Our Lady of Fatima, By Rev. Bernard O'Connor. Part 3.

JACINTA MARTO OF FATIMA (March 11, 1910–February 20, 1920)

THEIR GRAVE

The bodies of these two children, brother and sister, who saw Our Lady at Fatima were buried side by side in the special tomb prepared for them by the Bishop of Leiria in the little cemetery of Fatima.*
Their epitaph reads:
“Here rest the mortal remains of Francisco and Jacinta,
“To whom Our Lady appeared.”
Their immortal souls must surely be sharing the eternal bliss of the saints, with Mary their Mother, in the beatific vision.

LUCIA

Lucia, the eldest of the three children who received Our Lady’s favours at Fatima, had most to suffer. She was subjected to constant questioning wherever she went. At home, her mother had little sympathy for her. In the village, in church, at school, to which she went to learn to read as Our Lady had asked her, people stared and pointed at her, and whispered about her. Her one consolation was the company of Jacinta and Francisco, but, as we have seen, this was soon taken from her. Then, for her own sake, it was decided that she must leave Fatima. On June 16, 1921, the year after Jacinta’s death, she made her final visit to all that was dear to her-the church, the field of Cova, her homestead and its sheep. After a few hours sleep that night, she rose before dawn and quietly left Fatima. She was accompanied by her mother and a friend. At Leiria she said good-bye to them. It was the end of her childhood.
She went to a school for girls, the Asilo de Vilar, at Porto, which was conducted by the Sisters of St. Dorothy. There she was not to tell anyone who she was, or whence she had come. She was forbidden to speak of the visions at Fatima. She was given a new name, Maria des Dores (Mary of Dolours). Her school days were hard and full of trials, but she gradually came to understand her vocation.
In October, 1926, she left her native land and entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Dorothy, at Tuy, Spain. She was clothed with the habit of that institute, and on October 3, 1934, made her final profession. Her name in religion linked her old and new life. It was Mary Lucia of Dolours. She has returned to Fatima once since her leaving home in 1921. It was a week after the solemn ceremonies marking the pilgrimage of thanksgiving, May 20, 1946. Once more she visited her old home and that of her cousins. Once more she retraced her journeyings over the Serra and verified the places of Our Lady’s visits. Her final visit was to the grave of Jacinta and Francisco. She then returned to her convent.
Soon after, her long standing desire was granted. She entered the Carmelite Convent at Coimbra, Portugal, some sixty-two miles from Fatima. Her new name as a Carmelite is Sister Lucia of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
So Lucia, who not only saw Our Lady at Fatima, but spoke to her, lives the hidden and humble life of an enclosed contemplative, and has disappeared from the sight and notice of the world.

* In April, 1951, their remains were removed to the church built above the Cova.

PART III

THE SHRINE OF FATIMA

While the simple faithful, impressed by the miracle of October 13, 1917, accepted the reality of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima and began to make pious pilgrimages to the field of Cova da Iria, the enemies of religion were moved to fury by them. Within a fortnight they held a burlesque procession of Our Lady at Santarem, the capital of the district. The local authorities, far from preventing them, gave them every encouragement. The secular press carried on a campaign of ridicule against the reborn devotion of the people to Our Lady of the Rosary. Many good people, while revolted by the ridicule and scoffing of the unbelievers, were hesitant about the whole affair. Many, nevertheless, came to the Cova on pilgrimage. Pious hands soon erected a rough chapel over the place of the apparitions. As the months went by, the numbers of pilgrims to Fatima multiplied, in spite of many obstacles placed in their way by the government officials. The opposition reached its climax on March 6, 1922, when this chapel was blown up with dynamite. A curious fact recorded by a recent authority is that the bomb which was meant to destroy the remains of the tree of the apparitions was the only one which failed to explode.

THE REAL BEGINNING

Far from ending the devotion of the devout Catholics to Our Lady of Fatima, this outrage only fanned it to greater fervour. The next week the parish priest of Fatima led a pilgrimage of reparation from his church to the field and offered Mass there in the open, near the ruins of the chapel. On May 13 following, there came what was really a spontaneous national pilgrimage of 50,000 people from every part of Portugal. October 13, the same year, saw another gathering of many thousands. Similarly, on May 13, and October 13, 1923, there were great pilgrimages to Fatima. The civil authorities did all they could to prevent these gatherings, but in vain.

THE ATTITUDE OF THE CHURCH

As we have already seen, the parish priest of Fatima was slow to move in the matter of the reports of the strange happenings at the field of Cova da Iria. He went to the field for the first time on the occasion of the last apparition and miracle of October 13, 1917. He immediately brought the whole matter officially to the notice of the Church authorities at Lisbon. Then he was instructed by his superiors to make a careful investigation into the facts and collect all evidence available. He was given the assistance of a neighbouring pastor in this work. While the latter completed his report in two weeks, it was not until eighteen months later, in April, 1919, that the local parish priest, prudently waiting for the first excitement to subside, submitted his report.
Only after the bomb outrage of March, 1922, did the Bishop of the diocese of Leiria, in which the parish of Fatima was included when this diocese was reconstructed in January, 1918, take any official action. In May, 1922, he set up a Commission to make a thorough enquiry and to sift all the evidence both for and against the supernatural character of the events of Fatima in 1917. After eight years this Commission completed its report, and finally submitted it to the Bishop on April 14, 1930. It was not until he had given it further consideration for six months that finally he gave official canonical recognition to the devotion of Our Lady of the Rosary at Fatima. In a magnificent Pastoral Letter upon the visions at Fatima he gave his formal verdict in these words:
“In consideration of the facts which we have set forth and having heard the reverend consultors of our diocese, humbly invoking the Holy Spirit of God and relying upon the protection of most holy Mary: We deem well:
To declare worthy of credence the visions of the children at Cova da Iria, in the parish of Fatima of this diocese, on the thirteenth day of the months from May to October, 1917; to give official permission for the cult of Our Lady of Fatima.”

GROWTH OF POPULAR DEVOTION

Long before this official recognition of the reality of the visions at Fatima, the Catholic people of Portugal began the series of pilgrimages to Fatima, which are now a feature of their national life. Special reference should be made to the great occasion of May 13, 1938. The Bishops of the country had made their annual retreat together at Fatima. On this day they rededicated their several dioceses to Mary Queen of Heaven and Mediatrix of all graces, and formally thanked her for her special protection of their country in the two preceding years, in which war had reached its very borders, but had not touched it. Nearly half a million people were present on this great occasion. Fifty altars were erected for the celebration of Mass by the hundreds of priests present; over 65,000 people received Holy Communion. During the years which have since passed there has been a steadily increasing pilgrimage to Fatima, and popular interest and devotion has been aroused throughout the whole world by the publication of many accounts of favours granted by Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima.

THE MIRACULOUS SPRING

A cause of anxiety to the authorities when they discovered the increasing numbers of pilgrims to the Cova was the lack of water. No spring was known to exist within a radius of several miles. However, in 1926 a beginning was made to dig a dam in the centre of the depression to store rain water. Those digging soon came upon rock, and when they began to blast it away water gushed up. It has never failed since. It is now collected in a vast concrete cistern underground and serves the needs of multitudes of pilgrims, and is said to have been a source of healing to the sick.
In 1942 the silver jubilee of the apparitions of Our Lady to the children at Fatima was marked by a series of widespread and fervent religious celebrations. These opened in March, and were closed on October 31, with the historic broadcast by his Holiness Pope Pius XII, in which he bade the people of Portugal to place all their confidence in Mary and reminded them of their great debt of gratitude to her.

THE LESSON OF FATIMA

“I AM THE LADY OF THE ROSARY, I HAVE COME TO WARN THE FAITHFUL TO AMEND THEIR LIVES AND ASK PARDON FOR THEIR SINS. THEY MUST NOT CONTINUE TO OFFEND OUR LORD -ALREADY SO DEEPLY OFFENDED. THEY MUST SAY THE ROSARY.”

These words of Our Lady addressed to the children of Fatima should ring throughout the whole world. We should endeavour to lead lives of more generous service of God. We must detach our hearts from this world of passing things by penance, self-denial, and raise them to God in prayer.
Since “all the benefits which the Redeemer merited for us are distributed by Mary His Mother, on whose recommendation Her Son, with full accord, pours forth His gifts,” it is fitting that we should approach the throne of grace through Mary. In the recitation of the Rosary we meditate with Mary upon the mysteries of our redemption. This is the reason why the Rosary, well said, has been a source of grace to countless souls of every grade in the Church for centuries. This too, is the reason why Our Lady herself insisted upon its recitation.
Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco took this lesson to heart. May this brief account of Fatima and its message be the means by which others not only may learn of the wonderful events which took place there, but also be led by Our
Lady, as the three children were, to a more perfect service of her Divine Son.


THE APPARITIONS OF THE ANGEL

It was not until 25 years after the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima that ecclesiastical authority permitted publication of the fact that the three children to whom Our Lady appeared had been previously favoured with visions of an angel. Lucia, at the time, was eight, and had never learned to read and has but the vaguest idea of time and dates. It was in the summer of 1916, when the three children had the first of the supernatural favours which were to prepare them for some more wonderful things in the following year.
They were pasturing their sheep in a field belonging to the Santos family, not far from the home of Francisco and Jacinta. The time, about midday, when having finished their lunch and their abbreviated midday Rosary, they saw the figure, as it were, of a youth, about fourteen or fifteen, that was dazzling bright like clear crystal in the sunlight.
His greeting reassured them: “Do not be afraid, I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me.” He knelt, and then bowing his forehead to the ground said:
“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love Thee! I beg pardon for those who do not believe, nor adore, nor hope, nor love Thee.” Moved by grace the children imitated him, and his words burnt themselves into their memories. When away, unobserved, minding their sheep on the lonely hillsides they often repeated this form of prayer.

A SECOND VISIT

Some months later the same heavenly visitor came a second time. The children were in Lucy’s garden, near the well. This time he told them that “the holy hearts of Jesus and Mary have plans of mercy in regard to you.” He instructed them to “continually offer up prayers and sacrifices.”

A MYSTERIOUS COMMUNION

On the third great occasion, in late September or early October, 1916, this heavenly visitant appeared once more to the children at the foot of the Cabeco hill, the scene of his first coming. They had been repeating the prayer he taught them when once more he stood before them with a chalice in his hands and above it appeared a Host from which drops of blood were flowing. While the chalice remained mysteriously suspended in the air the Angel knelt beside the children and repeated three times with them a prayer of adoration, offering and reparation:
“O Most holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I adore You with my whole heart and I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for all the outrages by which He is offended. By the infinite merit of His Most Sacred Heart, through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I pray for the conversion of poor sinners.”
He then gave the Host to Lucia, and the contents of the chalice to Francisco and Jacinta with the words: “Receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, which is horribly outraged by ungrateful men! Repair their sins and console your God.”

DECLARATION

In accordance with the decree of Urban VIII, we declare that in speaking of the events, prodigies and miracles of Fatima, we wish to speak of them in the sense in which Ecclesiastical Authority approved them on October 13, 1930, without desiring in any way to anticipate the decision of the Holy See.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author acknowledges invaluable assistance from the organizers of the International Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Fatima in the preparation of this seventh edition. June, 1951.

Nihil obstat
P. JONES,
Censor Deputatus.
Imprimatur
 D. MANNIX,
Archiepiscopus Melbournensis.
********

Our Lady of Fatima, By Rev. Bernard O'Connor. Part 2.

WIDESPREAD QUESTIONING; GROWING OPPOSITION

Before the next month had passed the news of these events had spread far and wide throughout Portugal. The secular press was particularly hostile and bitter in its attacks upon the apparitions at Fatima. They were denounced as frauds perpetrated by the priests to establish a Portuguese Lourdes-a miracle and money factory.
Others were content to dismiss them as nothing more than delusions in the minds of the children. The Catholic Press did not defend them. It treated the whole controversy with marked reserve. The Government disapproved strongly of the whole business, and viewed it with alarm. At the time, Portugal was controlled by the violently irreligious, liberal, anti-clerical party which had brought about the revolution of 1910, which had dethroned the king, and had striven to deny God His right to the loyalty and service of the Portuguese people.
The civil administrator of the district of Fatima lived at Ourem, and was animated with a particularly bitter hatred of religion. After the gathering at Cova on July 13, he summoned the children and their parents to appear before him. While the father of the two younger ones, Francisco and Jacinta, went himself, he refused to take his children with him, as he claimed that they were too young. But Lucia appeared with her father. The administrator tried to get her to reveal the secret, and to promise not to return to the field of Cova again. She was unmoved both by his promises and the threats which followed them.

AUGUST 13, 1917 -DISAPPOINTMENT

On the morning of August 13, the administrator went to the Marto home and saw the children there. After some argument with Lucia’s father, this official finally persuaded the three children to get into his car, saying that he would drive them to Cova. But he immediately drove off with them in the opposite direction, towards his own residence at Ourem. When Lucia protested, he told her that he was taking them to the parish priest at Ourem, and that, with his car, he would still have time to bring them to Cova. However, on arrival at Ourem, he locked them in a room and detained them there for three days, declaring that he would not free them until they revealed the secret. Promises were followed by terrifying threats. Jacinta, the youngest was especially lonely and terrified. She was yearning for her mother. “Don’t cry,” her brother said, trying to pacify her: “Let us offer all this to Jesus for sinners.” To his offering for their trials for the love of God, and for the conversion of sinners, Jacinta added: “And also for the Holy Father, and in reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
These three unlettered children remained unmoved in face of every questioning and argument. Whether taken together or separately, they always answered in the same way, and maintained the reality of what they had seen or heard, without contradiction worthy of note. Little Jacinta was sometimes puzzled and confused when pressed for details; Francisco had not noticed many of them: Lucia was always clear and definite about every detail of the Lady’s appearance and dress.
Meanwhile, some thousands of people had gathered at Cova da Iria awaiting the children and their vision. Twelve o’clock came and passed, but no children arrived. For a moment a small white cloud seemed to rest on the tree, but it quickly disappeared. The suspense was broken some time later by the arrival of a boy from the village, which was a good mile away, with the message that the children had been arrested by the administrator, and taken to Ourem. The crowd was furious. Many of its members rushed back to Fatima and made a noisy demonstration outside the presbytery. They had got the idea into their heads that their parish priest had a hand in the kidnapping of the children. They were in the mood for murder. The more stable members of the crowd shared the tranquil confidence of Lucia’s mother, who was reported to have said, when she was informed of the administrator’s action: “It’s all right. If they are liars, they deserve it. If they aren’t, Our Lady will protect them.”

THE FOURTH APPARITION

The administrator, not making any headway with the children, finally released them on August 18. The Lady appeared to them the very next day when they were pasturing their sheep. But on this occasion they were not at Cova da Iria, but in the field of Valinhos, close to the village of Fatima. She complained of the ill-treatment that they had suffered. She told them that, as a consequence, the miracle promised for October would not be on such a grand scale. In reply to Lucy’s question regarding offerings which had been left at the Cova, the Lady said that they were to make two litters by which Our Lady of the Rosary would be greatly honoured.*
Once again there was an exhortation to prayer and penance:
“Pray, pray very much, make sacrifices for sinners. Remember that many souls are lost because there is nobody to pray and to make sacrifices for them.”

THE FIFTH APPARITION

As the weeks passed, the news of the happenings at Fatima had spread further and further. The official action of the administrator had excited widespread comment. The tide of popular feeling was running strongly in favour of the supernatural character of the apparitions. When midday approached on September 13, it was calculated that the crowd gathered at Cova numbered more than twenty-five thousand. A wave of emotion swept over the crowd when Lucia, kneeling expectantly near the tree of the apparitions, told them to kneel and pray. In a few moments she cried: “She is coming!”
While the crowd did not see the vision, many of them, of different ages and education, declared that they saw a globe of light coming from the east to the west in the clear sky. The apparition again lasted about ten minutes. The Lady asked the children to continue saying the Rosary for the ending of the war. She urged them to come without fail on October 13, and promised that on that day she would appear, accompanied by St. Joseph and the Child Jesus. At the end, Lucia cried aloud: “She is going away now.” At the same moment a little child in the crowd exclaimed: “There it is again!” pointing to the luminous globe which crossed the sky slowly and disappeared.

THE SIXTH APPARITION

By the time October 13 came around, Fatima and the events there were being discussed all over Portugal. Everyone who possibly could made his way to the little village, expecting either to see the end of the business in the failure of the promised miracle to appear, or to be a witness of a special intervention of God. While many good people were nervous and anxious, the children were steadfast in their confidence, that the Lady would not disappoint them. Before dark on the evening of October 12 a great crowd had already arrived at Cova. In spite of a continuous drizzle of rain, the crowd grew through the night. As noon approached on the next day, October 13, the number present was estimated at about seventy thousand people. The children came along just before midday. About noon they began to say their Rosary, as was their custom. Suddenly Lucia cried out: “She is coming. Kneel down everybody.” Her mother, too, spoke up: “Take a good look, child. Don’t make any mistake.” But there was no mistake. While the people, for the moment, neither saw nor heard anything, the children saw their beautiful Lady more radiant and beautiful than ever. Francisco said her face was brighter than the sun. Lucia, for her part, recalling the Lady’s promise that she would tell them who she was on this occasion, asked once more: “Who are you, and what do you want?”

THE MESSAGE OF FATIMA

“I AM THE LADY OF THE ROSARY, AND I HAVE COME TO WARN THE FAITHFUL TO AMEND THEIR LIVES AND ASK PARDON FOR THEIR SINS. THEY MUST NOT CONTINUE TO OFFEND OUR LORD- ALREADY SO DEEPLY OFFENDED. THEY MUST SAY THE ROSARY.”

She added that she wished a chapel to be built in the Cova to the honour of the Lady of the Rosary, and that, if people but amend their lives, the war would end soon. Then Our Lady fulfilled her promise to the children that she would bring with her St. Joseph and the Divine Child. First they saw St. Joseph and Our Lord as a child in his arms standing beside Our Lady. Then Our Lord appeared to them a grown man blessing the people, and Our Lady appeared at His side garbed as the Mother of Sorrows. Finally, Lucia saw Our Lady in a strange brown dress-the habit of Our
* This request has been faithfully carried out. At pilgrimages on the 13th of each month the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima is carried through the crowds with great honour. A second statue is being borne around the world and being received with great devotion in the international Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Fatima. It visited Australia 1951.
Lady of Mount Carmel.* Then, as Our Lady was about to go away, she made a movement with her hand towards the sky.
Lucia, following the gesture, cried out: “Look at the sun!”

PART II

THE MIRACLE OF FATIMA

Suddenly the drizzle of rain ceased, and the sun shone out overhead. All eyes looked up, and could gaze on the sun without being dazzled. The sun had the appearance of a plaque of dull silver. The next instant it began to revolve, and throw out great shafts of coloured light-red, yellow, blue and green-which were reflected from the rain clouds, the hills, the rocks, the earth, and on the faces of the crowd. It seemed as if the sun was a giant catherine-wheel, and had been torn from its place in the heavens, and was sweeping down upon the earth. Suddenly this spectacle ceased. But the movement of the sun began a second time. Again the strange lights were given out; again the vast crowd was deeply moved with astonishment and fear. Again the movement of the sun ceased. But after a few moments it was repeated a third and last time. As this heavenly manifestation persisted, great numbers present had been moved to fear some imminent judgment, and had fallen on their knees to pray, making the act of contrition aloud. Just as suddenly as it had begun, this spectacle of the sun “dancing” passed. It had lasted altogether about twelve minutes, and was witnessed by every one of the tens of thousands present, as well as by others more than twenty-five miles away. Accounts of it appeared in the press all over Portugal.

THE CHILDREN OF FATIMA

Following upon the extraordinary events in Cova da Iria the three children to whom Our Lady had appeared, Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia, were subjected to much embarrassment from the curiosity and, at times, hostility, of those about them. Naturally, they sought strength and consolation in each other’s company, when they often recalled together the great moments of their heavenly favours. They themselves took Our Lady’s messages very much to heart. While still remaining children and enjoying childish games and pastimes, they had many serious conferences together. Thus they determined to comply with Our Lady’s request for sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. They became most devout in reciting the Rosary themselves and had the custom of the family Rosary established in their own homes. They often gave up all or part of their lunches, feeding poor children with them. They undertook practices of penance. But they did not remain together for long. Francisco and Jacinta Marto were victims of the terrible epidemic of influenza which swept over Europe after the war of 1914–1918.

FRANCISCO

Francisco fell ill in December, 1918. After two weeks in bed he appeared sufficiently recovered to get up, and after a time paid one more visit to the field of Cova. It was his last, for he had a relapse. When the parish priest was called, he found the boy very ill. He hastened to finish his instructions for First Communion. The child was overjoyed when his pastor brought Our Lord to him on April 3, 1919. It was his first and last Communion, for he died the next day. He had not reached his eleventh birthday.

JACINTA

When Francisco was dying Jacinta lay ill in the next room. Hearing that her brother could not live much longer, Jacinta sent him this message: “Give my loving thoughts to Our Lord and to Our Lady; tell them that I am ready to suffer all that they wish, in order to convert sinners and to make reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” Both she and Lucia were deeply moved at Francisco’s death. Her own illness ran a longer and more painful course. She had to be removed from her home to the hospital at Ourem, but after two months she was brought back, no better. While ill
* It is now generally understood that in this triple vision Our Lady would impress more deeply on our minds the title of Our Lady of the Rosary by recalling in the three successive scenes the three sets of mysteries of the Redemption, Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, upon which we are to meditate when we say the Rosary. at home she sent for Lucia and confided to her that Our Lady had come to her again and had told her that she would join Francisco in heaven soon, but that she would have to go to hospital again and suffer much. She was to offer her sufferings for the conversion of sinners, in reparation for sins against the Immaculate Heart of Mary and for the love of Jesus.
It happened that a Lisbon specialist who came to Fatima soon afterwards saw the sick child, and suggested that she be brought to the capital for an operation. This was done, but it left her in great pain. She told a poor woman of the city who visited her that Our Lady had come to her once more and told her the day and the hour of her death. Four days later she asked for the last Sacraments. The parish priest heard her confession, but, in spite of her insistence, did not give her Holy Viaticum, as he did not consider that she was in danger of death that night. But within three hours she was dead. It was February 20, 1920. Jacinta was ten years old.

Our Lady of Fatima, By Rev. Bernard O'Connor. Part 1.

APPARITIONS AT FATIMA

In centuries past the barren uplands around the little village of Fatima, which is one hundred miles by road north of Lisbon, had seen several of the great battles in which Portugal had won its freedom from the tyranny of the Moors and the overlordship of the Spanish. Those conflicts had long passed and had been forgotten, while scarcely an echo of the Great War then devastating half Europe had reached the ears of the simple peasant folk eking out a precarious livelihood from the poor soil of these hills, in the year 1917.

THE THREE CHILDREN

On May 13, 1917, three peasant children of that countryside were driving their little flock of sheep to pasture. They passed the few houses of the village, and, after some questioning among themselves, they chose to go along the northern road to the field which was owned by the father of one of them, Lucia dos Santos. Lucia was the eldest of the party. She was ten years of age, and with her were her two cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto. Jacinta, the youngest, was seven. Like Lucia, she was barefooted and dressed in poor clothing of the peasantry, with long skirts, and a shawl thrown over her head. Francisco, the man of the party, was a sturdy lad of nine, with long trousers, short jacket, and a woollen cap. He carried his horn slung over his shoulder, and his staff in his hand.

AT COVA DA IRIA

The pasture the children chose for that day was a shallow depression, on which there was little grass among the many outcrops of stone, and nothing to relieve the eye except a few scattered groups of olives and ever-green oaks. The children walked slowly behind their browsing sheep. Their field was called Cova da Iria. About mid-day they sat down and ate their own poor lunch. Then, according to the custom of the district, they set about the recitation of their daily Rosary. Like many other children, they found the Rosary a long prayer, but they had struck upon an easy method of shortening it. They simply said “Our Father” and no more on the large beads, and “Hail Mary” for the smaller ones. They were soon free to play, and, at Francisco’s suggestion, they were busy on the far side of the field building a house with some of the loose stones lying around.

THE FIRST APPARITION

Suddenly there was a vivid flash of lightning. It came from the clear blue sky. At once the children stopped their play, for sudden thunder storms sometimes swept this district killing the sheep on the exposed fields. They ran to gather their sheep and drive them home quickly. But they were stopped by yet another vivid lightning flash. Terrified, they looked about them. To their amazement they saw to their right a lady of the greatest beauty standing, it seemed, upon one of the low oak trees. She appeared to be a girl of fifteen or sixteen, and was clothed in a long white garment with a white mantle over her hair, and this mantle was edged with a brighter light. She had a golden cord ending in a ball about her neck. Her beautiful face was serious and rather sad. Her hands were joined before her breast, and a rosary of white brilliant beads hung from her right hand. Her feet were partly hidden by the bright cloud which rested upon the tree.
Naturally, the children were astonished and afraid. But the Lady spoke to them kindly: “Have no fear. I will do you no harm.” Reassured by her gentleness and the sweetness of her voice, the children came a little closer. Then Lucia, the eldest, spoke: “Who are you?” she asked. “Where did you come from? What do you want?”
The Lady replied: “I come from heaven! I want you children to come here at this hour, on the 13th of each month, until October. Then I will tell you who I am.”
“You come from heaven! Shall I go there?” asked Lucia.
“Yes,” was the Lady’s reply, “but you must say the Rosary, and say it properly.”
“And Jacinta?”
“She will go, too.”
“And Francisco?”
“Yes, but he must say many Rosaries.”
Lucia made an enquiry about some little friends who had died: the Lady answered her.
Now, the Lady, in her turn, asked: “Are you willing to offer yourselves to God, and to bear all the sufferings He wishes to send you in reparation for the sins whereby He is offended, and as intercession for the conversion of sinners, and to make amends for all the blasphemies and offences committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary?”
Lucia, answering in the name of all three, expressed their willingness. The Lady added: “You will have much to suffer then, but the grace of God will help you and give you the strength you need.”
Some moments later the Lady recommended them to recite the Rosary devoutly every day, to obtain peace for the world. Then she moved slowly towards the east and heavenwards, and disappeared in the blue vault of the sky. Lucia afterwards explained that all this had happened in the space of about ten minutes.

THE SEQUEL

When the Lady had disappeared the children were left looking at one another in astonishment. They could scarcely believe that it had not been all a dream. But all three had seen her. Francisco had not heard what she had said, but both the girls had caught every word. And Lucia had spoken to her! They got their sheep together and began to move back along the road for home. On the way they decided among themselves not to tell anyone of this strange experience. But the excitement of it all was too much for little Jacinta. That very evening as soon as she met her mother she sought to share the joyful news with her. Her mother questioned her and got the whole story from her. The next day she told Lucia’s parents. Soon it was the common gossip of the village.

OPPOSITION

The news was not received kindly by anyone. Everyone was incredulous except the children. Their parents particularly were determined that there should be no further nonsense of that sort. The three children were forbidden to tell such stories or to return to the field of Cova da Iria. However, Lucia was insistent that she must go back to the Lady at Cova on June 13, as she had promised. In desperation, her mother brought her to the parish priest and charged her: “Confess your lie so that the parish priest may tell the people on Sunday, and put an end to the whole affair.” Lucia still persisted: “But, mother mine, how can I say that I did not see what I saw?” The other children were brought along, too. Their pastor was kind to them, but deferred any decision till further evidence was available. While it might be some heavenly visitation, it was possible that it might be a deceit of the devil. Only time would tell. The many arguments and discussions which arose upset Lucia very much, and in the end, on June 12, she told the other children that she would not go with them to the field on the following day. They declared bravely that they were going, since they had promised the Lady. The following morning, June 13, Lucia went across to her cousins’ house and found them praying and crying. “Are you not going to Cova?” she asked them.
“We are afraid to go without you,” was their reply.
“Come, then, I am going!”

THE SECOND APPARITION

On this occasion, June 13, 1917, even though it was marked by special festivities in the village, as it was the feast of its patron, St. Anthony, the children were not alone in the field of Cova. Lucia’s father had gone ahead of the children, anxious no doubt, about the strange trespasser on his land. He was accompanied by sixty or seventy others, who had come along out of curiosity. Again it was midday, and the children, dressed in their best for the village feast, knelt in the shade of a large oak, and recited the Rosary devoutly with the people. After the Rosary the crowd noticed Lucia arrange her shawl over her head, “as if going into church,” and turn towards the east. With a gesture of surprise she cried out: “Look, that was a flash of lightning. The Lady is coming.” She rose and ran down to the smaller tree where the Lady had appeared the first time. “Madame,” said Lucia, “you have made me come here, what do you want of me?”
Again the Lady urged the daily recitation of the Rosary, and added: “I want you to learn to read, in order that I may be able to tell you what I want.” Continuing, she confided to Lucia the first secret message, which the child guarded faithfully. In reply to her request to take them all with her to heaven, the Lady said she would take Jacinta and Francis soon, but Lucia would have to remain longer on earth. “Jesus wishes to use you in making me known and loved. He wishes to spread in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart.”
“Then I shall have to remain alone,” the child asked sadly.
“No, my child . . . I shall never abandon you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way which shall bring you to God.”
As the Lady spoke these last words she seemed to be surrounded by a still brighter light than before. In this light, as the Lady opened her hands in a parting gesture, the children saw a vision of a heart, surrounded with thorns. * That was the end of the second vision. The sixty witnesses had not seen the Lady.
Those nearest the tree had heard Lucia’s conversation distinctly, and the Lady’s words, not clearly, but faintly, like the buzzing of a bee. They all had remarked that the bright mid-summer sun had been dimmed in some mysterious fashion for the ten minutes of Lucia’s vision. When they went up to the tree afterwards, out of curiosity, they noticed another strange thing. The upper branches were all bent over towards the east, as if the Lady’s garment had trailed over them as she went away.

THE THIRD APPARITION

Naturally, news of these strange doings in the field of Cova spread rapidly over the countryside. When the children came back on July 13, some five thousand country folk had gathered to witness what they could. Again the apparition came, and the Lady urged again the recitation of the Rosary for the ending of the war. On this occasion, after giving the children a glimpse of the horror of hell, Our Lady confided to Lucia a secret that she was not to reveal to anyone until such time as Our Lady herself would see fit. With her heavenly mother’s permission, Lucia gave this special message to the world when the clouds of the second world conflict were gathering, just twenty-one years later. It was contained in a letter she addressed to the Bishop of Leiria. In the course of this message Our Lady forewarned Lucia that “the world, because of its many crimes, will soon be chastised by war, famine and persecution against the Church and the Holy Father. . . . To prevent it I ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and for the Communion of Reparation on the first Saturday of each month. If my requests are heeded Russia will be converted and there shall be peace. Otherwise an impious propaganda will spread its errors through the world raising up wars and persecutions against the Church. Many will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer; several nations shall be wiped out. . . . The horizon is gloomy but here is a ray of hope-my Immaculate Heart shall triumph in the end.”**
At the conclusion of this vision the lady added: “When reciting the Rosary say after each decade: ‘Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those who most need Thy mercy.’ “
On this day Lucia, for the second time, asked the Lady who she was, stating many did not believe. The Lady’s reply was that the children were to come each month as promised, and that in October she would tell them her name, and work a great miracle which would convince all. Again most of the crowd present neither heard nor saw anything, but some of those near the children said that they had heard what Lucia had said. On this occasion, and others, many people declared that they saw a light cloud, like the smoke of incense, surrounding the tree and the children.

* Later the children understood that this was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, wounded by the sins of the world.

**The reader will find on page 23 of this pamphlet, that Pope Pius XII himself fulfilled the request for the consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in October, 1942.
Formal approval of the practice of a series of five Communions of Reparation on the first Saturday of consecutive months, together with the devout recitation of the Rosary and meditation for fifteen minutes on its mysteries was given by the Bishop of Leiria on September 13, 1939, this practice was recommended by the Hierarchy of Australia at their annual meeting, 1948.

Fatima And Five Saturdays. Heed A Mother's Request. Reap The Reward Of A Mother's Promise.Part 2.

BY REV. F. P. O’SHEA, C.SS.R

SECOND MEDITATION. THE VISITATION

“And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda. And she entered into the house of Zachary and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the Infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. And she cried out with a loud voice and said: “Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed art thou that hast believed because the things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.”

“And Mary said: “My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because he hath regarded the humility of His handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is His Name.”

Fruitful Reflections: Humility, Charity, Devotion to Mary.

THIRD MEDITATION. THE NATIVITY

“It came to pass that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. And all went to be enrolled, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child, And it came to pass that when they were there, her days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son and wrapped Him up in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn.

“And there were in the same country shepherds watching and keeping the night -watches over their flock. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them and the brightness of God shone around about them: and they feared with great fear.

“And the angel said to them: “Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people: For this day is born to you a Saviour, Who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David, And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.”

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of goodwill.””

“And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one to another: “Let us go over to Bethlehem and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath showed to us.” And they came with haste: and they found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in the manger.””

Fruitful Reflections: Faith, Love of God, Obedience, Horror of sin.

FOURTH MEDITATION. THE PRESENTATION  

“After the days of the Purification, according to the law of Moses were accomplished they carried Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord. And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon: and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Ghost was in him. And he received an answer from the holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when His parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he also took Him into His arms end blessed God and said: “Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace: Because my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: a light to the revelation of the gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.” And His father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning Him.”

Fruitful Reflections: Obedience to authority, The Will of God, Happiness in suffering.

FIFTH MEDITATION. THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

“And His parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch. And when He was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast and having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And His parents knew it not. And thinking He was in the company they came a day’s journey and sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. And not finding Him they returned to Jerusalem seeking Him.

“And it came to pass that after three days, they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His wisdom and His answers.

“And seeing Him they wondered. And His Mother said to Him: “Son why hast Thou done so to us? Behold thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing?” And He said to them: “How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

“And they understood not the word that He spoke unto them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them. And His Mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace with God and man.”

Fruitful Reflections. Obedience to parents and those in authority, Zeal for the salvation of souls, Following one’s vocation, Love of parents, Love of one’s children,

THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

FIRST MEDITATION. THE AGONY OF OUR LORD IN THE GARDEN

“It was night. Then Jesus came with them into a country -place which is called Gethsemani. And He said to His disciples: “Sit you here, till I go yonder and pray.” And He taketh Peter and James and John with Him; and He began to fear and to be heavy. Then He said to them: “My soul is sorrowful even unto death. Stay you here and watch with Me.” And going a little further, He fell upon His face saying: “My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me. Nevertheless, not as I will but as Thou wilt.” And He cometh to His disciples and findeth them asleep. And He said to Peter: “What? Could you not watch one hour with Me? Watch ye: and pray that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh weak.”

“Again He went and prayed saying: “My Father, if this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it, thy will be done.” And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground.”

Fruitful Reflection. Necessity of prayer in temptation. The malice of sin. Doing the will of God.

SECOND MEDITATION. THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR

“And Pilate calling together the chief priests, and the magistrates and the people, said to them: “You have presented unto me this Man, as one that perverteth the people, and behold I having examined Him before you find no cause in this Man in those things wherein you accuse Him. No, neither Herod. For I sent you to him, and behold nothing worthy of death has been done by Him. I will chastise Him therefore and release Him.”

“The Holy Shroud of Turin shows that the whole Body of Our Divine Saviour, front and back, was scourged with a whip made of flexible thongs to which were attached metal balls. The Face, Hands and Feet were the only parts spared.

“We read that strong men sometimes died under a Roman scourging and we can easily understand why Pilate should have hoped to move the rabble to pity when he led Christ out on to the balcony after the scourging and cried out, “Behold the Man!” “

Fruitful Reflections-. Love of the Suffering Christ, Hatred for sin, Reparation for sin, Penance.

THIRD MEDITATION. THE CROWNING WITH THORNS

“And the soldiers of the governor taking Jesus, led Him away into the court of the palace and they call together unto Him the whole band. And stripping Him, they put a scarlet cloak about Him. And plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His Head, and a reed in His right hand. And they came to Him, and bowing the knee before Him, they mocked Him. And they began to salute Him saying: “Hail, King of the Jews.” And they struck Him with their hands. And, spitting upon Him, they took the reed, and they smote Him with the reed on the Head.”

Fruitful Reflections: Avoid evil desires, Think kindly of others, Hatred of vanity.

FOURTH MEDITATION. JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS

“And after they had mocked Him, they took off the cloak from Him and put on Him His own garments, and led Him away to crucify Him. And bearing His own cross He went forth to that place which is called Calvary. And going out they found a man of Cyrene named Simon. Him they forced to take up His cross. And they laid the cross on him to carry after Jesus.

“And there followed Him a great multitude of people and of women who bewailed and lamented Him, But Jesus turning to them said: “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over Me but weep for yourselves, and for your children. . . . for if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?”

Fruitful Reflections: Compassion for Our Divine Saviour, Penance, Bearing our own trials patiently, Helping others, The punishment for sin.

FIFTH MEDITATION. THE CRUCIFIXION

“And they bring Him to the place Golgotha. There they crucified Him, And with Him they crucified two thieves, the one on His right hand and the other on His left. and Jesus in the midst. And the Scripture was fulfilled which said: “And with the wicked He was reputed,”

“And Jesus said: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

“Now they stood by the cross of Jesus, His Mother. When Jesus therefore had seen His Mother and the disciple standing, whom He loved, He said to His Mother: “Woman, behold thy son.” After that He said to the disciple: “Behold thy Mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own.

“And it was almost the sixth hour; and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

“Afterwards Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst.”

“Now there was a vessel set there full of vinegar. And immediately one of them running, took a sponge and filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed and gave Him to drink. Jesus therefore, when He had taken the vinegar, said, “It is consummated.” And Jesus again crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit.” And bowing His Head, He gave up the Ghost.

“And behold the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top even to the bottom, and the earth quaked; and the rocks were rent.”

Fruitful Reflections: Love of God, Love of Mary, Love of neighbour, Forgiving our enemies, Thinking of death:

THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

FIRST MEDITATION. THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD

“But He rising early the first day of the week, appeared first to Mary Magdalen. But Mary stood at the sepulchre without, weeping. Now as she was weeping, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre. And she saw two angels in white, sitting one at the head and one at the feet, where the Body of Jesus had been laid. They say to her, “Woman, why weepest thou?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him,” When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing and she knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” She, thinking that it was the gardener said to Him, “Sir, if thou hast taken Him hence, tell me where thou has laid Him., and I will take Him away.” Jesus saith to her, “Mary.” She turning saith to Him, “Rabboni” ( Master) . Jesus saith to her: “Do not touch Me, for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren and say to them: “I ascend to My Father and to your Father, to My God and your God.”

Fruitful Reflections: Personal love for Jesus, Never lose Jesus by sin, The thought of our resurrection, Faith, Devotion to our guardian angel.

SECOND MEDITATION. THE ASCENSION

“He led them out as far as Bethania, and lifting up His hands He blessed them. And it came to pass, whilst He blessed them and while they looked on, He departed from them, and He was raised up, and was carried up to heaven. And a cloud received Him out of their sight. And the Lord Jesus was taken up to heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God.

“And while they were beholding Him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments, who also said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus Who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come as you have seen Him going into heaven.”“

Fruitful Reflections: Prayer, Work and pray, Zeal for the salvation of souls, Hope.

THIRD MEDITATION. THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY GHOST

“And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished they were all together in one place, and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a mighty wind coming; and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues, as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.

“And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke to them. They themselves that received his word were baptized: and there were added in that day about three thousand souls,”

Fruitful Reflections: Faith, Love of the Church, Obedience to the Holy Father, Propagation of the Faith.

FOURTH MEDITATION. THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY INTO HEAVEN

“The prophet Elias was carried to heaven in a fiery chariot, which according to interpreters was no other than a group of angels who bore him off from the earth. “But to conduct thee to Heaven, O Mother of God,” says the Abbot Rupert, “a fiery chariot was not enough; the whole court of Heaven headed by its King, thy Son, went forth to meet thee.” “On first meeting her, Jesus said, “Arise, make haste, my love, my dove, my beautiful one, and come, for winter is now past,”

“Behold Mary already enters that blessed country. But on her entrance the citizens of Heaven, seeing her so beautiful and glorious ask the angels without the gates, as Origen supposes it, with united voices of exultation: “Who is this that cometh up from the desert, flowing with delights, leaning upon her Beloved?”

“Then all the angels and saints begin to bless and praise her; singing with far more reason than the Hebrews did to Judith: “Thou art the glory of Jerusalem; thou art the joy of Israel; thou art the honour of our people.”“ (St. Alphonsus Liguori.)

Fruitful Reflections: The grace of a happy death and a glorious resurrection, Honouring Our Lady, The joys of heaven.

FIFTH MEDITATION. THE CROWNING OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF HEAVEN

“All the saints then in Paradise welcomed Holy Mary on her entrance into heaven and saluted her as their Queen. All the holy Virgins, all the holy Confessors, the Martyrs, the Apostles and Prophets, the holy Patriarchs, and Adam and Eve. Who can ever form an idea of the affection with which her dear spouse St. Joseph came to salute her? All the angels then came to salute her; and she, the great Queen, thanked all for the assistance they had given her on earth, and more especially she thanked the Archangel Gabriel, who was the happy ambassador, the bearer of all her glories, when he came to announce to her that she was the chosen Mother of God.

The humble and holy Virgin then kneeling adored the Divine Majesty, and all absorbed in the consciousness of her own nothingness, thanked God for all the graces bestowed upon her by His pure Goodness, and especially for having made her the Mother of the Eternal Word. And then let him who can, imagine with what love the Most Holy Trinity blessed her! Let him imagine the welcome given to His Daughter by the Eternal Father; to His Mother by the Son; to His Spouse by the Holy Ghost. The Father crowned her by imparting His power to her; the Son His Wisdom; the Holy Ghost, His love. And the three Divine Persons, placing her throne at the right of that of Jesus, declared her Sovereign of Heaven and earth; and commanded the angels and all creatures to acknowledge her as their Queen, and as such to serve and obey her.” (St. Alphonsus Liguori.)

Fruitful Reflections: Love of Our Blessed Mother, Imitation of her virtues, Devotion to her, The joys of heaven, Confidence in the power and mercy of Mary.

Remember to do all with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Imprimi Potest:

R. O”CONNELL, C.SS.R., Prov. Superior.

Nihil Obstat:

W. M. COLLINS, Diocesan Censor.

Imprimatur:

 D. MANNIX,

Archiepiscopus Melbournensis.

4th July, 1955

********

Fatima And Five Saturdays. Heed A Mother's Request. Reap The Reward Of A Mother's Promise.Part 1.

BY REV. F. P. O’SHEA, C.SS.R

PREFACE BY REV. W. FREAN, C.SS.R

Our Blessed Lady said to Lucy at Fatima, “I promise to help at the hour of death with the graces needed for salvation, whoever, on the First Saturday of Five Consecutive Months, shall confess and receive Holy Communion, recite Five Decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary with the intention of making reparation to me.”
Father O'Shea wants to help all those who are desirous of complying with this request of our dear Mother, Mary-and this, of course, should mean-every good Catholic.
Though his little book opens with a short account of the marvels which have caused the eyes of the world to turn with wonder and with hope to the mountain village of Fatima, its one object is to help you to make the Five Saturdays as Our Lady wants you to make them. Use it and you will find Father O”Shea’s method easy, practical and fruitful.

THIS little book is written to spread the Message of Fatima, to help you to make your First Five Saturdays well. No doubt you know well the story of Fatima. On Saturday, May 13th., 1917, a beautiful Lady appeared to three little children, Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta, in Portugal, at a place known as the Cova da Iria, about 60 miles north of Lisbon, and asked them to come to the same place on the 13th of each month until October, when She would tell them who She was. The Lady then told them to say the Rosary well.
The news of this apparition spread through Fatima but many of the villagers did not believe their story and the children suffered much because of this unbelief. Nevertheless many of the people accompanied the little shepherds on the first Saturday of June when the Lady again appeared.

On the 13th of July the Lady appeared again, and at Lucy’s request that She should work a miracle, promised a great miracle on the 13th of October. During this apparition the Lady foretold the end of the War. Then She warned them: “I come to ask the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart and the Communion of Reparation on the first Saturdays. If they heed my requests, Russia will be converted and there will be peace. If not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be wiped out.”
The secular press, dominated by a godless and revolutionary government, began a violent persecution of the children by stirring up a campaign of slander and contempt against them.
When 15,000 Catholics gathered at the Cova on August 15th they were filled with anger and disappointment to find that the children had been kidnapped by the anticlerical mayor of Ourem.

On the 13th of September, 30,000 people gathered at the Cova and the Lady again appeared to the three children. Many of the people saw a luminous globe coming from the East. A chance visitor to Fatima, the Vice-Consul of the United States, was able to photograph an extraordinary phenomenon. What appeared to be snowflakes or rose petals fell from the sky in great quantities, disappearing before they reached the earth,
On the 13th of October, despite heavy and incessant rain, an enormous crowd of over 70,000 people assembled from all parts of Portugal and from other parts of Europe. When the Lady appeared Lucy asked; “Who are you, and what do you seek?” The Lady replied: “I am the Lady of the Rosary and I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and to repent of their sins. They must cease to offend Our Lord Who is already so much offended. They are to say the Rosary!”

Then in the presence of that vast crowd Our Lady worked the great miracle that She had promised in July. It is thus described by eyewitnesses: “The sun began to tremble, shook and turned giddily on itself like a wheel of fire, casting great beams of light in all directions. The beams were in turn, green, red, blue, violet etc., and held the crowd breathless. It stopped and then began again, and yet again. Next the sun left its place in the heavens and falling from side to side, plunged zig-zagging upon the crowd below, sending out intense heat, and giving the impression of the end of the world as foretold in the Gospels. When it seemed that collision with the earth was inevitable the sun stopped its fall and climbed back to its place. To add to the amazement of the crowd their sodden clothing suddenly became dry and warm just as though it had not been saturated with the torrential rain of the preceding twenty four hours.”
The evidence of this great miracle is irrefutable. Thousands of people of all classes witnessed the event-unbelievers and sceptics were convinced, The anticlerical newspaper, “O Seculo,” changed its antagonistic and sceptical attitude overnight. The usual theory of mass-hypnotism could not explain the phenomenon since reliable witnesses many miles away, saw the event. The only answer that the enemies of the Church have is to shut their eyes to the facts and say in effect, “It could not happen, miracles cannot happen, therefore it did not happen,”

The real significance of Fatima is this. Our Lady appeared to a world that is fast becoming corrupt and Godless, a world in which Satan, using the forces of atheistic Communism, is striving to turn men from Christ to Antichrist, to drag men’s souls to hell. Mary’s purpose is to make men turn back to God and His Church, to make them lead good lives by making reparation for sin, by prayer and penance. Mary, herself, gave men the means to do this in the remarkable words recorded by Lucy. It was during one of the apparitions in which She had showed the children a terrible vision of hell.

“You have just seen hell,” said the Mother of God, “where will end the souls of poor sinners. To save them the Lord wishes to establish in the world the devotion to My Immaculate Heart. If what I tell you is done, many souls shall be saved and there will be peace.
“The war will end; but if men do not cease to offend the Lord, not much time will elapse before another and more terrible one will commence: It will occur during the next Pontificate. When a night illuminated by an unknown light is seen, know that it is the signal which God gives you that the castigation of the world for its many transgressions is at hand, through war, famine, and persecutions of the Church and the Holy Father. To prevent this I ask the consecration of the world to My Immaculate Heart, and Communion of Reparation on the First Saturday of each month.

“If My requests are heard, Russia will be converted and there will be peace.
Otherwise great errors will be spread throughout the world, giving rise to wars and persecutions of the Church: The good will suffer martyrdom, and the Holy Father will have to suffer much; different nations will be destroyed; but in the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph.

“The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me. It will be converted, and an era of peace will be conceded to humanity.”
It is 37 years since these events took place and still the message of Fatima is for the most part, unheeded. Much good has been done, but much has been left undone. Dear reader make it your business to spread devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: Make the Five First Saturdays fervently yourself: If you have already made them, make them again for those tepid Catholics who, not realizing the terrible alternative, have not the generosity to heed Our Lady’s requests.
You can be an Apostle of Our Lady by spreading the message of Fatima. Give this little book to your friends; ask them to use it and make the Five First Saturdays properly.

HOW TO MAKE THE FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS

What must we do to make the Five First Saturdays? Our Lady Herself tells us in those words recorded for us by Lucy. “My child, behold My Heart surrounded with the thorns which ungrateful men place therein at every moment, by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, try to console me and tell them that I promise to help at the hour of death with the graces needed for salvation, whoever, on the First Saturday of Five consecutive months, shall confess and receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.”
Therefore, to make the Five First Saturdays we must, on the First Saturday of five consecutive months:-.

1. Go to Confession and Communion.
2. Say five decades of the Rosary.
3. Keep Mary company for 15 minutes whilst meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.
4. Do all this with the intention of making reparation to Our Lady.

NOTE: The confession may be made within a week, before or after, the Communion. Your First Friday confession would suffice.

YOUR FIRST SATURDAY ROSARY

The Rosary of five decades may be said at any time of the day. You may say the decades one at a time. For example, you might say one decade in the morning, another at lunch time, another after supper and the remaining two before you go to bed,
“In saying the Rosary it is well for us to remember that the meditation on the mysteries is an essential part of it. For the meditations on the various mysteries (see pages 5–9) which deal with the First Saturday meditation.”

It has become customary to say after each decade, after the “Glory be to the Father etc.,” the short prayer prescribed by Our Lady at Fatima,”O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, bring all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy.”
When you have said the five decades say the “Hail Holy Queen” for the grace to persevere in a good life until death. Then “Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.” Then say, “Let us pray, O God Whose only Begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection hath purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating on the mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.”

YOUR FIRST SATURDAY MEDITATION

“Keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.” (Our Lady of Fatima)

The First Saturday Meditation of fifteen minutes may be made any time during the day. You may meditate on one mystery or on all the mysteries. To hear a sermon on the mysteries of the Rosary would suffice for your meditation.
It is permissible to combine your Rosary and meditation. To do this you could say your Rosary as usual and after each decade spend three minutes in prayerfully thinking over some mystery or mysteries of the Rosary.

THE NECESSITY OF MEDITATION

“With desolation is all the land made desolate, because there is none that considereth in the heart,” says the Holy Ghost. That is the cause of all the unhappiness in the world today. People do not give themselves time to think upon the things of eternity, upon the things of God, upon death and judgment, heaven and hell.

Meditation (or thinking about our salvation) in some form or another is necessary for everyone who wishes to save his soul. A person who does not meditate is like one who goes on a journey without light or strength. Resolve then to put aside a few minutes every day to read some good religious book and think about the great work of your salvation. Then you will learn how to know and love and serve God in this life and to see and enjoy Him forever in Heaven. What is a practical method of meditation? St. Alphonsus, the Doctor of Prayer, gives us a simple method of meditation.

1. Ask God to help you to make your meditation well, saying a short prayer to the Holy Ghost.
2. Remember that you are always in the presence of God. He is with you now as you pray, knowing your most secret thoughts and actions.
3. Make the preparatory acts:
“My God, I believe that Thou art truly present to me, I should now be in hell on account of my sins. Do not send me to hell for there I could not love Thee. Mary, my Mother help me to make this meditation well.”
4. Read about the mysteries of the Rosary upon which you are going to meditate. When you have read it once, read it again more slowly until you have absorbed its meaning, or until some point appeals to you: Then ask yourself the following questions:
(a) What have I read?
(b) What lesson is contained in this mystery? What virtues are practised by Our Divine Saviour? By Our Blessed Lady?
(c) What have I done in the past in this matter? What must I do for the future?
Then, thinking upon what you have read, make acts of Faith, Hope, Love, Contrition, Humility, and Resignation to the Will of God. When you have made these acts, renew your resolution to practise the virtue upon which you have been meditating. For example I will make many pacts of love during the day. “Mary help me to keep this resolution.” You will find that meditation will not be a burden, but a source of charm and pleasure, a means of making your life holy and very happy.

MEDITATIONS ON THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

FIRST MEDITATION. THE ANNUNCIATION

“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
“And the angel being come in, said unto her: “Fear not Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a Son and thou shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David His father: and He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever. And of His kingdom there shall be no end.”
“And Mary said to the angel: “How shall this be done, because I know not man?” And the angel answering said to her: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy Which shall be born of thee shall be called the San of God.” And Mary said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word.”

HOW TO MEDITATE ON THIS MYSTERY AND THOSE THAT FOLLOW SAY THE INTRODUCTORY PRAYERS AS ON PAGE 3

Read the passage on the Annunciation as above. When you have read it once read it again more slowly. Then ask yourself the following questions:
What have I read? I have read of God’s love for men, and for me personally. To save my soul from the terrible effects of sin He left His starry Heaven and became a child on earth-became one of us-that He might take our sins upon Himself by a life of most bitter suffering, and by a terrible death on the Cross. I must try to realize the tremendous importance of the Incarnation. God became man, because He loved me.

WHAT IS THE LESSON CONTAINED IN THIS MYSTERY?

In this mystery we see God’s great love for men, and Mary’s love for God and men. Our Blessed Lady loved God so much that she merited to become His Mother, to co-operate with Her Son in the Redemption of mankind. I must learn to love God as Mary loved Him-especially by resolving never to sin again, by avoiding the dangers of sin.

WHAT HAVE I DONE IN THE PAST?

I have so often sinned against the love of God by my venial sins. Perhaps I have even driven Him from my heart by mortal sin. I have certainly been cold in my love for Jesus Christ Why has loved me so much.

WHAT MUST I DO IN THE FUTURE?

I will grow more and more to love God each day. I will never again offend Him by sin. I will tell Him frequently during the day that I love Him: “Lord Thou knowest all things-Thou knowest that I love Thee.”

THEN MAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTS OF

Faith : My Jesus I believe that You became man out of love for me. I believe all that the Holy Church believes and teaches because You have said it and Your word is true, I believe Lord, help Thou my unbelief.

Hope: Sacred Heart of Jesus I place my trust in Thee.

Love: My Jesus because of my sins You became man, You were born in a cold stable at Bethlehem and suffered all the days of Your life. My Jesus I love Thee.

Humility: For my sake dear Jesus You became despised and the most abject of men. Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.

Resignation to the Will of God: For love of me my Jesus You were resigned to the Will of God even to death. Teach me O Lord to do Thy Will for Thou art my God. Lord, always Thy Will be done.

(Repeat these little aspirations over and over-they are very pleasing to Our Lord, being as it were, darts of love that wound the Heart of Christ with wounds of love.)

When you have made these acts renew your resolution and ask Our Blessed Lady to help you to be faithful to it. Let your resolution be small but make sure you keep it. For example, during the day I will frequently tell God that I love Him: “My God I love You.” Ask Jesus and Mary to help you to keep your resolution: “Jesus and Mary help me to keep this resolution.”
Next say the “Hail Holy Queen” for the grace to lead a good life and to be always faithful in loving and serving God.

The Five First Saturdays and Reparation to The Immaculate Heart Of Mary by L. F. Harvey. Part 4

THE FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS

Now we have one thing, and that a MOST IMPORTANT THING, left, which brings us to the climax of this little work, and to the Title of our little book!

We have spent a long time in preparing for it, BECAUSE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT!
We have been speaking of Reparation, which Our Lady has so often demanded in recent years; and we have tried to make quite clear, what She has asked for.
Our Lady has asked the World for —
REPARATION TO, AND THROUGH. HER IMMACULATE HEART.
More than this, Our Lady has requested that this Reparation shall take a special form, in union with the Sacred Heart!
You see this is just what we have been saying — YOU CANNOT SEPARATE THE SACRED HEARTS.
Our Lady asked for A COMMUNION OF REPARATION ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH.
In this way we are making reparation to Both the Sacred Hearts, and the Immaculate Heart is leading us straight to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, three to find the food and strength to nourish our souls, to give us the grace to do our duty to God and man, to lead us closer to God, and Our Lady, and to take us eventually to Heaven!
On July 13, 1917, Our Lady told the there children, in the Cova da Iria that She was coming to «ask for the consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart, and THE COMMUNION OF REPARATION ON THE FIRST SATURDAYS... If people attend to My requests, Russia will be converted and there WILL BE PEACE;...»

THERE WILL BE PEACE.
Have we yet a stable peace? Has Russia been converted to the Catholic Faith? God knows, and we know to our cost, that Russia has not been converted!
Many martyred Nations know that too! Millions of human slaves, of human wrecks know that too! Millions of little, broken homeless children and babies know that too! (God forgive us!) Many over burdened, heart-broken, semi-ruined tax-payers know that too !
And why is there all this hideous, unnecessary, suffering? Simply and solely because

WE HAVE NOT OBEYED OUR LADY!
Our Lady also asked us, in making our Communions on the first Saturdays of the month to make the FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS just in the same way as we make the Nine First Fridays. That is to say, we are to make the Five First Saturdays, without a break, doing three things.

The practice of the Five First Saturdays consist 1) in Making Our Confession and Communion. 2) In saying the Rosary devoutly. 3) In spending a Quarter of an hour, in meditation, on one or more of the 15 Mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making REPARATION !

Little Jacinta, the youngest of the three Seers of Fatima was a tower of strength to the others, and God gave her special lights to understand Our Lady's Message, baby girl though she was! After going to Hospital the little girl said to Lucy;—

«I am going to Heaven soon. You are going to stay on here to tell the people that God wants to establish in the world devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. When you are going to tell them that, don't hide yourself. Tell everybody that God gives us His graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary; that they must ask for them through Her; that the Heart of Jesus wants to be honoured, side by side, with the Immaculate Heart of Mary; that they must ask for peace through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, because God has given it into Her keeping.»

Is not all this crystal clear? Our Lady is the Queen and Giver Of PEACE!
Our Lady left, the years passed by, Francisco and Jacinta went to Heaven, and Lucy became a Nun. Then one day, eight years later, on December 10, 1925, Our, Lady appeared to Lucy once again, carrying in Her arms the Baby Jesus.
The Holy Mother showed Her Heart to Lucy, all surrounded with thorns. Then the Baby Jesus, pointing to the Suffering Heart of His Mother, said:—
«Have pity on this Heart, continually tormented by the ingratitude of men, with nobody to make Reparation!»
Oh, let us listen to, and answer, that Baby pleading! Who can refuse a baby's cry, especially when that Baby is Jesus, God of Love?
After the Infant Jesus had said this, Our Lady added:
«Look, My child, look at My Heart surrounded with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce it, at every moment, by their blasphemies and ingratitude! Do you, at least, try to console Me; and tell everybody from Me that all, who on the First Saturday of Five consecutive months shall make their Confession and Communion, shall say the Rosary, and shall keep Me company for 15 minutes, while Meditating on the Rosary, with the intention of making Reparation, tell them from Me that I promise to help them, at the hour of their death, with all the graces necessary for the salvation of their souls.»!

Two months later, on February 15, 1926, Our Lady again appeared with the Holy Child and urged Lucy to persevere in propagating the devotion to Her Immaculate Heart, in spite of all difficulties, Lucy asked Our Lady if it was sufficient to make the Confession «during the week», when it was not possible to make it on the First Saturday. Our Lady answered «Yes», provided that the Communion was received in a state of grace, and with the intention of making the required Reparation.

Oh! What goodness of Our Lady! Oh! What Mercy of Our God! Could anybody be so MAD as to refuse that safe offer of Salvation!

REMEMBER !

CONFESSION. THE ROSARY. 15 MINUTES MEDITATION ON THE ROSARY:

ALL WITH THE INTENTION OF MAKING REPARATION, ON 5 CONSECUTIVE SATURDAYS!

With this goes the promise of Our Lady's help at death, and Eternal Life!

BUT DON'T FORGET, ALSO, A COMMUNION OF REPARATION ON EVERY FIRST SATURDAY!

Because Our Lady wishes it!
Is it not utterly inconceivable that now, 41 years after Our Lady made these requests and these staggering promises, so many, SO VERY MANY, catholics pay no attention to them?
Are we really so hard-hearted that we do not want to save MILLIONS of people from a Hell of suffering, both here and hereafter?
Are we really so hard-hearted that we do not want PEACE for the world ?
Are we really such senseless people that we do not want to make OUR HEAVEN CERTAIN?
No! No! Perhaps we have not known! Perhaps we have not thought! Perhaps, even, we have been misled by weak men, or by false prophets!
This little work, with all its faults and all its shortcomings, is written with a burning longing that all men should know Our Lady's wishes and should do their utmost to fulfil them! It is an attempt to bring right home to the hearts of all, especially of those who have not yet grasped them, Our Mother's pleadings and Our Mother's wishes, as She expressed them here on this very spot — this most holy ground!
Every single word, written here in the Cova da Iria, where Our Lady appeared just 41 years ago, is a pleading with the Holy Spirit, through the Immaculate Heart of His Most Holy Spouse, to come down upon this world in OCEANS and in CATARACTS of GRACE, to lead all men TO CONSECRATE themselves to the IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, MOTHER OF THE ETERNAL GOD AND OUR MOTHER. It is a pleading, also, that — for their own salvation, for the salvation of others, for the Peace of the world, for the Honour and Glory of God, for the Honour of the Immaculate Heart of Mary — they will practice always the devotion of: —
THE FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS OF FIVE CONSECUTIVE MONTHS, in love of and reparation to THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY!

«Behold thy Mother'» «Unless you become as LITTLE CHILDREN you shall NOT ENTER into the Kingdom of Heaven»
What does a LITTLE CHILD do? A little child ALWAYS AND FIRST runs to its MOTHER, clings to its MOTHER, seeks the protection and help of its MOTHER, looks to its MOTHER for food and for everything else! Without its MOTHER a little child is lost!
Jesus has told us to look to our Mother and to act as little children do! Let us turn to Her, in Whom is «A11 the grace of the way and of truth» and all «hope of life»! Let us obey Him, by obeying Her! Then we shall be safe and we shall be saved!
«Tender arms of Mary, soft and warm and true, «All my soul is yearning in the dark for You !» (M. Kinder)

Praise be to God, to Our Lady, and to good St Joseph for another little work completed.

«Oh! Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!» (300 days).

The Five First Saturdays and Reparation to The Immaculate Heart Of Mary by L. F. Harvey. Part 2

Let us consider some of the visits, which Our Lady has made to this world within the last Century and a quarter. Let us see how often She appeared SAD, and how frequently She WEPT! And let us remember that She came to warn us, and the tears were because of the terrible sufferings to come upon us, which we could have avoided, and still can avoid, if only we had, or will, pay attention to Her warnings and requests.

At La Salette, in France in 1846, Our Lady appeared to some children and complained bitterly of the carelessness and sinfulness of the Catholics. She demanded Penance and Prayer, She demanded REPARATION, in order that we might be spared the terrible punishments of God, which are to come upon us if we do not OBEY HER.
All the time that Our Lady was speaking, SHE WAS CRYING, tears were pouring down Her face, the most beautiful face in all creation, next to that of Her own Divine Son.
Later, again, in 1858, Our Lady came once more to warn us and to demand the same REPARATION.
This time it was again in France, that «Elder daughter of the Church», which has so often been visited by, and honoured by, the Heavenly Queen. This time it was at Lourdes, in the Mountains in the South of France.
Eighteen times Our Lady spoke to little Bernadette, demanding PENANCE, HUMILITY, AND the ROSARY OF REPARATION.
Our Lady's warnings were terrible; Her grief for the sinful world was tremendous !
A third time in France, in 1871, Our Lady came again, during the War between France and Germany, and again She spoke to children in a little, then unknown, place named Pontmain.
See how often Our Lady has chosen LITTLE CHILDREN to be Her Messengers, and to spread in the world Her tremendous messages! «Unless you become like little children you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven !»
This time, when speaking, Our Lady was INEFFABLY SAD», — during a part of the interview, and She held a Blood Red Crucifix.
Again and again Our Mother comes to save us from the wrath of God, Whose avenging Arm, She says, She «cannot longer withhold!»; It is «so strong, so heavy».
Still She comes to call us to our senses! Still Our Mother weeps!

Still She shows us Her Immaculate Heart!

Once again Our Lady came, riding upon the clouds, surrounded by a cloud, and speeding down to Earth to warn us that the terrible results of our sins and of our neglect of God, were about to fall upon us more
heavily than ever, in the form of Diabolic, Anti-God Communism.
Our Lady came to Fatima just about one month before that flood of bestial cruelty, more bestial than that of the cruellest of all the savage beasts themselves, that ocean of hate against the God of Love, burst in overwhelming torrents upon the world!

The Holy Mother came in the middle of the scourge of the 2nd World-War, a war in which millions of bodies and houses were being destroyed, millions of homes were being broken, millions of souls were being destroyed, a war in which children and grown-ups were being taught to hate their neighbour, together with all the paralysing evils that always accompany wars, especially modern wars! In the midst of all this, Our Lady PROMISED PEACE, that peace for which the whole world is still longing, if we FULFILLED the CONDITIONS, which She then laid down.

The world did not, and has not, fulfilled the conditions, and so the world has been reduced to the condition in which it finds itself today!
Our Lady demanded REPARATION, and by way of doing this She demanded that we should all do our DUTY to GOD, and our DUTY to our NEIGHBOUR-as well as we can; added to this Our Lady demanded that we should all accept whatever God may choose to send us, or, allow us to suffer, in this life, by way of PENANCE.
In addition, God's Mother, and Our Mother, told us to say the ROSARY EVERY DAY; and, thirdly, told us that we must all be CONSECRATED TO HER IMMACULATE HEART.
That is the ESSENCE of the MESSAGE OF FATIMA. During the last Apparitions, on October 13. 1917, Our Lady showed Herself as the Mother, Who was swamped in an ocean of suffering all through Her life. The Mother of Sorrows, Whose pains were caused by the sins of the world, by OUR private SINS.

The appearances of Our Lady at Fatima, in 1917, were some of the greatest and the most important in the whole history of the world !

THE SADNESS OF THE IMMACULATE

HEART

Soon Our Lady came again to warn us, this time it was at Beauraing, in Belgium, in 1932. Here, again, Our Lady spoke to children and, as at La Salette, golden rays were shining round Her Heart. Golden rays of HOPE, for it is through that same Immaculate Heart that this world is to find PEACE, because it was revealed to little Jacinta of Fatima that God will give peace to the World THROUGH THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY.
At Fatima Our Lady showed Her Heart surrounded with thorns which, She said, represented our sins and our blasphemies; and She insisted that love for HER IMMACULATE HEART MUST be spread throughout the world, in order to obtain the destruction of the Devil's work and for the eventual triumph of right.

«My IMMACULATE HEART» She said, «WILL FINALLY TRIUMPH».

When Lucy, the eldest of the Seers of Fatima who is now a Carmelite Nun, asked Our Lady if the other two AND herself would soon go to Heaven, Our Lady answered that the other two would soon go, but that Lucy would not go yet, because God wanted her to stay on earth, in order to SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD LOVE FOR HER IMMACULATE HEART.
That is the immense vocation given to Lucy, and that ought to be a work, which each one of us should do with all our power, BECAUSE IT IS OUR LADY'S WISH, and what Our Lady wishes should be binding upon Her Children.

«If you love Me, keep My commandments!» That is the sign, and the proof of our love! If we do not do what the Loved one tells us then we DO NOT LOVE Him, or, Her, however much we may say, or sing, that we do !
Still more recently Our Lady of the Immaculate Heart has shown Her grief, in the little Statue, at Syracuse, which shed what appeared to be human tears. This has been authenticated also, and a huge Church is to be built.
These visits are enough to show the immense importance that Our Lord, and consequently Our Lady, places upon the NECESSITY of IMMEDIATE REPARATION.

We know that Our Lady can no longer suffer in Heaven, but She knows that we are only human, and She gives us visions that we can understand, and which can touch our hearts, unless they have become like stone or ice, through our neglect of God and all Spiritual things.
Time after time Our Lady has shown Herself in recent years, and has tried to make us feel some tiny bit of the unspeakable grief and sorrow that Her Divine Son and Herself felt on Earth all through Their lives, and especially during the Passion and Death of Our Lord.

Grief, this was, which was caused by the knowledge of all the sins, and coldness and hatred, which we in the world should give Them in return for that Sea of Suffering !
Let us remember the untold Sorrows of the Queen of Sorrows, the Queen of Martyrs, when She was on Earth! Let us remember the many times that Our Loving Mother has shown us tears and sadness in very recent visions !
Then let us DETERMINE, here and now, to give ourselves up to a LIFE OF REPARATION !
No ! This is not frightening ! This will be VERY SIMPLE AND VERY EASY, IF only we will do as She has asked and if we rely on Her and ACCEPT HER HELP!
St Louis Grignon de Montfort, that great and simple lover of Our Lady, tells us that if we will only give ourselves to Her, She will so soften our Crosses that they will become much more easy to bear.

IF THE WORLD DOES NOT LISTEN VERY SOON, THEN THE FUTURE SUFFERINGS, WHICH ARE COMING UPON US, ARE TOO UTTERLY FRIGHTENING TO THINK ABOUT!
It is the Mother of Divine Wisdom, no less than that, Who has warned us !

A TONIC AND A REMINDER

«What the eye does not see, the heart does not grieve over !» «Out of sight out of mind !»
Here are two old sayings, which apply very fittingly to a vast number of people in the world today.
The love of so many for God and the things of God has grown so terribly, terribly COLD, to a great extent through the pleasure-loving materialism of our day.
It is part of the policy of the Devil and his followers to encourage this blind foolishness on the part of his victims. So many victims are walking straight to the scaffold, of their own making, with their eyes blindfolded!
If people are always occupied with their own personal affairs, with their pleasures, with sport and entertainment, and the like, they are not going to be bothered about what is happening in the background, or what overwhelming dangers overhang their lives, and threaten the very occupations that they are so busily engaged in! They feel that the present occupations are «sufficient for the day», foolish and selfish argument though it may be !

This attitude suits the Devil and his friends absolutely, because they have their future victims mesmerised into a state in which they can be more easily destroyed — in which in fact they can destroy themselves. Those who have eyes open have seen this in recent history.
This is what is happening, now, in the middle of the 20th Century, and it needs an immense shock to rouse people out of their lethargy.
For years now Our Lady has been trying to rouse us into saving action, and at Fatima, at least, She worked one world-shaking Miracle, when She hurled the Sun towards the Earth, and petrified with fear, not only the 70,000 people on the spot, who saw it in the Cova da Iria, but many other people also, who saw that Miracle, miles and miles away !
That shock brought many souls to their knees, to their senses and to their Confessions, but—«What the eye does not see the heart does not grieve over», and the majority of the people in the world did not see that frightening event and consequently did not, and do not, grieve.

Nevertheless many millions of people have suffered, and are suffering now, from the neglect of that warning, and if only we could bring ourselves to realise but a tiny fraction of their sufferings, then it might, by the grace of God, give us that shock, which we so desperately need!
Let us go, at least in thought, to the very numerous Concentration Camps in Communist countries, where millions of people of all ages and ranks of society are dying a slow and painful death.
Let us talk to anyone, who has escaped from any part of the Red Hell!
Let us read the books that have been written by THOSE WHO KNOW, such as «I chose Freedoms
Let us read authentic accounts of the terrible Torture - chambers, of the Lubianko Prison, in Moscow, and of many others in other places !
Let us read about the millions of homeless CHILDREN, wandering like packs of wolves, covered with Venereal diseases, such as we read about in the early days of Russian Communism, in Russia itself—against which Our Lady came to warn us !
Let us read of the starving women fighting for the horse manure in the streets to pick out the grains of corn, which the horses had not digested, to help to keep those same women from dying of starvation !
Let us remember the endless number of people, who have disappeared suddenly, in the night as well as at other times, and who have never been heard of again!
Let us think of the hideous horrors of the two World Wars !
Let us think of the 1000's of prisoners, captured by the Russians in the last great war, who just «Disappeared»! Of those buried alive, or torn in pieces.

Many, many more terrible things could be said, unfortunately, but perhaps with the grace of God these horrors will be enough to make men, and women, stop and think — and then act !
There will be many, very many people, who will scoff, and jeer, and sneer at all this, and will say — «What absolute nonsense ! The man's a fool, who talks like that! He is just an alarmist!»
Nay, listen ! «A fool is ever right in his own thinking; the wise LISTEN to advice !» Proverbs. XII. 15. The fool is the one who says «There is no God !»

The fool is the one, who refuses to be warned by incontrovertible facts !
The fool is the one who throws away the lifebelt when he is drowning !
The fool is the one, who will not listen to the warnings of God and His Holy Mother, when They demand REPARATION !
These are the real fools ! «Oh, ye fools, when will you understand !»
For those who live far away from the countries where these unspeakable brutalities take place, and for those who cannot imagine that such diabolic cruelty can exist in the hearts of human beings, it must be very difficult to grasp the truth.
For those, however, who have come into direct contact with some of those human wrecks, who have been able escape from that inhuman, diabolic treatment received in those countries where the inhuman, Anti-Christian, Anti-God, Atheistic Materialism of Communism, and its satanic brood, hold power—for them it is easy to grasp something of the TERROR.
Those, who have come across the hunted, frightened Refugees from that infernal Hell, can feel something of the terror and the diabolic power, which only God and His Most Holy Mother can save us, and our dear loved ones, from experiencing and suffering also !
Oh, dear Outcast God, take care of the hunted, outcast people of today, and SPARE US ALL !
Oh, dear loving Mother, Who wast driven away by men when Your time was drawing near, Who wast afterwards hunted by Herod, as You fled into Egypt, have pity on all homeless Waifs, and fold them to Your Immaculate Heart. Oh Dear Mother of the Infant Jesus have pity on the little children, and on the little babies, so grievously sinned against !

Oh ! God of Truth and Light and Wisdom and Understanding, open the eyes of all of us, who cannot— or will not — see the terrible disasters which lie ahead of all of us, unless we obey Our Lady and make REPARATION NOW !

THE REPARATION DEMANDED BY OUR LADY

Since Our Lady came to Fatima, 41 years have passed; forty one years in which the Devil and all his hordes have been very busy trying to keep the Message of Fatima from being spread, and from being grasped, lest people should obey Our Lady and so save themselves, and help to save the world.

The Devil wants the damnation of souls — not their salvation !
For many, many years the Message of Fatima was never heard of, except by a few !
For many years there has been a fogginess, an uncertainty and a muddled idea of the real meaning of the Message.
Many of the devotees of Fatima have not even been clear themselves !
It is also well known by many, who have themselves experienced them, the great and typical difficulties, and dangers that are put in the way of people, who want to eo to Fatima !
To those, who are willing to see, it is quite evident that the cloven hoof of the Prince of Darkness has been, and still is, fighting hard and fuming against Our Lady of Light!
We will now try to make Our Lady's demands quite clear, and show how SIMPLE they are.
One of the «Hallmarks» of Fatima is SIMPLICITY !
The demands of Our Lady

During the course of Her visits to Fatima, in 1917, Our Lady made THREE DEMANDS.