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Memorial: 13 May
The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, appeared six times to three
shepherd children ("the Three Seers") near the town of Fatima, Portugal
between May 13th and October 13th 1917. Appearing to the children, the
Blessed Virgin told them that She had been sent by God with a message for
every man, woman and child living in our century. Coming at a time when
civilization was torn asunder by war and bloody violence, She promised
that Heaven would grant peace to all the world if Her requests for prayer,
reparation and consecration were heard and obeyed.
"If My requests are granted ... there will be peace"
Our Lady of Fatima explained to the children that war is a punishment for
sin and warned that God would further castigate the world for its
disobedience to His Will by means of war, hunger and the persecution of
the Church, the Holy Father and the Catholic Faithful. God's Mother
prophesized that Russia would be God's chosen "instrument of
chastisement," spreading the "errors" of atheism and materialism across
the earth, fomenting wars, annihilating nations and persecuting the
Faithful everywhere.
In all Her appearances at
Fatima, the Blessed Mother repeatedly emphasized the necessity of praying
the Rosary daily, of wearing the Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel and of
performing acts of reparation and sacrifice. To prevent the terrible
chastisement at the hands of Russia and to convert "that poor nation", Our
Lady requested the solemn public Consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate
Heart by the Pope and all the Catholic bishops of the world. She also
asked that the Faithful practice a new devotion of reparation on the first
Saturday of five consecutive months ("the Five First Saturdays")
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