The revelation by St. Jacinta Marto, that war is a punishment for sin, is a vivid reminder that our own conversion and response to Mary’s requests at Fatima can help alter world events. Today, as yet another major conflict has erupted in the Middle East, it’s good to examine again the promises of Our Lady, especially with regard to the First Saturday devotion.
Jacinta saw visions of the Second World War and noted how many people would go to hell because of it. She understood that hell represents God’s justice and the Immaculate Heart as representing His mercy. Although we deserve God’s chastisement, she noted, “In His mercy, He has entrusted the peace of the world to her Immaculate Heart.”
In a 1993 interview, Sister Lucia delineated three phases of Fatima: the first phase was the apparitions; the second was to obtain the change in Russia; the third phase is to obtain the era of peace, while at the same time avoiding further use of atomic weapons and the annihilation of several nations. “The Fatima week has not yet ended,” she said. “Fatima has just begun.” Now we must respond urgently to the basic requests of Fatima (our daily duty and the Rosary) and do many more First Saturday Communions of reparation.
Our Lord told Lucia that this devotion was to be recommended and promulgated by the Pope after the consecration and change in Russia, meaning the end of religious persecution and State imposed atheism. The consecration of March 25, 1984, sparked a cascade of events in the Soviet Union that astonished even the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. The formal, bloodless dissolution of the Soviet Union in Dec. 1991 was a sign from God for Pope John Paul II who said it could not be explained outside the context of the message of Fatima. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, in a meeting with the Pope, admitted that the persecution of religion had been their greatest mistake.
However, by this time, Russia had spread its militant atheism throughout the world. John Paul II noted that Marxism could well be replaced by a new version of atheism that strove to destroy the very roots of human and Christian morality.
This is why Lucia said the First Saturday Communions of reparation is be promoted now more than ever because “it is the means to combat atheism,” she said. “The Virgin is interested in everything (the daily requests) but particularly in the Communion of Reparation. …For me, (this) is a great reason for hope. God will help you and the Virgin will help you; may everything be accomplished.”
Jesus made known to Sister Lucia that cessation of religious persecution in Russia would be a sign for the Church: “I want my whole Church to know that it is through the Immaculate Heart of My Mother that this favor is obtained so that afterwards, it may extend this devotion and place it alongside devotion to My own Sacred Heart.”
Today, we have the First Friday devotion to the Sacred Heart placed alongside the First Saturday devotion to the Immaculate Heart. Both devotions ask for reparatory Holy Communion; the First Saturdays adds confession, Rosary and 15 minutes of meditation. These acts of love console Our Lord and Our Lady and help bring down grace and mercy to our world.
As Lucia explained in a letter to her bishop: “They love and desire these devotions because by them they attract souls to themselves. All their desires are summed up in this: To save souls, many souls, each and every soul” (emphasis Lucia’s).
The Lord also communicated to her that the spread of the cult and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary “is the magnet that will attract souls to me, the spotlight that will throw the rays of my Light and love on the earth; the Eternal Spring that will flood the earth with the living water of my mercy.”
There are regular news stories in many dioceses and from around the world of the astounding number of people coming into the Church. Could it be because more people are responding with their Marian Consecrations, rosaries and Eucharistic adoration? There are many reasons to have hope. The Blessed Mother will not let us down. She is continually intervening in our own path to God and world events.
It should give us great joy to participate with her in this mission and do our part by a daily Rosary and regular practice of the First Friday/First Saturday devotions.
On March 25, the feast of the Annunciation, the International World Apostolate of Fatima is inviting everyone to join a Global Prayer Day for Peace in Ukraine and the world. You may participate by praying the Rosary individually or as a group, attending Mass, making a holy hour of Eucharistic adoration, offering fasting or sacrifice. Register your contribution HERE
The US Bishops will consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June 2026, to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary. They aim to renew devotion to the Sacred Heart and encourage prayers for the nation.
It is not a coincidence that we are also celebrating the special jubilee year of the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, a man of great humility and peace, who said: “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary inflame our hearts to accomplish the impossible.
Barb Ernster is the National Coordinator/Communications Manager/Editor for the World Apostolate of Fatima USA.
