The world will recognize in due time that the defeat of communism came at the intercession of the mother of Jesus. -- TIME magazine cover story, Dec. 30, 1991 World history is rushing as if to meet a deadline. To understand the common thread linking today s events, one should refer to the prophecies of Our Lady of Fatima, especially on the occasion this year of the 79th anniversary of the apparitions. Dramatic events in the world of communism, such as the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent advent of democracy, stirred journalists to reexamine the 1917 apparitions of Our Lady in Fatima. A front page boxed article in the Oct. 1, 1991 issue of the Asian Wall Street Journal took note of the collapse of communism; the event was seen as the Fatima prophecy fulfilled. The U.S edition of the Sept. 27, 1991 Wall Street Journal also noted that the Blessed Virgin beat CNN to the news on the fall of communism by more than 74 years. In this regard, Our Lady was featured as Time Magazine s cover story on Dec. 30 1991. On Nov. 7, 1991, the anniversary of the communist revolution, for the first time there was no official communist parade of strength in Russia, but a Russian TV station aired a program on Fatima the second time it did so! (Fatima Family Messenger, Jan-March 1992) The apparitions, which have been approved by the Catholic Church, revealed to the children the coming events: THE END OF WORLD WAR I WORLD WAR II THE RISE OF COMMUNISM AND FUTURE WARS IT WOULD BRING ABOUT THE FALL OF COMMUNISM These prophecies have already come true. We will review the events of Fatima in 1917, and how Mary s prophecies have been fulfilled. What Mary said in 1917 proved to be true. We must believe her now. Popes echo words of Our Lady Fatima visionary Jacinta Marto (died 1920) said: 1 / 6
I saw the Holy Father in a very big house. He was kneeling before a table holding his face in his hands and he was weeping. Outside there were many people: some were throwing stones, others were cursing at him saying many ugly words to him. Pope Paul VI on August 6, 1977 said: I often read the Gospel passage dealing with the end times, and I attest that, just now, some signs of this end are emerging. Pope Saint Pius X (died 1914) stated: I saw one of my successors by name fleeing over the corpses of his brethren. He will flee to a place for a short respite where he is unknown, but he himself will die a cruel death. Karol Cardinal Wojtyla (later Pope John Paul II), stated on June 24, 1977: We find ourselves in the presence of the greatest confrontation in history, the greatest mankind has ever had to confront. We are facing the final confrontation between the Church and the Anti-Church, between the Gospel and the Anti-Gospel. This is what Mary wants Do whatever he tells you. John 2:5 Offer up each day whatever God requests of you.. For the conversion of sinners and reparation for sin. -- Fatima. 1917 Pray, fast, and make sacrifices for your sins and for the sins of all sinners and unbelievers. -- Fatima, 1917 2 / 6
Frequent prayer, adoration and reparation before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. -- Fatima, 1917 Confess, offer Mass receive Holy Communion on the First Saturday of five consecutive months with the intention of making reparation to me -- Fatima, 1917. Each day recite the prayers of the rosary, five decades at least meditating on the mysteries to make reparation for sin. -- Akita, 1973 Consecrate yourself to Jesus and to Mary s Immaculate Heart. Wear the brown scapular as a sign. -- Fatima, 1917 and Akita, 1975 FATIMA MESSAGE IS FOR THE PRESENT TIME Words of Pope John Paul II: And thus we come to May 13, 1981, when I was wounded by gunshots fired in St. Peter s Square. At first I did not pay attention to the fact that the assassination attempt had occurred on the exact anniversary of the day Mary appeared to the three children at Fatima in Portugal and spoke to them the words that now, at the end of the century, seem close to their fulfillment. Perhaps this is why it was necessary. So that the voice of God which speaks in human history through the signs of the times could be more easily heard and understood. 3 / 6
(The Fatima message is) addressed particularly to this present century in the face of the struggle between the forces of good and evil. Today we find ourselves in the midst of a dramatic conflict between the culture of death and the culture of life. After my election as Pope, I came to have a similar conviction: on this universal level. If victory comes, it will be brought by Mary. Christ will conquer through her, because he wants the church s victories now and in the future to be linked to her. At the end of the second millennium we need perhaps more than ever the words of the Risen Christ: Be not afraid. These quotes are extracted mostly from Crossing the Threshold of Hope. Note that after the assassination attempt, the Pope asked for documents about the Fatima apparitions as well as the writings of Sister Faustina Kowalska. MARY WARNS:REPENT OR PERISH Former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), the Vatican s chief theologian, spoke of the message of Fatima in his Report on Faith Today A stern warning has been launched from Fatima which is directed against the prevailing frivolity, a summons to the seriousness of life, to the seriousness of history, to the perils which threaten humanity today. It is what which Jesus himself recalls very frequently: Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:3). The contents of the Marian apparitions approved by the Church only reconfirm the urgency of 4 / 6
penance, fasting, forgiveness, conversions. Yugoslavia war foretold years ago In a conversation with Fr. Petar Ljubicic OFM at Medjugorje on 2nd September this year, Elfriede Langpertal from Innsbruck, Austria, discovered that Mirjana, one of the Medjugoje seers, told Fr. Petar about the present war in former Yugoslavia 10 years ago! Mirjana told me in Tihaljina: The Mother of God said to me, Croatians and Slovens will be free (and that means Bosnia and Herzegovina too), but first the war will come. Afterwards they will obtain liberty and everything which this implies. Fr. Petar then went to say that he didn t say a word to Mirjana when she told him this, but later, on the way to Medugorje he asked her. Do you know what that means war, blood, and all the rest? Yes, yes, I know! But that is what I know and I cannot say anything more! replied Mirjana. Fr. Petar is the priest chosen by visionary Mirjana to reveal the warnings the secrets to the world three days before they occur. He told Elfriede that others told him that he was the one Mirjana had chosen and that at first he thought it was a joke but a few months later Mirjana said to him: You are the one. The First 3 Secrets Ten days before. Fr. Petar will know what is to happen, where and when. He will pray and fast for seven days, and three days before the secrets occur he will announce to the world what will happen, how it will happen and where it will happen. Fr. Petar believes that the first secret refers to Medjugorje, and will occur there. He says that event will be evidence for anyone who comes to Medjugorje, and afterwards that the Mother of God was in Medjugorje, and that the children were telling the truth. When asked if he knew what kind of admonition it will be, Fr. Petar would only say that it would not be pleasant. He said the third secret will be the sign on the Hill of Apparitions and it will be a joy for all those who were here in Medjugorje, for all who believed. When asked if his brother Franciscans were afraid (with respect to the war) he said that most were not, a few were a little afraid and pessimistic but that he believes it is a purification, a spiritual purification and a sign for the entire world. It is not a chastisement he says, it is only an admonition and a call to finally convert, to finally believe in God, to really do penance, to help our selves and all the others in order that all men are saved. Elfriede s final question to Fr. Petar asked if Our Lady had told the local population to help those who suffer need. Fr. Petar replied: The Mother of God always said we should think of others. She has always thought of us, and she has given us a good example. Now we should follow it. (Reprinted from the Medjugorje Sentinel, No. 20 Christmas 1993.) 5 / 6
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