Fatima 90

MAY 13 of this year marks the 90th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions, and the Church will not fail to remember the recurrence.

The Fatima events were the most prominent Marian apparitions in the 20th century. Their influence was magnified by the halo of mystery and controversy surrounding the so-called ‘third secret of Fatima’, which was finally made public in the year 2000.

However, after the respective deaths of Sister Lucia on February 13, 2005, and of Pope John Paul II on April 2, 2005, interest in Fatima is dwindling. Why this loss of interest? Is it perhaps that the Fatima messages have lost their relevance?

We decided to turn to Monsignor Girolamo Grillo, bishop of the diocese of Civitavecchia, for an answer to these quite legitimate doubts. Bishop Grillo is an expert on Fatima and has authored a number of books on the subject. Since 1995 he has himself been involved in an intriguing Marian phenomenon, the mystery of the tears of blood which have issued from a tiny statue of the Virgin Mary in his diocese, a phenomenon he witnessed with his own eyes.

After completing studies in theology and his ordination in 1953, Grillo graduated in Political and Social Science, and then in Civil and Canon Law. He has lectured for a number of years at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, after which he became a close collaborator to Pope Paul VI, working for 18 years in the Secretariat of State at the Vatican. For the last 25 years, he has been the bishop of Civitavecchia, not far from Rome.

Should we be worried about this loss of interest?

First of all, it is normal for interest in apparitions like those of Fatima to dwindle over time. The ‘third secret’ has been divulged, and the public’s attention is now drawn to the latest sensations. This especially true for gossip-lovers who are always chasing after novelties. The few, however, who have taken the messages in earnest have not lost interest. For these people, the publication of the ‘third secret’ has only strengthened their constancy and faith.

Do you think that the growing secularisation referred to by Benedict XVI is behind the West’s increasing indifference towards Fatima? 

This growing secularisation should be cause for great concern, however, it has not managed to wipe out completely interest in the Fatima mysteries.

Here in the West, that heartfelt commitment to God which, as the Catechism puts it, is able to give us a foretaste of the joys of heaven, has practically disappeared. Today’s materialism and moral relativism has, to a large extent, smothered these feelings within the human breast, thus mortifying our longing for the spirit. Loss of interest in the Fatima apparitions is to be seen in this context.

Is the message given to the three shepherds at Fatima still relevant for us today?

It is as relevant as ever, perhaps even more so than in 1917. This is because we are in even greater spiritual danger today. Why did Our Lady appear at Fatima? To succour her children, for she cares for each and every one of us.

In 1917 Europe was facing a crisis. Materialism was undermining faith in God in millions of people throughout the continent, the First World War was raging, and the Bolsheviks, a group of people who were utterly hostile to Christianity, were making elaborate plans to take over Russia. In this situation the Virgin Mary gave a clear message from heaven on how the Church was to respond. That message can be summed up in two words: prayer and penance.

Prayer, because by prayer we weave that thread that keeps us in touch with God; for those who are in contact with God will never go astray. Penance, on the other hand, strengthens that bond by keeping the passions and selfishness in check. These two words sum up Jesus’ message to us in the Gospel; they retain timeless value and relevance.

The prophecies which came out of Fatima have all come true with clockwork precision: the end of the First World War; a second, even more destructive world war; the errors of Russia spread around the world; whole nations disappearing; persecution against the Church and the Holy Father, etc. Yet sceptics say it is all just coincidence. How can they believe that?

Incredible, isn’t it? One need but mention this particular episode: at a certain point the Virgin says, “The war is going to end; but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the pontificate of Pius XI.”

Now many took Sister Lucia to task on this statement, pointing out that the Second World War actually began in 1939, under the pontificate of Pius XII. However, a closer look at history reveals that the episode that actually precipitated the conflict occurred on the night between 11 and 12 March 1938, when Hitler ordered the invasion of Austria and the arrest of the Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschningg. But the pope sitting on the Throne of Peter at that time was Pius XI! Now, anyone can see that there was simply no way that a semi-illiterate shepherd girl could have known that in 1917, when Benedict XV was pope. But it’s a waste of time to argue with those who simply do not want to believe.

Our task as Christians, however, is to meditate on the messages, and then we will see that God Himself will reveal their content to us.

The messages from Fatima were coldly received even in many quarters within the Church. It was for this reason that, in 1925, the Virgin exhorted the Church to consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart. However, for a number of reasons, that Consecration was put off until March 25, 1984. What finally prompted Pope John Paul II to comply with Our Lady’s request?

The Blessed Virgin’s request for the Consecration of Russia remains one of the most controversial aspects of the entire Fatima message. In 1984 Pope John Paul II understood that the right time had come and, with cautious courage, went ahead with that Consecration. Surely his close brush with death at St. Peter’s Square on that terrible day, May 13, 1981, must have had a lot to do with it. That day was the 64th anniversary of the first apparition, and the extraordinary coincidence was not lost of the Polish pope. Shortly after the attempt, John Paul read the third part of the secret, and recognised himself in the “bishop dressed in white” who “was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him”.

I also believe that John Paul’s determination to go ahead with the Consecration stemmed from certain hidden revelations he himself had received. In my humble opinion Karol Wojtyla was a great mystic, and had access to confidential knowledge from the spiritual world. We know a great deal about John Paul II, but I believe we are still very much in the dark about the most intimate aspects of his spirituality. This can be seen by the speed with which his canonisation is progressing.

The revelations of 1917 conclude with the words, “In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to Me and she will be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world.”
These words seem to refer to our times, because the Consecration of Russia has taken place and the peoples of Eastern Europe now enjoy religious freedom. Are we then experiencing the ‘period of peace’ mentioned in the message?

I am sure that the Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph, and that the promise of peace will likewise be fulfilled. But I believe that ‘the period of peace’ is still far off into the future. We should not interpret the message too literally. Our Lady was using Russia as an example of Godless materialism. This means that her words apply especially to the West, but also to the world in general. Russia’s sins are our sins. It is not possible for a mother to be rejoicing when millions of her children are still suffering under the yoke of persecution, famine, disease and poverty.

Every day we hear of people killed or wounded in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in many other places around the world. However, we also know that the number of these conflicts is diminishing. In 1991 there were 51 wars in progress, now there are about 20. Despite the diminishing trend, we can hardly call this a time of peace! Besides, there are many worrying trends that indicate that things may get worse again. I believe, however, that the revelations of Fatima are essentially a message of hope. The great battle waged by Our Lord against the forces of evil through His Passion and Death leads inevitably to the Resurrection. The path will be a long and difficult one, yet we are moving inexorably towards that glorious goal, and the Mother is always there to prevent evil from gaining the upper hand.

It is true that many Christians in the Western world have lost their faith. It is true that the faithful today are fewer in number, but it is also true that God in invincible, and that He desires the salvation of all his children. Jesus died to save all human beings, but the onus is on those of us who have not lost the faith to collaborate with Jesus through the mystery of his Mystical Body, so that even those who do not believe may be saved. And the Virgin Mary, like a loving mother, is leaving nothing undone in this apocalyptic battle. This is the true import of the message of Fatima.