Yes, Russia is Consecrated! Anniversary of the Collegial Consecration of Russia + March 25th,1984

        Yes Russia Is Consecrated!

Everywhere that God

Performs a Miracle or

Work of Grace, the Devil 

is at Work to Defuse,

Confuse and Disillusion!

I was going to do a post on individual and personal consecrations to the Immaculate Heart of Mary today  the DeMontfort or Kolbean Consecrations is one better than the other? But within 2 weeks of this post I came across several people on line and in my parish who were confused on weather or not the Collegial Consecration of Russia had taken place. Imagine that! After all that has taken place, people are still asking: Is the Consecration done? Today is the 26th anniversary of the Collegial Consecration of Russia. March 25, 1984. It is also the anniversary of my DeMontfort Consecration to Our Lady.  When I made my consecration I had just returned to the practice of the faith. I was so new to the faith I did not at the time understand the significance of a historic event taking place at the same time in Rome. The pope was consecrating Russia! 

The signs given of Heavens Intervention in the dismantling of the Berlin Wall and the fact that so many people still question the authenticity of the 1984 Collegial Consecrations indicated that I should comment on the on going controversy surrounding the Collegial Consecration of Russia and Fr. Nicholas Gruner.


Fr. Nicholas Gruner, publisher of  "The Fatima Crusader"  Magazine and Director of an Apostolate entitled: "The International Fatima Rosary Crusade". Still portrays himself as a persecuted victim of the Vatican bureaucracy, and pretends to his listeners that his case is still being reviewed by the Pope, himself. This claim leaves his readers to believe that he is still a priest with faculties to offer the Mass and the Sacraments. Vatican Perfect Cardinal Hose Sanchez issued an official statement informing everyone that Fr. Gruner was at Fatima in 1992 without faculties to minister in the Diocese of Leiria-Fatima. His numerous web pages and links are still up and misleading many people who come across them when they do searches for information on the Fatima Message 


Fr. Gruener’s entire Apostolate is based on the consecration of Russia and he still argues that the consecration was never made properly. He had made it the heart of his magazine that Russia would be converted to the Catholic Faith in a miracle right after the consecration. Since this did not happen as he thought he began to maliciously attack the Pope, himself saying that Lucia was a prisoner of the Pope and he even went so far as to say that she would lie for the Pope. This became his entire Apostolate for many years. Sadly many souls still believe his rhetoric.


In 1994 the new bishop of Avellino issued a decree declaring Gruner a vagus priest. He was without faculties. Faculties are required for preaching and to say the Mass. Preaching is not just verbal but includes writing Newsletters or Magazines like the "Fatima Crusader".  Fr Gruener did find a Bishop in Brazil In 1994 who offered him incardination until Cardinal Sepe of Rome informed him that he had no authority to do so unless Fr. Gruner lived in Brazil!

An article in the Wanderer, Sept. 2003  

confirms the church’s highest court the
Apostolic Signatura upheld Fr. Gruner’s

suspension from his Priestly Faculties as
far as I know this has not been revoked! 

News of this suspension was made public in an official press release which in part stated: ‘The Congregation for the Clergy, upon the mandate from a higher authority, wishes to state that Rev. Nicholas Gruner is under a divinis suspension, which has been confirmed by a definitive sentence of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura’.


For a detailed History on Fr. Nicholas Gruner and the confusion he has caused please read an article by Rick Salbato on Father Nicholas Gruner documenting the confusion and errors he has disseminated for the past 20 years.


When I returned to the church in the early 1980’s I was blessed that my first pastor, now called to his eternal reward, was a great Fatima devotee. I owe my grounding in the faith to his preaching, and his example. Fr. Gruners apostolate was very active in the 1980s and 1990s and the Fatima Crusader was often planted in the vestibule of the church back then. He  had many financial supporters to publish such an expensive magazine and literally give them away. My former pastor always warned us not to follow Fr. Gruner and tossed all the magazines along with the beautiful pictures sometimes as many as twenty or thirty in the trash. I noted then that the magazine always said something different than what my pastor preached and the bishops said. Unbelievably almost 30 years later in my present parish some soul still plants the Fatima Crusader and I toss them in the trash with my present pastors blessing.

Pope Benedict XVI in a recent address: “The word obedience has disappeared from our vocabulary in our contemporary world.  
The reality of obedience is anathematized.”

Sadly, Fr. Gruner is just one of many individuals and groups who have rebelled against church authority and allowed the devil to use their pride to rob them of their common sense and Catholic Faith.  Everyone today is his own authority judge and lawgiver. When the church gives her pronouncement instead of humbly accepting the church we proudly and loudly rebel and become the instrument of the devil.


The following links are notes and Letters from Sr. Lucia in response to the controversy raised by Fr. Gruner. 
Copy of Letter from Sr. Lucia to Fr. Fox of the Fatima Family Apostolate 
For additional notes and Letters of Sr. Lucia on the Consecration

The Fatima 
Consecration Chronology

The history of the Consecration of Russia goes back to the apparition in Tuy Spain in 1929 When Our Lady came to fulfilled her promise of July 13, 1917.  Appearing to Sr. Lucia  in Tuy she told her: "The moment has come when God asks the Holy Father in union with all the bishops of the world, to make the consecration of Russia to my Heart, promising to save it by this means. It wasn’t until 1940 that Lucia was finally given permission to write the pope, Pius XII requesting the consecration. Translation of this letter may be viewed at the end of this post.

Pope Pius XII and the popes after him in subsequent years consecrated and reconsecrated the world and later Russia but never in union with all the Bishops of the world. Our Lord stipulated this condition so the world would know that this grace came from the Immaculate Heart of his Mother. Even the pope has to be exactly obedient to a higher authority when it is requested by God.

On May 13 1981 
Pope John Paul II is shot in St. Peters Square on May 13. During the long months of suffering and recuperation in Gemelli Hospital, the Holy Father requests and studies more deeply documents relating to Fatima. His determination to consecrate Russia with bishops of the world grows stronger. In leaving the clinic he remarks: I have come to understand that the only way to save the world from war, to save it from atheism, is the conversion of Russia according to the message of Fatima.

May 13, 1982 
Pope John Paul II invites the bishops of the world to join him in consecrating the world and with it Russia to the Immaculate Heart. Many Bishops do not receive the invitation in time for the Pope's trip to Fatima, where he accomplishes the consecration. Sr. Lucia later says it did not fulfill the conditions.

October, 1983 
Pope John Paul II, at the Synod of Bishops, renews the 1982 Consecration. This also did not fulfill the conditions as many bishops were not present and were not asked.

March 25, 1984 
Finally Pope John Paul II, has the statue of Our Lady in the little chapel brought to Rome and in advance sends invitations to every bishop to join him on this date "united with all the pastors of the Church in a particular bond whereby we constitute a body and a college, "consecrates" the whole world, especially the peoples for which by reason of their situation you have particular love and solicitude." shortly thereafter Sr. Lucia tells the papal nuncio to Portugal that the Consecration is fulfilled.

Note:  This was also 100 years after the Vision of Pope Leo XIII  on October 13, 1884.  Pope Leo XII had a locution hearing Satan and Jesus conversing. Satan boasted to Jesus he would destroy his Church and was granted 100 years to try and destroy God’s Church. It was after this that the pope composed the prayer to St. Michael, which was prayed after each Mass at the foot of the altar.

What Happened

After the Consecration?

Those who follow Fr Gruner still argue that Russia was, not converted and the consecration was never made. These people are misleading many from the truth and into disobedience and possible loss of their Catholic faith to disobey legitimate church authority. Follow Link below for another updated post on this subject

Historical Timelines Link Fatima with May Day  St. Joseph and Vatican II 
The Consecration of Russia and Events Leading to the end of Soviet Union

In Fact, Russia was converted

from Communism to relative

Freedom of Religion.

Its conversion is ongoing and free. God respects the free will of men. They have freedom to convert or reject the faith. Our Lady never said that Russia would be converted to Catholicism. She said, simply, that it would be converted and a period of peace would be given to the world. If you examine the Historical Events that took place leading to the final dissolution of the Union of Soviet Union It would be impossible for you not to see that God’s hands were involved in the dismantling of the Soviet Union. Beginning on May 13, 1984 just two months after the pope made the consecration in Rome, an explosion took place at the naval base in Russia! Read the timeline below.

Historical Events

Leading to Dissolution

of the Soviet Union

May 13, 1984
One of the largest crowds in Fatima history gathers at the shrine to pray the Rosary for peace.

May 13, 1984
An explosion at the Soviets’ Severomorsk Naval Base destroys two-thirds of all the missiles stockpiled for the Soviets’ Northern Fleet. The blast also destroys workshops needed to maintain the missiles as well as hundreds of scientists and technicians. Western military experts called it the worst naval disaster the Soviet Navy has suffered since WWII. Again in the same year on Dec 13. An explosion in Siberia destroyed Russia’s largest ammunition base.

December 19 1984 
Soviet Defense Minister Marshal Ustinov, mastermind of the invasion plans for Western Europe, suddenly and mysteriously dies. Three days later December 22 Marshal Sodolov, the 2nd Minister of Defense died.

March 10, 1985  
Soviet Chairman Konstantin Chernenko dies

March 11, 1985  
Soviet Chairman Mikhail Gorbachev elected

April 26, 1986     
Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident. A little known fact that  Chernobyl in Ukrainian is translated as Wormwood.
Rev. 8:10-11: The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water-- the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

May 12, 1988   
Fatima Vigil An explosion wrecked the only factory that made the rocket motors for the Soviets’ deadly SS 24 long-range missiles, which carry ten nuclear bombs each.

August 29, 1989 
Sr. Lucia affirms that the consecration "has been accomplished" and that "God will keep His word." correspondence http://www.fatimaconference.org/documents/SisterLuciaresponse.pdf

November 9, 1989  
Fall of the Berlin Wall  the picture below is a portion of the Berlin Wall donated to the Fatima Sanctuary as part of a thanksgiving for Our Lady of Fatima's role (and many, many rosaries being prayed) in helping bring about the fall of Communism.

Nov-Dec 1989  
Peaceful revolutions in Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania

1990   East and West Germany are unified

August 19, 1991 -
74th Anniversary of Our Ladys fourth apparition at Fatima - Communist coup attempts overthrow of Gorbachev who contributed largely to dismantling of Soviet Empire.

August 22, 1991
Feast of the Queenship of Mary -The attempt of Communist coup to return to hard Communism is defeated.

October 12 - 13, 1991 -
First Russian Pilgrimage to Fatima: Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, Roman Catholic Archbishop from Moscow leads first Russian pilgrimage group to Fatima. It is televised in Russia on 150 stations and 350 radio stations. Fr. Robert Fox director of Fatima Family Apostolate is asked to be present in Fatima with the Russian group.

December 1991 -
Gorbachev meets the Pope in the Vatican a second time; diplomatic relations were opened between the Vatican and Russia and Latin-rite churches were opened.

December 8th, 1991
Feast of the Immaculate Conception. There begins the Commonwealth of Republics, the end of the USSR. Twelve days later Yeltsin of Russia met with the Pope at the Vatican.

December 25, 1991 
Dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.  The Communist flag is taken down for the last time over the Kremlin in Moscow. Gorbachev resigned and sent a letter to Pope John Paul II. Fifteen republics were freed from Communism.

December 30, 1991
Sister Lucia is reported saying that the defeat of Communism was through Marys intercession.

In Conclusion the Church has suspended Fr. Nicholas from his priestly faculties and as far as I am aware this suspension has not been revoked. In following the Fátima message one must choose between Fr. Gruner’s example of disobedience to legitimate ecclesiastical authority, or Sr. Lucia’s heroic example of obedience to the Church during a difficult time in Church history.


"He that is not with the Pope is not with God, and he that wants to be with God, has to be with the Pope." -Sr. Lucia

Letter of Sr. Lucia to Pope Pius XII

Requesting the Consecration of
The World and Russia to
The Immaculate Heart of Mary!

Tuy, Spain, 2nd of December of 1940
Most Holy Father,


Humbly prostrated at your feet, I come as the last sheep of the fold entrusted to you to open my heart, by order of my spiritual director.


I am the only survivor of the children to whom our Lady appeared in Fátima (Portugal) from the 13th of May to the 13th of October 1917. The Blessed Virgin has granted me many graces, the greatest of all being my admission to the Institute of Saint Dorothy. (To here this is copy of the sketch the Bishop sent me.)


I come, Most Holy Father, to renew a request that has already been brought to you several times. The request, Most Holy Father, is from our Lord and our good Mother in Heaven.


In 1917, in the portion of the apparitions that we have designated "the secret," the Blessed Virgin revealed the end of the war that was then afflicting Europe, and predicted another forthcoming, saying that to prevent it She would come and ask the consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart as well as the Communion of reparation on the first Saturday. She promised peace and the conversion of that nation if her request was attended to. She announced that otherwise this nation would spread her errors throughout the world, and there would be wars, persecutions of the Holy Church, martyrdom of many Christians, several persecutions and sufferings reserved for Your Holiness, and the annihilation of several nations.


Most Holy Father, this remained a secret until 1926 according to the express will of our Lady. Then, in a revelation She asked that the Communion of reparation on the first Saturdays of five consecutive months be propagated throughout the world, with its conditions of doing the following with the same purpose; going to confession, meditating for a quarter of an hour on the mysteries of the Rosary and saying the Rosary with the aim of making reparation for the insults, sacrileges and indifferences committed against Her Immaculate Heart. Our good Heavenly Mother promises to assist the persons who practice this devotion, in the hour of their death, with all the necessary graces for their salvation. I exposed the request of our Lady to my confessor, who tried to have it fulfilled, but only on the 13th of September 1939 did His Excellency the Bishop of Leiria make public in Fatima this request of our Lady.


I take this opportunity, Most Holy Father, to ask you to bless and extend this devotion to the whole world. In 1929, through another apparition, our Lady asked for the consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart, promising its conversion through this means and the hindering of the propagation of its errors.

 Sometime afterwards I told my confessor of the request of our Lady. He tried to fulfill it by making it known to Pius XI.

In several intimate communications our Lord has not stopped insisting on this request, promising lately, to shorten the days of tribulation which He has determined to punish the nations for their crimes, through war, famine and several persecutions of the Holy Church and Your Holiness, if you will consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, with a special mention for Russia, and order that all the Bishops of the world do the same in union with Your Holiness. I truly feel your sufferings, Most Holy Father! And, at much as I can through my humble prayers and sacrifices, I try to lessen them, close to our Lord and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.


Most Holy Father, if in the union of my soul with God I have not been deceived, our Lord promises a special protection to our country in this war, due to the consecration of the nation by the Portuguese Prelates, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; as proof of the graces that would have been granted to other nations, had they also consecrated themselves to Her.


Now, Most Holy Father, allow me to make one more request, which is but an ardent wish of my humble heart; that the feast in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary be extended throughout the whole world as one of the main feasts of the Holy Church.


With the deepest respect and reverence I ask for the Apostolic Blessing. May God protect Your Holiness.
Maria Lucia de Jesus
Tuy, Spain, 2nd of December of 1940.

From Novos Documentos de Fátima, Fr. Anthony Mario Martins, SJ (Oporto: 1984). English edition: Documents on Fatima & Memoirs of Sr. Lucia. (Alexandria, SD: Fatima Family Apostolate, 1992).
Letter of Sr. Lucia to Pope Pius XII

 Follow Link below for another updated post on this subject

Historical Timelines Link Fatima with May Day  St. Joseph and Vatican II 
The Consecration of Russia and Events Leading to the end of Soviet Union  
The 1984 Collegial Consecration by Bl. John Paul II

Video of the Liturgical Ceremony Sister Lucia re-buried in the Basilica of Fatima February 19, 2006

Sr. Lucia's Mortal Remains

Re-buried in Fatima Basilica

Near Bls. Jacinta & Francesco 

February 19, 2006

The remains of the religious, who died at age 97 on February 13, 2005, will rest next to those of her two cousins, Blessed Francisco and Blessed Jacinta, who also witnessed the Virgin Mary's apparitions with her. The liturgical memorial of the blesseds is celebrated on February 20.


The transfer of Sr. Lucia's remains is according the desire expressed by the witness of the apparitions of Fatima, who personally told the Bishop of Coimbra: "Without contradicting what I have already written and considering the desire of the nuns, I would like that after my death my body will be buried in the cloister of this Monastery [of Saint Teresa in Coimbra] at least for one year, before being moved into the Basilica of Fatima."

Sr. Lucia had also expressed various times the desire to be buried close to Francis and to Jacinta. In fact on February 3, 1994, she wrote to the Rector of the Sanctuary: "… thanking God and Our Lady because they want to grant me this grace, to rest my earthly sleep in their Sanctuary, at their feet."
Fr. Anthony Cilia, O.Carm.  Above text from Carmelite News




FAREWELL TO THE MORTAL REMAINS

OF SR. LUCIA, TRANSLATED FROM

COIMBRA TO FATIMA

From Luis Arostegui, Superior General of Carmel

To My Dear Carmelite Sisters from Coimbra convent, and My Dear Carmelite Brothers, gathered together on February 18th, 2006 in the Coimbra chapel to bid farewell to the mortal remains of our Sister Lucia, whose body will be moved tomorrow from Coimbra to Fatima: May the Risen Lord, who is our hope, be with you.

One year ago Sister Lucia died, she who was a witness of the messages of the Mother of Mercy of Fatima, having lived many years in Coimbra Carmel. Her death was felt not only in the Church and the people of Portugal, but also in the Church throughout the world; and in a very special and loving way within the Carmelite family. It was obviously felt with an intensity beyond compare in the Coimbra community.

During this time her memory, far from being forgotten, has been kept alive; the faithful invoke her intercession and have shown that they would like to see her venerated and recognized by the Church for her goodness and holiness of life.

At this time when her mortal remains will be transferred to the Sanctuary in Fatima, to the place of the messages of Mary, alongside Francisco and Jacinta, the Carmelite Family feels once more united in remembering her, and wishes to accompany, spiritually, the transfer of her remains, and surround with gratitude and love the community of our Sisters in Coimbra.

No doubt her body could have remained in the chapel or garden of Coimbra Carmel, in the place where she prayed, worked, sang and loved; in the place where she lived the Fatima message of prayer, surrender and compassion, day after day with great simplicity and unaffectedness. But we accept that Lucia also belongs to the people of Fatima, to the place where Mary appeared, and where we find the venerated tombs of the first two who shared with her the extraordinary experience. Fatima was where it all began, and in a certain sense where she found her vocation to Carmel.

You, our Sisters in Coimbra Carmel, are being asked in a very special way to make a final act of letting go. I know without any doubt that in letting go with generosity you will receive the blessing of your Sister Lucia, and the guarantee of her spiritual and transparent presence among you.

Your community is the permanent witness to her life. Nothing and no one can substitute this witness. You should treasure her notes, writings and other memorabilia, but no less importantly, keep her memory alive among yourselves, that silent voice of her spirit so simple and human. She was faithful to the message of Fatima, and lived for the Church and for the whole world. This she chose to do in the Teresian Carmel, whose charisma lovingly embraces the Church and all humankind. She loved Carmel as her home and family for ever, in a way that was real and incarnate. We were truly her Sisters and Brothers.

Her fraternal fidelity is an invitation to us, to be generously faithful to our vocation.
Full Text of letter Pdf

February 18, Feast of St. Bernadette of Lourdes

Prayer of St. Bernadette

 Prayer by St. Bernadette in Times of Affliction

"O my God, I beg You, by Your loneliness, not that You may spare me affliction, but that You may not abandon me in it. When I encounter affliction, teach me to see You in it as my sole Comforter. Let affliction strengthen my faith, fortify my hope, and purify my love. Grant me the grace to see Your Hand in my affliction, and to desire no other comforter but You. Amen."

Bernadette was a sickly child; she had cholera in infancy and suffered most of her life from asthma, and some of the people who interviewed her following her revelation of the visions thought her simple-minded. However, despite being rigorously interviewed by officials of both the Catholic Church and the French government, she stuck consistently to her story. Her behavior during this period is said to set the example by which all who have claimed visions and mystical experiences are now judged by Church authorities

Bishop Gauthey of Nevers and the Church exhumed the body of Bernadette Soubirous on 22 September 1909, in the presence of representatives appointed by the postulators of the cause, two doctors, and a sister of the community. They claimed that although the crucifix in her hand and the rosary had both oxidized, her body appeared "incorrupt" — preserved from decomposition. This was cited as one of the miracles to support her canonization. They washed and reclothed her body before burial in a new double casket.

 The Church exhumed the corpse a second time on 3 April 1919. A doctor who examined the body noted, "The body is practically mummified, covered with patches of mildew and quite a notable layer of salts, which appear to be calcium salts. ... The skin has disappeared in some places, but it is still present on most parts of the body."

In 1925, the church exhumed the body for a third time. They took relics, which were sent to Rome. A precise imprint of the face was molded so that the firm of Pierre Imans in Paris could make a wax mask based on the imprints and on some genuine photos. This was common practice for relics in France, as it was feared that the blackish tinge to the face and the sunken eyes and nose would make an unpleasant impression on the public. Imprints of the hands were also taken for the presentation of the body and the making of wax casts. The remains were then placed in a gold and crystal reliquary in the Chapel of Saint Bernadette at the mother house in Nevers. The site is visited by many pilgrims and the body of Saint Bernadette is still shown despite being nearly 130 years old.

As soon as she was dead," stated Sister Bernard Dalias, in the archives of the community at Nevers, "Bernadette's face became young and peaceful again, with a look of purity and blessedness." The infirmarians clothed her in her religious habit. "We had no difficulty in doing so," observed Sister de Vigouroux, "for her body was supple even though she had been dead for two hours." Moreover, it remained like that until the funeral.

Sr. Lucia's Called to Heaven and Her last visit to Fatima!

Anniversary of  the

Death of  Sr. Lucia

February 13, 2005

When John Paul II received the news that Sister Lucia's health condition had worsened. He sent her a fax message on the eve of her death that was read to her. Sister Lucia was "deeply moved" by the message from the pope, and asked if she could personally read the fax herself. Even though she was almost blind, she said to her sisters in the community: "'Let me read, it's the pope who is writing me,'" Those present indicated that this was possibly the last reaction she had to life around her. In his message to her, the Holy Father said that, on hearing of her illness, he prayed to God that she would be able to live "the moment of pain and suffering" with a "paschal spirit," and he ended his message imparting his blessing to her. Sister Lucia died surrounded by her sisters in religion, and by the bishop of Coimbra, her doctors, and the nurse attending her

Last Words Of Sr. Lucia:  
                            
                          "For the Holy Father!
                        ... Our Lady, Our Lady,

Holy Angels, Heart of Jesus, Heart of Jesus!

We are going, we are going.

"Where?" asked Mother Celina "To Heaven..."

"With whom?" asked Mother Celina

With Our Lord ... Our Lady ... and the little Shepherds."

Let us Go! Let me go!

And she breathed her last. ............

The day of her funeral, February 15, 2005, was declared a day of national mourning in Portugal; even campaigning for the national parliamentary election scheduled for Sunday, February 20, was interrupted. There was a guard of honor around the coffin: 35 bishops from Portugal, the 17 nuns of Sister Lucia's community, her family members, and the Portuguese people.

Message of Pope John Paul II

on the Death of Sr. Lucia

To my Venerable Brother Bishop

Albino Mamede Cleto of Coimbra:

I learned with deep emotion that Sr. Maria Lucia de Jesus of the Immaculate Heart, at the age of ninety~seven, has been called by the Heavenly Father to the eternal dwelling place in heaven. Thus, she has reached the goal to which she always aspired in prayer and in the silence of her convent. The liturgy of these days has reminded us that death is the common legacy of the sons and daughters of Adam but at the same time assures us that Jesus, with the sacrifice of the cross, has opened the doors of immortal life to us. Let us remember these certainties of faith at the moment when we say our last farewell to this humble and devout Carmelite who consecrated her life to Christ, savior of the world.


The visit of the Virgin Mary, which Lucia as a little girl received at Fatima in 1917 together with her cousins Francisco and Jacinta, was the beginning of a unique mission to which she remained faithful to the end of her days. Sr. Lucia bequeaths to us an example of great fidelity to the Lord and joyous attachment to his divine will. I recall with emotion my several meetings with her and the bonds of our spiritual friendship that grew stronger with time. I have always felt supported by the daily gift of her prayers, especially during the most difficult moments of trial and suffering. May the Lord reward her abundantly for her great and hidden service to the Church. I like to think that it was the Blessed Virgin, the same one whom Sr. Lucia saw at Fatima many years ago, who welcomed her on her pious departure from earth to heaven. May the Blessed Virgin now accompany the soul of her devout daughter to the beatific encounter with the divine Bridegroom.


I entrust to you, Venerable Brother, the task of conveying the assurance of my spiritual closeness to the Carmelite nuns of Coimbra. For their inner consolation at the time of parting from Sr. Lucia, I impart an affectionate blessing to them, which I extend to her relatives, to you, to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, my special envoy, and to all those who are taking part in the sacred funeral rite.

From the Vatican, 14 Feb. 2005 John Paul II

   
    Sr. Lucia’s Mortal remains. Laid to Rest  in Basilica of Fatima
February 19,  2006

The mortal remains of Sister Lucia, who saw apparitions of Our Lady in 1917, were moved from the Carmelite convent of Coimbra, where she died on February 13, 2005 to the Shrine of Fatima. Church officials said around 100,000 people packed the Fatima sanctuary. They had come from all over Portugal and the world. Many were waving white cloths as in the farewell processions on the anniversary of the apparitions on the 13th of each month. The stone placed on Sister Lucia's tomb reads: "Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart, to whom Our Lady appeared. March 22, 1907 -- February 13, 2005. Translated to this basilica on February 19, 2006." On the stones of the other two little shepherds there is, in addition, an inscription that states: Beatified on May 13, 2000."

  Lucia's Last Visit to Fatima

May 16, 2000

Lucia unexpectedly returned to Fatima on May 16, 2000 three days after she met with Pope John Paul II during the Beatification Ceremonies for Jacont and Francesco on May 13.  She came to visit Aljustrel, her childhood home, the Cabecco where the angel appeared to her and Valinhos  Valinhos where Our Lady also appeared  to them on August 19 because were prevented from going to Fatima by the magistrate who had taken them to jail.

I was Blessed to be alone

at Valinhos when Sr Lucia

visited for the last time. 

I had a desire to be alone on my last day at Fatima all the great crowds from the Beatification Ceremonies on the 13th of May, 2000 had dispersed. I  was filled with happiness at the favors I received to be present here for the beatifications of the shepherd children.  I did not know if I would ever be able to return to Fatima and I wanted to be alone and take my time to revisit all the sites that were dear to me especially the Cabecco where the Angel appeared. I made the stations of the cross on the way and  I was at the Shrine of Our Lady at Valinhos when I noted an unusual site of several cars coming from the Cabecco where the Angel appeared. The first was a limo and then a police car.  I made many pilgrimages to Fatima and this was the first time outside of an ambulance I ever saw cars on this route. I thought someone important must be in those cars. 

To my great surprise they stopped where I was praying and  Sr. Lucia get out of the Limo with another sister and a few dignitaries I was overwhelmed with emotion. Thanking Our Lady for the grace that led me to be here. I studied the face of Sr. Lucia so full of emotion and tenderness and felt awkward as if I was intruding on something sacred.  I sensed she was reliving the moments of her childhood when she saw Our Lady here with Francesco and Jacinta. I was deeply moved that Divine Providence allowed me to be present and share this moment with her.

I wanted to take a picture of Sr. Lucia but I did not want to intrude. I dared not lift my camera fearing it would cause her pain at my intrusion.  It did not matter if no one believed me. I knew it and so did God. I noted that there was a photographer in the entourage and felt if it was God’s will I would have a photo someday of this moment. For now this moment was for Sr. Lucia and our Lady and God let me share it with her. 

I believe she realized this would be the last time she would be here. I was with her drinking in all the memories and sacred moments thanking Our Lord and Our Lady for the graces received from them.  I noted another person who pointed out to Sr. Lucia the candle marking the exact spot Our Lady appeared at Vilinhos.  Sr. Lucia stopped a moment and prayed there also. Then as quickly as she came she was whisked back into the limo and headed towards Adjustral to visit her childhood home. I thought to follow them on foot but it was enough for me. This moment alone with her (and her entourage couldn't be helped) where Our Lady appeared.  I had another memory another grace to be grateful for to Our Lady.

In the end God did provide a photo for me.  As I prepared this post I found on the Sanctuary of Fatima Website photographs from the photographer that was present then.  I included one of the pictures in this post that I would have taken if I had the courage to intrude. You can see my arm intruding on the top corner in the background near the monument. (Oh well humility but I was there!) I believe that the photos are presented for the public domain so I have included the link for you to view the other photos over her life.  

Photos of  Sr. Lucia on Fatima Home Page

Our Lady’s

Promise

to Sr. Lucia

Jacinta and Francisco had felt sorry for Lucia when they learned that Lucia would not go to Heaven with them right away, they promised to pray for her from Heaven. Lucia wept and complained to them that she would be all alone without her two friends to help her, but Our Lady promised to be with her always to comfort her. “Are you suffering a great deal?” Our Lady asked Lucia on June 13, 1917 “Don’t Lose heart. I will never forsake you. My Immaculate heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.”  Now her two little friends had come with Our Lady and Jesus to fetch her and take her with them to Heaven!

At Fatima
Heaven Reclaims

number 13 from pagan

Worship to sacred number!
The earliest reference I found to thirteen being unlucky or evil is from the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi (circa 1780 B.C.E.), where the thirteenth law is omitted although some translations contain a thirteenth law. The number 13 was always associated with bad luck. With similar folkloric aspects of the number 13 noted in various cultures around the world. Most stemming from pagan worship. I tried to find out the reason why and discovered that numbers 13 and 21 were significant to witches and occult numerology for numerous reasons. This is not the purpose of this post to detail it here. One can also do a search and come up with a lot of pagan and occult material in reference to the number.

However it is interesting to note that the fear of the number 13 is so prevalent it has been given its own name: Triskaidekaphobia (from Greek tris meaning "3," kai meaning "and," and deka meaning "10") fear of the number 13; it is a superstition and related to a specific fear of Friday the 13th. 

The history of the modern fear of the number 13 likely originated in France in the 1300’s and was spread all over the world by French immigrants, who heard of the events in Paris concerning the banishment, arresting and outlawing of all Knights Templar on Friday the 13th of October, in the year 1307.

A three fold curse was given by the last grand knight, who was finally executed on Friday the 13th of March, 1314. As he died he cursed Pope Clemence V, the King of France, Philip IV, and the Prime Minister to the 13th generation. The Parisians thought that this prediction was also valid for them and therefore the fear for number 13 and Friday the 13th started to expand out over the world.

Another interesting connection in the occult concerns the Tarot Card. The 13th Tarot card is the card of Death and is pictured as a skeleton (the symbol of death) with a scythe reaping down men. This image later became known as “The Grim Reaper” I also discovered that the lluminati has also adopted 13 as a sacred number. Other references have to do with numerology and would take up to much space to detail it here.

I wish to briefly mention that over time as Christianity spread the knowledge of the black arts was thankfully forgotten but the fear of the number13 stayed in man’s consciousness without them realizing why. Friday the 13th was considered an unlucky day because Friday was the day of the Lords death and there were thirteen participants at the Last Supper. Tradition states that Judas Iscariot the disciple, who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th to sit at the table.

With the resurgence of pagan religions witchcraft and satanic rituals in our culture. Heaven is telling us that God will have the the final say. Our Lord promised Peter "On this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against her" It doesn't mean that there will not be an attempt they will but they will not prevail. He will turn the tables on Satan and his deceptive minions through the Woman Clothed in the Sun with the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of 12 stars. I believe this is why that God choose to send his Mother on the 13th day of each month at Fatima. Our Lady will conquer the entire pagan Goddess Worship the devil spewed out when he realized God was going to use a Woman to defeat him. How about it number 13 for 1 God in 3 divine persons. 

God  will purify and reclaim number 13 as a sacred number through Our Lady.

Prayer of Venerable John Paul II to Our Lady of Guadelupe during his First Foreign trip outside of Rome as Pope

Photo ©  Speramus-We Hope 

Altogether 27 popes have officially honored Our Lady of Guadalupe 

St. John Paul II visited her Sanctuary four
times: on his first apostolic trip  outside Rome as Pope in 1979. Then again in 1990, 1999, 2002.

      

During his third pastoral visit to the shrine in 1999  in his homily at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, he declared the date of December 12th the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe as a Liturgical Holy Day for the whole continent of America.

During this same visit he entrusted the cause of life to her loving protection

Placing under her motherly care the innocent lives of children, especially those who are in danger of not being born.

Prayer of St. John Paul II
To Our Lady of Guadalupe
Mexico, January 1979

O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of the true God and Mother of the Church! who from this place reveal your clemency and your pity to all those who ask for your protection, hear the prayer that we address to you with filial trust, and present it to your Son Jesus, our sole Redeemer.

Mother of Mercy, Teacher of hidden and silent sacrifice, to you, who come to meet us sinners, we dedicate on this day all our being and all our love. We also dedicate to you our life, our work, our joys, our infirmities and our sorrows. Grant peace, justice and prosperity to our peoples; for we entrust to your care all that we have and all that we are, our Lady and Mother. We wish to be entirely yours and to walk with you along the way of complete faithfulness to Jesus Christ in His Church; hold us with your loving hand.

Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, we pray to you for all the Bishops, that they may lead the faithful along paths of intense Christian life, of love and humble service of God and souls. Contemplate this immense harvest, and intercede with the Lord that He may instill a hunger for holiness in the whole people of God, and grant abundant vocations of priests and religious, strong in the faith and zealous dispensers of God’s mysteries. 

Grant to our homes the grace of loving and respecting life in its beginnings, with the same love with which you conceived in your womb the life of the Son of God. Blessed Virgin Mary, protect our families, so that they may always be united, and bless the upbringing of our children.

Our hope, look upon us with compassion, teach us to go continually to Jesus and, if we fall, help us to rise again, to return to Him, by means of the confession of our faults and sins in the Sacrament of Penance, which gives peace to the soul.                                                                

We beg you to grant us a great love for all the holy Sacraments, which are, as it were, the signs that your Son left us on earth.

Thus,  Most Holy Mother, with the peace of God in our conscience, with our hearts free from evil and hatred, we will be able to bring to all true joy and true peace, which come to us from your son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Popes and Our Lady of Guadelupe  http://www.sancta.org/olg-popes.html