“Fatima for Today: The Urgent Marian Message of Hope” by Father Andrew Apostoli
Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 2010, 288 pages. Grades 10 and up.
In 1917, the world was embroiled in the cataclysm of World War I. In the preceding two centuries, humanity had embraced the period called the Enlightenment. This epoch held that man was inherently good, unaffected by original sin, and would always make wise decisions. As a result, God wasn’t central to the Enlightenment. The sinful pride that resulted from this thinking caused the eruption of World War I. After three years of colossal slaughter, no end was in sight. So much for the idea of not needing God to help us make decisions!
At this crucial time, Our Lord sent His Blessed Mother to a small town in Portugal. Her mission was to help us return to Her Divine Son. The name of this small Portuguese town was Fatima, and these apparitions would become world-famous.
The Blessed Virgin appeared to three young children, Lucia Santos, age 10; Francisco Marto, age 9; and his sister Jacinta, age 7. The children were first cousins. They were so unlearned that they didn’t even know that there were months in the year. They only knew time by the fact that they took the sheep to the pastures when the grass began growing. But all three children had a deep faith in Christ.
On May 13th, 1917, the Blessed Virgin appeared to them in a pasture named the Cova da Iria (Cove of Peace). Lucia and Jacinta could hear the Virgin speak, whereas Francisco could only see the Mother of God. She told the children that she would appear on the 13th of each month until October. During the final apparition, a miracle would occur. Interest in the apparitions immediately grew, as well as opposition. Lucia’s mother in particular thought her child was lying. This brought immense suffering to the girl. The Martos were more believing.
As the 13th of the next months passed, the crowds grew massively. On October 13, 1917 the astounding “Miracle of the Sun” occurred over Fatima, in which the sun literally danced around in the sky as the 70,000 or so pilgrims at the Cova would later attest.
The Blessed Virgin told the children that she was the Lady of the Rosary. The Virgin had also made a number of prophesies throughout the apparitions. During the July visitation, the children were shown a vision of hell. Our Lady implored the children to pray for lost souls to save them from being condemned.
Next, the Blessed Mother told the children that “the war would soon end, but a worse one would follow if mankind did not repent its sins.” The second war was to be preceded by a sign in the skies. She then told the children if Russia were not consecrated to Her Immaculate Heart, it would spread its errors across the world. Finally, the children were told the Third Secret, which was revealed by St. John Paul II on May 13, 2000 at the Mass of Beautification of Francisco and Jacinta Marto.
While some people want to place Fatima and its prophecies into the realm of the past, Father Apostoli shows the importance of Fatima for contemporary society. Our age is in far worse moral shape than any other period in history. The Blessed Virgin continues to call to us through the spiritual practices she stressed at Fatima: First, turn to God, go to confession and ask for forgiveness. Second, receive Holy Communion. Third, say the Rosary and finally, perform the Five First Saturday Devotions. The Five First Saturday Devotions entail: 1) going to confession on the First Saturday of the month for five consecutive months, or within a week before or after, 2) receiving Holy Communion, 3) reciting five decades of the Rosary, 4) meditating on mysteries of the Rosary with Our Lady for 15 minutes. Our Blessed Mother states that the Five First Saturday Devotions will make reparations for sins and that she will assist those practicing the devotion at the hour of their death.
I encourage you to read this important book. Fatima is not just some pleasant memory from the past. The events were real and Our Lady continues to call to us today. May we pay attention!
