecisionoftheHolyFather,willprobablyprovedisappointingorsurprisingafterallthespeculationithasstirred.Nogreatmysteryisrevealednoristhefutureunveiled.WeseetheChurchofthemartyrsofthecenturywhichhasjustpassedrepresentedinascenedescribedinalanguagewhichissymbolicandnoteasytodecipher.IsthiswhattheMotheroftheLordwishedtocommunicatetoChristianityandtohumanityatatimeofgreatdifficultyanddistress?Isitofanyhelptousatthebeginning



ofthenewmillennium?Oraretheseonlyprojectionsoftheinnerworldofchildren,broughtupinaclimateofprofoundpietybutshakenatthesametimebythetempestswhichthreatenedtheirowntime?Howshouldweunderstandthevision?Whatarewetomakeofit?

PublicRevelationandprivaterevelationstheirtheologicalstatus

Beforeattemptinganinterpretation,themainlinesofwhichcanbefoundinthestatementreadbyCardinalSodanoon13MayofthisyearattheendoftheMasscelebratedbytheHolyFatherinFatima,thereisaneedforsomebasicclarificationofthewayinwhich,accordingtoChurchteaching,phenomenasuchasFatimaaretobeunderstoodwithinthelifeoffaith.TheteachingoftheChurchdistinguishesbetweenpublicRevelationandprivaterevelations.Thetworealitiesdiffernotonlyindegreebutalsoinessence.ThetermpublicRevelationreferstotherevealingactionofGoddirectedtohumanityasawholeandwhichfindsitsliteraryexpressioninthetwopartsoftheBible:theOldandNewTestaments.ItiscalledRevelationbecauseinitGodgraduallymadehimselfknowntomen,tothepointofbecomingmanhimself,inordertodrawtohimselfthewholeworldanduniteitwithhimselfthroughhisIncarnateSon,JesusChrist.Itisnotamatterthereforeofintellectualcommunication,butofalifegivingprocessinwhichGodcomestomeetman.AtthesametimethisprocessnaturallyproducesdatapertainingtothemindandtotheunderstandingofthemysteryofGod.Itisaprocesswhichinvolvesmaninhisentiretyandthereforereasonaswell,butnotreasonalone.BecauseGodisone,history,whichheshareswithhumanity,isalsoone.Itisvalidforalltime,andithasreacheditsfulfilmentinthelife,deathandresurrectionofJesusChrist.InChrist,Godhassaideverything,thatis,hehasrevealedhimselfcompletely,andthereforeRevelationcametoanendwiththefulfilmentofthemysteryofChristasenunciatedintheNewTestament.ToexplainthefinalityandcompletenessofRevelation,theCatechismoftheCatholicChurchquotesatextofSaintJohnoftheCross:IngivingushisSon,hisonlyWord(forhepossessesnoother),hespokeeverythingtousatonceinthissoleWordandhehasnomoretosay...becausewhathespokebeforetotheprophetsinparts,hehasnowspokenallatoncebygivingustheAllWhoisHisSon.AnypersonquestioningGodordesiringsomevisionorrevelationwouldbeguiltynotonlyoffoolishbehaviourbutalsoofoffendinghim,bynotfixinghiseyesentirelyuponChristandbylivingwiththedesireforsomeothernovelty(No.65SaintJohnoftheCross,TheAscentofMountCarmel,II,22).

BecausethesingleRevelationofGodaddressedtoallpeoplescomestocompletionwithChristandthewitnessbornetohiminthebooksoftheNewTestament,theChurchistiedto



thisuniqueeventofsacredhistoryandtothewordoftheBible,whichguaranteesandinterpretsit.ButthisdoesnotmeanthattheChurchcannowlookonlytothepastandthatsheiscondemnedtosterilerepetition.TheCatechismoftheCatholicChurchsaysinthisregard:...evenifRevelationisalreadycomplete,ithasnotbeenmadefullyexplicititremainsforChristianfaithgraduallytograspitsfullsignificanceoverthecourseofthecenturies(No.66).ThewayinwhichtheChurchisboundtoboththeuniquenessoftheeventandprogressinunderstandingitisverywellillustratedinthefarewelldiscourseoftheLordwhen,takingleaveofhisdisciples,hesays:Ihaveyetmanythingstosaytoyou,butyoucannotbearthemnow.WhentheSpiritoftruthcomes,hewillguideyouintoallthetruthforhewillnotspeakonhisownauthority...Hewillglorifyme,forhewilltakewhatismineanddeclareittoyou(Jn16:1214).Ontheonehand,theSpiritactsasaguidewhodisclosesaknowledgepreviouslyunreachablebecausethepremisewasmissingthisistheboundlessbreadthanddepthofChristianfaith.Ontheotherhand,tobeguidedbytheSpiritisalsotodrawfromtherichesofJesusChristhimself,theinexhaustibledepthsofwhichappearinthewaytheSpiritleads.Inthisregard,theCatechismcitesprofoundwordsofPopeGregorytheGreat:ThesacredScripturesgrowwiththeonewhoreadsthem(No.94GregorytheGreat,HomiliainEzechielemI,7,8).TheSecondVaticanCouncilnotesthreeessentialwaysinwhichtheSpiritguidesintheChurch,andthereforethreewaysinwhichthewordgrows:throughthemeditationandstudyofthefaithful,throughthedeepunderstandingwhichcomesfromspiritualexperience,andthroughthepreachingofthosewho,inthesuccessionoftheepiscopate,havereceivedthesurecharismoftruth(DeiVerbum,8).

Inthiscontext,itnowbecomespossibletounderstandrightlytheconceptofprivaterevelation,whichreferstoallthevisionsandrevelationswhichhavetakenplacesincethecompletionoftheNewTestament.ThisisthecategorytowhichwemustassignthemessageofFatima.Inthisrespect,letuslistenonceagaintotheCatechismoftheCatholicChurch:Throughouttheages,therehavebeensocalledprivate'revelations,someofwhichhavebeenrecognizedbytheauthorityoftheChurch...ItisnottheirroletocompleteChrist'sdefinitiveRevelation,buttohelplivemorefullybyitinacertainperiodofhistory(No.67).Thisclarifiestwothings:

1.TheauthorityofprivaterevelationsisessentiallydifferentfromthatofthedefinitivepublicRevelation.ThelatterdemandsfaithinitinfactGodhimselfspeakstousthroughhumanwordsandthemediationofthelivingcommunityoftheChurch.FaithinGodandinhiswordisdifferentfromanyotherhumanfaith,trustoropinion.ThecertaintythatitisGodwhoisspeakinggivesmetheassurancethatIamintouchwithtruthitself.Itgivesmea



certitudewhichisbeyondverificationbyanyhumanwayofknowing.ItisthecertitudeuponwhichIbuildmylifeandtowhichIentrustmyselfindying.

2.Privaterevelationisahelptothisfaith,andshowsitscredibilitypreciselybyleadingmebacktothedefinitivepublicRevelation.Inthisregard,CardinalProsperoLambertini,thefuturePopeBenedictXIV,saysinhisclassictreatise,whichlaterbecamenormativeforbeatificationsandcanonizations:AnassentofCatholicfaithisnotduetorevelationsapprovedinthiswayitisnotevenpossible.Theserevelationsseekratheranassentofhumanfaithinkeepingwiththerequirementsofprudence,whichputsthembeforeusasprobableandcredibletopiety.TheFlemishtheologianE.Dhanis,aneminentscholarinthisfield,statessuccinctlythatecclesiasticalapprovalofaprivaterevelationhasthreeelements:themessagecontainsnothingcontrarytofaithormoralsitislawfultomakeitpublicandthefaithfulareauthorizedtoacceptitwithprudence(E.Dhanis,SguardosuFatimaebilanciodiunadiscussione,inLaCiviltCattolica104[1953],II,392406,inparticular397).SuchamessagecanbeagenuinehelpinunderstandingtheGospelandlivingitbetterataparticularmomentintimethereforeitshouldnotbedisregarded.Itisahelpwhichisoffered,butwhichoneisnotobligedtouse.

ThecriterionforthetruthandvalueofaprivaterevelationisthereforeitsorientationtoChristhimself.Whenitleadsusawayfromhim,whenitbecomesindependentofhimorevenpresentsitselfasanotherandbetterplanofsalvation,moreimportantthantheGospel,thenitcertainlydoesnotcomefromtheHolySpirit,whoguidesusmoredeeplyintotheGospelandnotawayfromit.Thisdoesnotmeanthataprivaterevelationwillnotoffernewemphasesorgiverisetonewdevotionalforms,ordeepenandspreadolderforms.Butinallofthistheremustbeanurturingoffaith,hopeandlove,whicharetheunchangingpathtosalvationforeveryone.Wemightaddthatprivaterevelationsoftenspringfrompopularpietyandleavetheirstamponit,givingitanewimpulseandopeningthewayfornewformsofit.Nordoesthisexcludethattheywillhaveaneffectevenontheliturgy,asweseeforinstanceinthefeastsofCorpusChristiandoftheSacredHeartofJesus.Fromonepointofview,therelationshipbetweenRevelationandprivaterevelationsappearsintherelationshipbetweentheliturgyandpopularpiety:theliturgyisthecriterion,itisthelivingformoftheChurchasawhole,feddirectlybytheGospel.Popularpietyisasignthatthefaithisspreadingitsrootsintotheheartofapeopleinsuchawaythatitreachesintodailylife.Popularreligiosityisthefirstandfundamentalmodeofinculturationofthefaith.Whileitmustalwaystakeitsleadanddirectionfromtheliturgy,itinturnenrichesthefaithbyinvolvingtheheart.

Wehavethusmovedfromthesomewhatnegativeclarifications,initiallyneeded,toa



positivedefinitionofprivaterevelations.HowcantheybeclassifiedcorrectlyinrelationtoScripture?Towhichtheologicalcategorydotheybelong?TheoldestletterofSaintPaulwhichhasbeenpreserved,perhapstheoldestoftheNewTestamenttexts,theFirstLettertotheThessalonians,seemstometopointtheway.TheApostlesays:DonotquenchtheSpirit,donotdespiseprophesying,buttesteverything,holdingfasttowhatisgood(5:1921).IneveryagetheChurchhasreceivedthecharismofprophecy,whichmustbescrutinizedbutnotscorned.Onthispoint,itshouldbekeptinmindthatprophecyinthebiblicalsensedoesnotmeantopredictthefuturebuttoexplainthewillofGodforthepresent,andthereforeshowtherightpathtotakeforthefuture.Apersonwhoforetellswhatisgoingtohappenrespondstothecuriosityofthemind,whichwantstodrawbacktheveilonthefuture.Theprophetspeakstotheblindnessofwillandofreason,anddeclaresthewillofGodasanindicationanddemandforthepresenttime.Inthiscase,predictionofthefutureisofsecondaryimportance.WhatisessentialistheactualizationofthedefinitiveRevelation,whichconcernsmeatthedeepestlevel.Thepropheticwordisawarningoraconsolation,orbothtogether.Inthissensethereisalinkbetweenthecharismofprophecyandthecategoryofthesignsofthetimes,whichVaticanIIbroughttolightanew:Youknowhowtointerprettheappearanceofearthandskywhythendoyounotknowhowtointerpretthepresenttime?(Lk12:56).InthissayingofJesus,thesignsofthetimesmustbeunderstoodasthepathhewastaking,indeeditmustbeunderstoodasJesushimself.TointerpretthesignsofthetimesinthelightoffaithmeanstorecognizethepresenceofChristineveryage.IntheprivaterevelationsapprovedbytheChurchandthereforealsoinFatimathisisthepoint:theyhelpustounderstandthesignsofthetimesandtorespondtothemrightlyinfaith.

Theanthropologicalstructureofprivaterevelations

Inthesereflectionswehavesoughtsofartoidentifythetheologicalstatusofprivaterevelations.BeforeundertakinganinterpretationofthemessageofFatima,wemuststillattemptbrieflytooffersomeclarificationoftheiranthropological(psychological)character.Inthisfield,theologicalanthropologydistinguishesthreeformsofperceptionorvision:visionwiththesenses,andhenceexteriorbodilyperception,interiorperception,andspiritualvision(visiosensibilisimaginativaintellectualis).ItisclearthatinthevisionsofLourdes,Fatimaandotherplacesitisnotaquestionofnormalexteriorperceptionofthesenses:theimagesandformswhichareseenarenotlocatedspatially,asisthecaseforexamplewithatreeorahouse.Thisisperfectlyobvious,forinstance,asregardsthevisionofhell(describedinthefirstpartoftheFatimasecret)oreventhevisiondescribedinthethirdpartofthesecret.Butthesamecanbeveryeasilyshownwithregardtoothervisions,especiallysince



noteverybodypresentsawthem,butonlythevisionaries.Itisalsoclearthatitisnotamatterofavisioninthemind,withoutimages,asoccursatthehigherlevelsofmysticism.Thereforewearedealingwiththemiddlecategory,interiorperception.Forthevisionary,thisperceptioncertainlyhastheforceofapresence,equivalentforthatpersontoanexternalmanifestationtothesenses.

Interiorvisiondoesnotmeanfantasy,whichwouldbenomorethananexpressionofthesubjectiveimagination.Itmeansratherthatthesoulistouchedbysomethingreal,evenifbeyondthesenses.Itisrenderedcapableofseeingthatwhichisbeyondthesenses,thatwhichcannotbeseenseeingbymeansoftheinteriorsenses.Itinvolvestrueobjects,whichtouchthesoul,eveniftheseobjectsdonotbelongtoourhabitualsensoryworld.Thisiswhythereisaneedforaninteriorvigilanceoftheheart,whichisusuallyprecludedbytheintensepressureofexternalrealityandoftheimagesandthoughtswhichfillthesoul.Thepersonisledbeyondpureexteriorityandistouchedbydeeperdimensionsofreality,whichbecomevisibletohim.Perhapsthisexplainswhychildrentendtobetheonestoreceivetheseapparitions:theirsoulsareasyetlittledisturbed,theirinteriorpowersofperceptionarestillnotimpaired.Onthelipsofchildrenandofbabesyouhavefoundpraise,repliesJesuswithaphraseofPsalm8(v.3)tothecriticismoftheHighPriestsandelders,whohadjudgedthechildren'scriesofhosannainappropriate(cf.Mt21:16).

Interiorvisionisnotfantasybut,aswehavesaid,atrueandvalidmeansofverification.Butitalsohasitslimitations.Eveninexteriorvisionthesubjectiveelementisalwayspresent.Wedonotseethepureobject,butitcomestousthroughthefilterofoursenses,whichcarryoutaworkoftranslation.Thisisstillmoreevidentinthecaseofinteriorvision,especiallywhenitinvolvesrealitieswhichinthemselvestranscendourhorizon.Thesubject,thevisionary,isstillmorepowerfullyinvolved.Heseesinsofarasheisable,inthemodesofrepresentationandconsciousnessavailabletohim.Inthecaseofinteriorvision,theprocessoftranslationisevenmoreextensivethaninexteriorvision,forthesubjectsharesinanessentialwayintheformationoftheimageofwhatappears.Hecanarriveattheimageonlywithintheboundsofhiscapacitiesandpossibilities.Suchvisionsthereforeareneversimplephotographsoftheotherworld,butareinfluencedbythepotentialitiesandlimitationsoftheperceivingsubject.

ThiscanbedemonstratedinallthegreatvisionsofthesaintsandnaturallyitisalsotrueofthevisionsofthechildrenatFatima.Theimagesdescribedbythemarebynomeansasimpleexpressionoftheirfantasy,buttheresultofarealperceptionofahigherandinteriororigin.Butneithershouldtheybethoughtofasifforamomenttheveiloftheotherworld



weredrawnback,withheavenappearinginitspureessence,asonedaywehopetoseeitinourdefinitiveunionwithGod.Rathertheimagesare,inamannerofspeaking,asynthesisoftheimpulsecomingfromonhighandthecapacitytoreceivethisimpulseinthevisionaries,thatis,thechildren.Forthisreason,thefigurativelanguageofthevisionsissymbolic.Inthisregard,CardinalSodanostated:[they]donotdescribephotographicallythedetailsoffutureevents,butsynthesizeandcompressagainstasinglebackgroundfactswhichextendthroughtimeinanunspecifiedsuccessionandduration.Thiscompressionoftimeandplaceinasingleimageistypicalofsuchvisions,whichforthemostpartcanbedecipheredonlyinretrospect.Noteveryelementofthevisionhastohaveaspecifichistoricalsense.Itisthevisionasawholethatmatters,andthedetailsmustbeunderstoodonthebasisoftheimagestakenintheirentirety.ThecentralelementoftheimageisrevealedwhereitcoincideswithwhatisthefocalpointofChristianprophecyitself:thecentreisfoundwherethevisionbecomesasummonsandaguidetothewillofGod.

AnattempttointerpretthesecretofFatima

ThefirstandsecondpartsofthesecretofFatimahavealreadybeensoamplydiscussedintherelativeliteraturethatthereisnoneedtodealwiththemagainhere.Iwouldjustliketorecallbrieflythemostsignificantpoint.Foroneterriblemoment,thechildrenweregivenavisionofhell.Theysawthefallofthesoulsofpoorsinners.Andnowtheyaretoldwhytheyhavebeenexposedtothismoment:inordertosavesoulstoshowthewaytosalvation.ThewordsoftheFirstLetterofPetercometomind:Astheoutcomeofyourfaithyouobtainthesalvationofyoursouls(1:9).Toreachthisgoal,thewayindicatedsurprisinglyforpeoplefromtheAngloSaxonandGermanculturalworldisdevotiontotheImmaculateHeartofMary.Abriefcommentmaysufficetoexplainthis.Inbiblicallanguage,theheartindicatesthecentreofhumanlife,thepointwherereason,will,temperamentandsensitivityconverge,wherethepersonfindshisunityandhisinteriororientation.AccordingtoMatthew5:8,theimmaculateheartisaheartwhich,withGod'sgrace,hascometoperfectinteriorunityandthereforeseesGod.TobedevotedtotheImmaculateHeartofMarymeansthereforetoembracethisattitudeofheart,whichmakesthefiatyourwillbedonethedefiningcentreofone'swholelife.ItmightbeobjectedthatweshouldnotplaceahumanbeingbetweenourselvesandChrist.ButthenwerememberthatPauldidnothesitatetosaytohiscommunities:imitateme(1Cor4:16Phil3:171Th1:62Th3:7,9).IntheApostletheycouldseeconcretelywhatitmeanttofollowChrist.ButfromwhommightwebetterlearnineveryagethanfromtheMotheroftheLord?



ThuswecomefinallytothethirdpartofthesecretofFatimawhichforthefirsttimeisbeingpublishedinitsentirety.Asisclearfromthedocumentationpresentedhere,theinterpretationofferedbyCardinalSodanoinhisstatementof13MaywasfirstputpersonallytoSisterLucia.SisterLuciarespondedbypointingoutthatshehadreceivedthevisionbutnotitsinterpretation.Theinterpretation,shesaid,belongednottothevisionarybuttotheChurch.Afterreadingthetext,however,shesaidthatthisinterpretationcorrespondedtowhatshehadexperiencedandthatonherpartshethoughttheinterpretationcorrect.Inwhatfollows,therefore,wecanonlyattempttoprovideadeeperfoundationforthisinterpretation,onthebasisofthecriteriaalreadyconsidered.

Tosavesoulshasemergedasthekeywordofthefirstandsecondpartsofthesecret,andthekeywordofthisthirdpartisthethreefoldcry:Penance,Penance,Penance!ThebeginningoftheGospelcomestomind:RepentandbelievetheGoodNews(Mk1:15).Tounderstandthesignsofthetimesmeanstoaccepttheurgencyofpenanceofconversionoffaith.Thisisthecorrectresponsetothismomentofhistory,characterizedbythegraveperilsoutlinedintheimagesthatfollow.Allowmetoaddhereapersonalrecollection:inaconversationwithmeSisterLuciasaidthatitappearedevermoreclearlytoherthatthepurposeofalltheapparitionswastohelppeopletogrowmoreandmoreinfaith,hopeandloveeverythingelsewasintendedtoleadtothis.

Letusnowexaminemorecloselythesingleimages.TheangelwiththeflamingswordontheleftoftheMotherofGodrecallssimilarimagesintheBookofRevelation.Thisrepresentsthethreatofjudgementwhichloomsovertheworld.Todaytheprospectthattheworldmightbereducedtoashesbyaseaoffirenolongerseemspurefantasy:manhimself,withhisinventions,hasforgedtheflamingsword.ThevisionthenshowsthepowerwhichstandsopposedtotheforceofdestructionthesplendouroftheMotherofGodand,stemmingfromthisinacertainway,thesummonstopenance.Inthisway,theimportanceofhumanfreedomisunderlined:thefutureisnotinfactunchangeablyset,andtheimagewhichthechildrensawisinnowayafilmpreviewofafutureinwhichnothingcanbechanged.Indeed,thewholepointofthevisionistobringfreedomontothesceneandtosteerfreedominapositivedirection.Thepurposeofthevisionisnottoshowafilmofanirrevocablyfixedfuture.Itsmeaningisexactlytheopposite:itismeanttomobilizetheforcesofchangeintherightdirection.Thereforewemusttotallydiscountfatalisticexplanationsofthesecret,suchas,forexample,theclaimthatthewouldbeassassinof13May1981wasmerelyaninstrumentofthedivineplanguidedbyProvidenceandcouldnotthereforehaveactedfreely,orothersimilarideasincirculation.Rather,thevisionspeaksofdangersandhowwemightbesavedfromthem.



Thenextphrasesofthetextshowveryclearlyonceagainthesymboliccharacterofthevision:Godremainsimmeasurable,andisthelightwhichsurpasseseveryvisionofours.Humanpersonsappearasinamirror.Wemustalwayskeepinmindthelimitsinthevisionitself,whichhereareindicatedvisually.Thefutureappearsonlyinamirrordimly(1Cor13:12).Letusnowconsidertheindividualimageswhichfollowinthetextofthesecret.Theplaceoftheactionisdescribedinthreesymbols:asteepmountain,agreatcityreducedtoruinsandfinallyalargeroughhewncross.Themountainandcitysymbolizethearenaofhumanhistory:historyasanarduousascenttothesummit,historyasthearenaofhumancreativityandsocialharmony,butatthesametimeaplaceofdestruction,wheremanactuallydestroysthefruitsofhisownwork.Thecitycanbetheplaceofcommunionandprogress,butalsoofdangerandthemostextrememenace.Onthemountainstandsthecrossthegoalandguideofhistory.Thecrosstransformsdestructionintosalvationitstandsasasignofhistory'smiserybutalsoasapromiseforhistory.

Atthispointhumanpersonsappear:theBishopdressedinwhite(wehadtheimpressionthatitwastheHolyFather),otherBishops,priests,menandwomenReligious,andmenandwomenofdifferentranksandsocialpositions.ThePopeseemstoprecedetheothers,tremblingandsufferingbecauseofallthehorrorsaroundhim.Notonlydothehousesofthecityliehalfinruins,buthemakeshiswayamongthecorpsesofthedead.TheChurch'spathisthusdescribedasaViaCrucis,asajourneythroughatimeofviolence,destructionandpersecution.Thehistoryofanentirecenturycanbeseenrepresentedinthisimage.Justastheplacesoftheeartharesyntheticallydescribedinthetwoimagesofthemountainandthecity,andaredirectedtowardsthecross,sotootimeispresentedinacompressedway.Inthevisionwecanrecognizethelastcenturyasacenturyofmartyrs,acenturyofsufferingandpersecutionfortheChurch,acenturyofWorldWarsandthemanylocalwarswhichfilledthelastfiftyyearsandhaveinflictedunprecedentedformsofcruelty.Inthemirrorofthisvisionweseepassingbeforeusthewitnessesofthefaithdecadebydecade.HereitwouldbeappropriatetomentionaphrasefromtheletterwhichSisterLuciawrotetotheHolyFatheron12May1982:Thethirdpartofthesecret'referstoOurLady'swords:Ifnot,[Russia]willspreadhererrorsthroughouttheworld,causingwarsandpersecutionsoftheChurch.ThegoodwillbemartyredtheHolyFatherwillhavemuchtosuffervariousnationswillbeannihilated'.

IntheViaCrucisofanentirecentury,thefigureofthePopehasaspecialrole.InhisarduousascentofthemountainwecanundoubtedlyseeaconvergenceofdifferentPopes.BeginningfromPiusXuptothepresentPope,theyallsharedthesufferingsofthecenturyandstrovetogoforwardthroughalltheanguishalongthepathwhichleadstotheCross.Inthevision,the



Popetooiskilledalongwiththemartyrs.When,aftertheattemptedassassinationon13May1981,theHolyFatherhadthetextofthethirdpartofthesecretbroughttohim,wasitnotinevitablethatheshouldseeinithisownfate?Hehadbeenveryclosetodeath,andhehimselfexplainedhissurvivalinthefollowingwords:...itwasamother'shandthatguidedthebullet'spathandinhisthroesthePopehaltedatthethresholdofdeath(13May1994).Thathereamother'shandhaddeflectedthefatefulbulletonlyshowsoncemorethatthereisnoimmutabledestiny,thatfaithandprayerareforceswhichcaninfluencehistoryandthatintheendprayerismorepowerfulthanbulletsandfaithmorepowerfulthanarmies.

TheconcludingpartofthesecretusesimageswhichLuciamayhaveseenindevotionalbooksandwhichdrawtheirinspirationfromlongstandingintuitionsoffaith.Itisaconsolingvision,whichseekstoopenahistoryofbloodandtearstothehealingpowerofGod.Beneaththearmsofthecrossangelsgatherupthebloodofthemartyrs,andwithittheygivelifetothesoulsmakingtheirwaytoGod.Here,thebloodofChristandthebloodofthemartyrsareconsideredasone:thebloodofthemartyrsrunsdownfromthearmsofthecross.ThemartyrsdieincommunionwiththePassionofChrist,andtheirdeathbecomesonewithhis.ForthesakeofthebodyofChrist,theycompletewhatisstilllackinginhisafflictions(cf.Col1:24).TheirlifehasitselfbecomeaEucharist,partofthemysteryofthegrainofwheatwhichindyingyieldsabundantfruit.ThebloodofthemartyrsistheseedofChristians,saidTertullian.AsfromChrist'sdeath,fromhiswoundedside,theChurchwasborn,sothedeathofthewitnessesisfruitfulforthefuturelifeoftheChurch.Therefore,thevisionofthethirdpartofthesecret,sodistressingatfirst,concludeswithanimageofhope:nosufferingisinvain,anditisasufferingChurch,aChurchofmartyrs,whichbecomesasignpostformaninhissearchforGod.ThelovingarmsofGodwelcomenotonlythosewhosufferlikeLazarus,whofoundgreatsolacethereandmysteriouslyrepresentsChrist,whowishedtobecomeforusthepoorLazarus.Thereissomethingmore:fromthesufferingofthewitnessestherecomesapurifyingandrenewingpower,becausetheirsufferingistheactualizationofthesufferingofChristhimselfandacommunicationinthehereandnowofitssavingeffect.

Andsowecometothefinalquestion:WhatisthemeaningofthesecretofFatimaasawhole(initsthreeparts)?Whatdoesitsaytous?FirstofallwemustaffirmwithCardinalSodano:...theeventstowhichthethirdpartofthesecret'ofFatimarefersnowseempartofthepast.Insofarasindividualeventsaredescribed,theybelongtothepast.Thosewhoexpectedexcitingapocalypticrevelationsabouttheendoftheworldorthefuturecourseofhistoryareboundtobedisappointed.Fatimadoesnotsatisfyourcuriosityinthisway,justasChristianfaithingeneralcannotbereducedtoanobjectofmerecuriosity.Whatremainswas



alreadyevidentwhenwebeganourreflectionsonthetextofthesecret:theexhortationtoprayerasthepathofsalvationforsoulsand,likewise,thesummonstopenanceandconversion.

Iwouldlikefinallytomentionanotherkeyexpressionofthesecretwhichhasbecomejustlyfamous:myImmaculateHeartwilltriumph.Whatdoesthismean?TheHeartopentoGod,purifiedbycontemplationofGod,isstrongerthangunsandweaponsofeverykind.ThefiatofMary,thewordofherheart,haschangedthehistoryoftheworld,becauseitbroughttheSaviourintotheworldbecause,thankstoherYes,Godcouldbecomemaninourworldandremainssoforalltime.TheEvilOnehaspowerinthisworld,asweseeandexperiencecontinuallyhehaspowerbecauseourfreedomcontinuallyletsitselfbeledawayfromGod.ButsinceGodhimselftookahumanheartandhasthussteeredhumanfreedomtowardswhatisgood,thefreedomtochooseevilnolongerhasthelastword.Fromthattimeforth,thewordthatprevailsisthis:Intheworldyouwillhavetribulation,buttakeheartIhaveovercometheworld(Jn16:33).ThemessageofFatimainvitesustotrustinthispromise.

JosephCard.RatzingerPrefectoftheCongregationfortheDoctrineoftheFaith

(1)FromthediaryofJohnXXIII,17August1959:Audiences:FatherPhilippe,CommissaryoftheHolyOffice,whobroughtmethelettercontainingthethirdpartofthesecretsofFatima.IintendtoreaditwithmyConfessor.



(2)TheHolyFather'scommentattheGeneralAudienceof14October1981onWhathappenedinMay:AGreatDivineTrialshouldberecalled:InsegnamentidiGiovanniPaoloII,IV,2(VaticanCity,1981),409412.

(3)RadiomessageduringtheCeremonyofVeneration,ThanksgivingandEntrustmenttotheVirginMaryTheotokosintheBasilicaofSaintMaryMajor:InsegnamentidiGiovanniPaoloII,IV,1(VaticanCity,1981),1246.

(4)OntheJubileeDayforFamilies,thePopeentrustedindividualsandnationstoOurLady:InsegnamentidiGiovanniPaoloII,VII,1(VaticanCity,1984),775777.

(5)



(6)IntheFourthMemoirof8December1941SisterLuciawrites:Ishallbeginthenmynewtask,andthusfulfilthecommandsreceivedfromYourExcellencyaswellasthedesiresofDrGalamba.WiththeexceptionofthatpartoftheSecretwhichIamnotpermittedtorevealatpresent,Ishallsayeverything.Ishallnotknowinglyomitanything,thoughIsupposeImayforgetjustafewsmalldetailsofminorimportance.



(7)IntheFourthMemoirSisterLuciaadds:InPortugal,thedogmaofthefaithwillalwaysbepreserved,etc.....

(8)Inthetranslation,theoriginaltexthasbeenrespected,evenasregardstheimprecisepunctuation,whichneverthelessdoesnotimpedeanunderstandingofwhatthevisionarywishedtosay.

Documents

The Message of Fatima.pdf