In 1917, Our Blessed Mother appeared to three shepherd children with a grave warning for our time and a plea to rely on her intercession for the salvation of the world. It is in the apparitions of Fatima that Mary’s identity as our mother in salvation is more fully revealed.
Revelation and Commission
At Fatima, Mary called for the children to live her message in their own lives and spread it throughout the whole Church. While she warned of the horrors of World War II and the reality of how gravely humanity has offended God, she also commissioned us with a mission of hope that we are called to heed in our individual lives in communion with the whole Church. We as individual members of Christ’s body are called to foster a relationship with Mary for the conversion of ourselves and of the world. Our mother is a wonderful asset to our spiritual health! As is Mary’s standard, she appeared to simply convey the desires of Her Son, and He desires our reliance on His mother.
At the time of the apparitions, World War I was coming to an end, the Spanish Flu would soon ravage the globe, and the horrors of World War II were approaching as Mary’s instructions at Fatima were not fully heeded. Not much unlike the world in 1917, today’s world, over a century later, is filled with tragedy and devastation that may seem unprecedented and severe.
From May to October of 1917, Our Lady of Fatima repeatedly instructed the children to pray the rosary daily and sacrifice in reparation for the sins of man. She pleads with us to do the same today.
As stated by Our Lady of Fatima, “God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart…” and she provided specific instructions on how to do so through her apparitions.
Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Russia and the World)
Certain revelations of Fatima from our Blessed Mother are referred to as “the secrets of Fatima” and are broken down into three parts. The second secret of Fatima had to do with the conversion of Russia. Our Lady warned of the devastation that would occur if Russia was not consecrated to her Immaculate Heart. And unfortunately, her instructions were not fully heeded resulting in greater devastation in World War II than in World War I.
Over the course of his pontificate, Pope St. John Paul II attempted to complete the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart several times. According to Sr. Lucia, the longest living Fatima visionary, this consecration was completed on March 25, 1984. While as a Church, the Consecration of the World and of Russia has been completed, we are called to live this consecration daily. One way to live this is to implement the rosary into your daily life as a sign of recourse to Our Lady in reparation for the ways in which sin has inflicted sorrowful thorns into her most pure heart.
First Saturday Devotion
Mary, overflowing with maternal love for us, made known to the children that consolation to her Immaculate Heart could save the world from tremendous devastation. This illustrates the immense value and saving power that can be found in pursuing a relationship with Our Mother.
A specific way she asked for this consolation was for us to receive Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays of the month.
As stated by Sr. Lucia as revealed to her by Our Blessed Mother, “The final battle between the Lord and the kingdom of Satan will be about Marriage and the Family.’ Don’t be afraid- because whoever works for the sanctity of Marriage and the Family will always be fought against and opposed in every way, because this is the decisive issue. …‘nevertheless, Our Lady has already crushed his head’.”
We live in a time in need of immense mercy, and Our Mother desires us to obtain It for the world. The current attacks on our Church surrounding the political tension around abortion and questions surrounding family structure should serve as impetuses for us to rely on and console our Blessed Mother for an outpouring of Mercy. The Kingdom of Heaven has already offered Mercy to us, however we need our Mother’s help to receive it.
Now is the time to rely on Mary for the conversion of the world in preparation for the final battle and coming of Christ. This should not scare us but give us hope that we are participating in a battle that has already been won by the death and resurrection of Christ. And Our Mother is accompanying us along the way. In commemoration of Our Lady of Fatima this week, resolve to invite her into your life through greater reliance on her intercession.
