After the Miracle of the Sun, the apparitions ended. But the message of Fatima was just beginning to spread throughout the world.
Our Lady had revealed three secrets to the children. Secrets that would change history!
For decades, these secrets were kept in absolute secrecy. The whole world wanted to know: what did Our Lady say?
Lucia was instructed not to reveal everything immediately. But eventually, with the Church's permission, the secrets were revealed.
And when the world learned of them... it was shocked!
The First Secret: The Vision of Hell
On July 13, 1917, Our Lady showed the children something terrifying.
The earth seemed to open. And the children saw... hell!
Lucia described: "We saw a sea of fire. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls, as if they were transparent embers, black or burnished bronze, with human form!"
"They floated in the conflagration, raised by the flames that came from them! The shouts and groans of pain and despair horrified and made us tremble with terror!"
Jacinta fainted from terror! Francisco turned pale! Lucia almost died of fright!
The vision lasted only a moment. But it marked the children forever!
After the vision, Our Lady said words that explained everything:
Our Lady was showing the solution! Her Immaculate Heart is a safe refuge!
She continued: "If they do what I tell you, many souls will be saved and there will be peace!"
What a wonderful promise! Our Lady was offering a path to salvation!
The Second Secret: The Consecration of Russia
Our Lady then made surprising predictions about the future:
She was talking about World War II! Which in fact began during the reign of Pope Pius XI!
Our Lady predicted 22 years in advance!
But there was a condition and a promise:
In 1917, Russia wasn't communist yet! But in October of that year, the Bolshevik Revolution happened!
Our Lady had foreseen it! And She asked:
Our Lady made a final promise in the second secret:
This consecration was requested several times by Lucia. Several Popes made partial consecrations.
But on March 25, 1984, Pope John Paul II made the solemn consecration of Russia (and the world) to the Immaculate Heart of Mary!
Lucia confirmed: "The consecration was accepted by Heaven!"
And what happened? In 1989, just 5 years later, the Berlin Wall fell! Communism in Eastern Europe collapsed! The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991!
It was a miracle! Our Lady's promise was fulfilled!
The Third Secret: The Bishop Dressed in White
The third secret was the most mysterious. It was kept in absolute secrecy for decades!
It was locked in the Vatican archives. Even Popes didn't want to reveal it publicly!
Speculation ran wild: "It's about the end of the world!" "It's about nuclear wars!" "It's too terrible to be known!"
Finally, in the year 2000, Pope John Paul II authorized complete revelation!
And it was about... a Pope being attacked!
Lucia described a vision:
"We saw a Bishop dressed in white - we had the feeling that he was the Holy Father."
This Bishop climbed a steep mountain, with a cross at the top. Around him, a city in ruins.
"He passed through a large city half in ruins, trembling with a faltering step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, praying for the souls of the corpses he met on the way."
"Arriving at the top of the mountain, prostrate on his knees at the foot of the great Cross, he was killed by a group of soldiers who shot him with several bullets and arrows!"
A Pope being assassinated! What a terrible vision!
When this secret was revealed, Pope John Paul II was shocked!
Because he immediately recognized: it was about him!
On May 13, 1981 - exactly on the 64th anniversary of the first apparition of Fatima! - John Paul II was in St. Peter's Square blessing pilgrims.
Suddenly, BANG! BANG!
Shots! A Turkish assassin named Mehmet Ali Agca shot the Pope!
John Paul II fell, seriously wounded! Shot in the abdomen!
He should have died! Doctors said it was a miracle he survived!
John Paul II said later: "It was a maternal hand that guided the bullet's trajectory!"
The bullet passed millimeters from vital organs!
John Paul II forgave his attacker! He visited Agca in prison and forgave him personally!
Agca was impressed: "Why do you forgive me?"
John Paul II answered: "Because Mary saved me! And Jesus commands us to forgive!"
The Pope explained that the third secret referred to the sufferings the Church would go through in the 20th century: persecutions, martyrs, wars, attacks!
But it also showed that even in these sufferings, Our Lady protects the Church!
The vision ended with angels collecting the martyrs' blood and watering souls - symbolizing that suffering produces spiritual fruits!
The Central Message of Fatima
But what is the main message of Fatima for us today?
Our Lady summarized everything:
1. Pray the Rosary daily!
The rosary is a powerful weapon against evil! Our Lady asked this in ALL six apparitions!
2. Do penance and sacrifice for sinners!
Offer small sufferings to save souls! As the children did!
3. Conversion and holiness!
Stop offending God! Live in a state of grace! Confess regularly!
4. Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary!
Consecrate yourselves to the Immaculate Heart! It is a safe refuge in these difficult times!
5. Reparation for sins!
Pray and sacrifice especially on First Saturdays, to make reparation for offenses against Mary!
First Saturdays
Our Lady especially asked for the practice of the Five First Saturdays:
On the first Saturdays of five consecutive months:
1. Go to Confession
2. Receive Communion
3. Pray five mysteries of the rosary
4. Meditate for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the rosary
5. Everything in a spirit of reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary!
Our Lady promised: "To all those who do this, I promise to assist at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for salvation!"
What an extraordinary promise!
The Legacy of Fatima Today
More than 100 years later, the message of Fatima remains urgent!
The world still desperately needs conversion! Wars continue! Sin multiplies! Families are destroyed! Faith weakens!
But Our Lady gives us hope:
"In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph!"
She will win! Good will triumph over evil! But we need to cooperate!
Each rosary prayed helps! Each sacrifice offered saves souls! Each conversion delights Heaven!
The three shepherd children gave their lives fulfilling the message!
Francisco died at 11, Jacinta at 10 - both offering sufferings for sinners!
Lucia lived to 97, spreading the message throughout the world!
All three were beatified! Francisco and Jacinta were canonized in 2017, 100 years after the apparitions!
They are models for us! Simple children who changed the world through prayer and sacrifice!
Reflection
