January 2003

THE LIGHT IN THE NIGHT

Inserts:


	« I beg you, o Mother, to guide my pen so that it may faithfully transmit the Message which God, through You, chose to entrust to me. »

On 13 July 1917, the Blessed Virgin confided a « Secret » to Lucy, Francisco and Jacinta. The children told it to no one until Lucy, after Francisco and Jacinta’s death, was granted permission by Our Lady and was ordered by her superiors to reveal it. We now know it to be an ultimate reminder of our religion in full, an inexhaustible source of meditation.

First, reflected from the Immaculate’s hands was the vision of Hell where the souls of demons burn and where the souls of poor sinners fall. Then, expressed in Our Lady’s own words was a great prophecy concerning « what is to take place very soon », as Saint John says at the beginning of the Apocalypse. And, once again, there was a vision in several successive scenes, not of Heaven or Hell, but of the Church in this world, « a large city half in ruins » and of its people climbing a steep mountain, at the top of which there was « a large Cross of rough-hewn trunks as of a cork-tree with its bark ».

How mysterious all of this sounds! And again: « in an immense light that is God, something similar to how people appear in a mirror when they pass in front of it: a Bishop dressed in White. »

Over eighty years later, one must admit that everything has turned out just as the Blessed Virgin had stated in her great prophecy, or rather: everything has begun to occur, for it is not over yet. The book of Brother Francis of Mary of the Angels, John Paul I, the Pope of the Secret, which comes out this month, is of tremendously absorbing interest. It covers the period between 1960 and 2000 and shows Our Lady of Fatima’s queenship in operation: she dominates world events like the sovereign she is.

She had asked that her Secret be disclosed in 1960 at the latest, and this was not done until the year 2000! Now that we know its content, through the vision of the Angel that appears alongside Her and cries out: «Penance, Penance, Penance!» we understand that the Queen of Heaven intended to warn us in advance of what would happen if we did not do penance.

Sister Lucy told Father Fuentes as far back as 1957: we should not wait for an appeal to come from Rome, nor from our bishops nor from the religious congregations to do penance. Stunning words that brought her many persecutions, as it also did to Father Fuentes, who wanted to disclose these confidences so that the world might do penance.

And, since we have not done “penance”, the Church became under John XXIII and Paul VI, that is to say from 1960 onward, like « a large city half in ruins » The Holy Father, John Paul I, passed through it « afflicted with pain and sorrow », before he was « killed at the foot of the large Cross of rough-hewn trunks » Since that time, « in the same way there died one after another the Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious ». Soon there will be none left!

Brother Francis’ first chapters casts a dazzling light on the growing contrast between the politics of Popes John XXIII and Paul VI, on the one side, and the divine politics of Our Lady of Fatima, on the other. One has to read it in black and white, corroborated by sources, to believe it! For instance, the first article of this “divine politics” is the recitation of the Rosary, contrary to the commonly held belief according to which the Rosary is an optional, individual, “private” devotion, on the grounds that it is not a liturgical prayer. But if the Blessed Virgin came down from Heaven right in the middle of the war in 1917 to ask for the recitation of the Rosary « every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war », we are bound to believe that the Rosary is a crucial instrument for the politics of the Queen of Heaven and earth!

Now, Pope John XXIII wrote an encyclical on world peace, Pacem in terris, in which the recitation of the Rosary plays no role at all. And in the entire Acts of the Second Vatican Council, the word rosary is not even even mentioned once ...

Yet, the very worst came with Paul VI when he promulgated on 6 August 1964 the encyclical Ecclesiam Suam, the programme of his pontificate, in which he announced that he intended to undertake a « sincere and friendly dialogue » with men of any religion, and even with atheists and Communists, instead of exhorting them to conversion!

In fact, right from the beginning of the Council, John XXIII had secretly committed himself to Moscow to refrain from condemning Communism, even though it was the cause of wars and persecutions against the Church. And the commitment was maintained for the whole duration of the Council under the inquisitorial gaze of the Orthodox who came from Moscow as “observers”. What a horrible disavowal of the martyrs, and a betrayal of the confessors of the faith who had fought against false religions and atheistic Communism as instruments of Satan. And above all: what a grave disobedience to the will of the Blessed Virgin asking the pope to perform an act of reparation and consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart to obtain its conversion.

Someone who understood this very well, and who became indignant over this disobedience was President Salazar. Brand new sections in Brother Francis’ book reveal to us the divine wisdom with which this statesman was assisted through Sister Lucy’s intermediary to keep Portugal under Christ the King’s authority, defend its overseas provinces, preserve the dogma of faith, and thwart all conspiracies from Christian Democracy, which sought to overthrow him (Chapters 4 and 5).

Meanwhile, the darkness of Conciliar and postconciliar apostasy spread throughout the world, and Sister Lucy lived through this drama as a humiliating, expiatory, reparatory experience, avoiding all heresy as well as all schism and displaying the patience of the saints. (Chapter 6)

But then once again the light came: Albino Luciani, the elect of the Heart of Mary is at the centre of this book (Chapters 7 to 9). There is nothing more eloquent than the comparison of the two encounters that Lucy had, that with Pope Paul VI at Fatima on 13 May 1967, on the one side, and that with Patriarch Luciani, the Patriarch of Venice, who was still a « Bishop », but already « dressed in White » in the light of divine thought, the future John Paul I, on 11 July 1977 in Coimbra, on the other. It is like night and day, light and darkness.

Paul VI had demanded that Sister Lucy be in Fatima for his visit there on 13 May 1967 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the apparitions. But, « as astounding as it may seem, the Pope had not planned to grant her an audience » (p. 228)! And when she asked to talk to him in private, he turned her away!

Yet ten years later, on 11 July 1977, Cardinal Luciani went to Coimbra along with pilgrims from Venice. After concelebrating Mass in the Carmelites’ chapel, he had not planned to meet Sister Lucy either! But this was out of humility, true to his motto, humilitas. And then « Sister Lucy let it be known, through her Prioress, that she ardently wished to speak with him. He, both surprised and happy, answered that he would willingly greet Sister Lucy »

This was a solemn moment. Our Lady had planned for this meeting between her servant and her messenger, for, if the latter had asked to meet him and talk to him, it was not on her own initiative, out of curiosity or vanity, but because she was charged with a mission, a message from Heaven, as in 1967 with Paul VI.

Back in Venice, Cardinal Luciani declared: « Last July, I conversed for one and a half hours with Sister Lucy in Coimbra. It never even occurred to me that Sister Lucy could be inferior to me, a bishop and a cardinal. On the contrary, I thought : What good fortune for me to be able to talk with this little Sister who saw Our Lady ! The only true grandeur in the Church is not to occupy such and such a position but to be saints. » (p. 320)

The Patriarch of Venice considered Sister Lucy a very great saint. One morning, at 5 o’clock, while drinking his coffee, he told Sister Vincenza:

« After her death, Sister Lucy will be known and loved all over the world, as was Saint Bernadette of Lourdes. The whole world will learn of the extraordinary deeds and conversions wrought by Our Lord and Our Lady through the prayers of Sister Lucy. When her solitude was at its bitterest and the general hostility at its height, at the very time of the apparitions, the Blessed Virgin was with her in a visible manner. “Lucy, you are suffering greatly, She told her, do not be discouraged, I shall not abandon you. My Immaculate Heart shall be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God. Jesus wants to make use of you to make me known and loved”. »

In another instance, while touching on Fatima, Cardinal Luciani declared : « Sister Lucy of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a cherished daughter of the Church. »

Chapters 10 to 13 provide overabundant proof. They are devoted to the history of Fatima under the pontificate of John Paul II. Brother Francis has no difficulty in proving that he is not the successor of John Paul I but of John XXIII and Paul VI. After having shown how Sister Lucy was forced in the name holy obedience from 1989 onwards to say that the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was done, even though she had maintained the contrary for five years, Brother Francis presents the book of the seer, “Calls” from the Message of Fatima, published on 8 December 2000, six months after the disclosure of the Third Secret, on 26 June of the same year, even though it had been completed since 1997. Now this work does not mention the Third Secret, as if Sister Lucy herself does not attach any importance to it.

What a repudiation for us who had endeavoured for three years now to know and to fathom the visions of this Third Secret! Unless it was Father Castellano Cervera, a consultor of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who has not said the truth.

For he writes in his introduction to the “Calls” that they contain « an authorised explanation of the entire message of Fatima ». That it is the « seer’s spiritual testament ». Brother Francis does not hesitate to call such allegations lies: « No, the “Calls” from the Message are not Sister Lucy’s testament, the seer does not renew her witness to the supernatural communications that she transmitted to the hierarchy during the twentieth century for the realisation of the design announced on 13 June and 13 July in favour of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. These “Calls” only present a toned-down version of Our Lady’s message » (p. 490)

Brother Francis also points out that « the illustration of the book gives the illusion that the revelations are presented in their entirety. Indeed, photographs of the Dorothean convents of Pontevedra and Tuy where Sister Lucy heard the « Calls » for reparatory devotion through the practice of the five First Saturdays of the month and for the consecration of Russia, « Calls » that are not mentioned in her book. To get out of this dreadful uncertainty, let us read this book with great attention.

SISTER MARY-LUCY OF JESUS AND OF THE IMMACULATE HEART
SPEAKS TO CONFIRM OUR FAITH

This book is presented by Sister Lucy herself as an answer to the questions that she has been asked:

« I address this to all those who have faith and also to all who have not the happiness of possessing this gift of God, because we are all pilgrims on our way to eternity, whether we know it or not. I have received countless letters containing a great many questions and requests. » Especially concerning the Third Secret and the consecration of Russia.

« I should have liked to be able to reply to each one separately, but as this was not possible… » For what reason? Sister Lucy does not say why, but one only has to read Brother Francis’ book to be able to understand: because she is forbidden to do so (pp. 65, 238 ff.).

« … I am replying now to all in general with “Calls from the Message of Fatima”, which God chose to entrust to me on behalf of all. » This last declaration brushes aside the distinction “public revelation” – “private revelation”, dear to Cardinal Ratzinger. The “Calls from the Message of Fatima” are for « all », in the same way as the Gospels, the Epistles of St. Paul or the Book of the Apocalypse.

« I do so in the conviction that this is God’s will, recognised as such by legitimate authority », that is to say by the authority of the hierarchy.

In writing the preface to the book, Mgr Serafim de Sousa Ferreira e Silva, the Bishop of Leira-Fatima, did indeed write:

« The author of this work is Sister Lucy (Sister Mary-Lucy of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart to give her full religious name), who is so well known that there is no need for a preliminary word of introduction. » This is somewhat on the short side! There would however be much to say, especially to those who already know her and love her! This for example: « Sister Lucy is an extraordinary woman, strong and trustworthy; she has the calibre of a country woman and an amazing memory. » This is how the Cardinal Patriarch of Venice, Albino Luciani spoke of her, after having met with the seer in the parlor. He also said:

« She speaks with short, broken phrases, which go straight to the heart of problems and events. She is seventy years old, and yet she retains the freshness of a young girl. Her eyes are clear. She is simple, spontaneous, calm and smiling. She lives as though she were the last of the Carmelites. She speaks with an open heart, without searching for her words; she is profoundly convinced of what she is saying, and she says it with passion. »

We shall see this in reading her book. For she is indeed its author. We can believe the Bishop of Leiria-Fatima: « Nevertheless, in order to avoid any doubts or misunderstandings, I wish to assure readers of this book that it was her idea and was written by her. » Mgr Ferreira knows that we have thousands of reasons to be wary, ever since her superiors required her to sign apocryphal letters. (Brother Francis, p. 453).

She therefore wanted to write this book. Not on her own initiative, be quite assured of this, but entrusted with a mission, a message from Heaven, as she had just said, « in the conviction that this is God’s will, recognised as such by legitimate authority »

« … and I offer for all the sacrifice that this work will require of me ». What sacrifice? That of her own insights, even supernatural ones, sacrificed to obedience, to the judgement of her superiors and to their will. « It is very enlightening, writes Brother Francis, for understanding Sister Lucy’s attitude, to recall the warning of Our Lord to Saint Margaret-Mary: « I am pleased that you prefer the will of your superiors to mine, when they prevent you from doing what I order you to do. Let them do whatever they want with you; I will find a way for my plans to succeed, even through means that may seem opposed and contradictory to them.” »

Sister Lucy continues :

« It is not an interpretation of the Message; this pertains to God’s Church. Neither is it an historical account of the Apparitions, as this is already known to you. Many authors have told the story better than I could ever have done, and it is contained in many books that have been spread throughout the world. »

Among them, the works of our Brother Francis and of his predecessor Brother Michael of the Holy Trinity, of our Sister Frances of the Holy Dove, which have been accepted as reference works.

« All I wish to do is to reply to the questions, and clarify the doubts, that have been put to me. »

How? By means already used by Our Lord with St. Margaret-Mary, means which seem opposed and contradictory to His plans, since Sister Lucy omits a good part of what she had received as her mission to reveal to the world: the great Secret of 13 July 1917, the reparatory devotion of the five First Saturdays, the request for the Russia’s consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. « For, Brother Francis writes, by forcing the holy Carmelite to neglect significant elements of Our Lady’s message, her directors have prepared, without knowing it, the triumph of the Fatima cause. For, the heroic patience of Sister Lucy and her unfailing obedience to those who represent and who are for her the Authority of the Holy Church, from her prioress and her confessor up to the reigning Pope, bring a new proof of the supernatural origin of the apparitions, visions, interior locutions, to which she gave witness in the past. »

Her silence on these burning issues accuses the aforementioned superiors, bishops and Popes, of ill will.

Her heroic obedience accuses their disobedience.

One conclusion is certain : undoubtedly, « all the requests she addressed to her directors, to the Bishops of Fatima and the Popes themselves, were and still are today, authentic requests from the Queen of Heaven and earth » (p. 492-493).

WORDS OF A WOMAN INSPIRED

Nevertheless, they are constantly on her mind when she writes. These requests show through on every page as we will see in reading her carefully. May we follow her recommendation:

« Please do not look upon this communication as something that comes from myself. Look upon it, rather as the echo of the voice of God, and let us all willingly endeavour to follow faithfully the path that He has mapped out for us. »

This « path », we know, is the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. But Sister Lucy does not specify this… Not through an oversight. Through obedience.

« Yes, because it was out of love that God sent us this pressing call from His mercy, in order to help us along the way of our eternal salvation. »

She had read this word “mercy”, written in crystalline letters that were formed by the trickle of water running down from the left arm of the luminous Cross in the vision of Tuy… of which she is forbidden to speak.

Therefore, she quotes the Gospel:

« “I am the Way; I am the Truth and the Life” (Jn 14.6): said the Lord to his Apostles, and also to us. Those who follow the Way of the Truth, who is the Word of God, follow Jesus Christ, and have within them the Source of life. Again, it is Our Lord who has told us: « The words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and Life. It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing.” (Jn 6.63) So it is with my eyes fixed on the Way of Truth… »,

that is to say, on this very Jesus Christ whom she saw nailed to the luminous Cross at Tuy,

« that I shall endeavour to explain the Message to you exactly as God entrusted it to me, and gave me to understand what it means and to which souls it is addressed. »

Who are these souls? Further on, we will learn that they are « the souls that are making their way to God ». This expression, the very one which concludes the Third Secret, is going to turn up several times like a refrain that informs us that Sister Lucy’s book is a commentary on the great Secret of 13 July 1917, but between the lines, without saying it overtly.

« I would ask you, therefore, not to pay any attention to the poverty and ignorance of the instrument which God chooses to use, because He is in the habit of choosing poor and useless instruments to accomplish the works of His power, knowledge and wisdom. This will be yet another proof He is giving you that the work is His and not mine. » (Calls, p. 35)

The solemnity of this warning cannot be sufficiently stressed. An inspired author, of the Old or the New Testament, would not speak otherwise.

Moreover, it can be said that Sister Lucy entered her career as a « prophet » at the age of ten, on 13 October 1917, according to Doctor Carlos Mendes’ testimony. He took her into his arms to carry her through the crowd that was withdrawing in good order after contemplating the miracle of the sun:

« My shoulder became the first platform from which she preached the message that Our Lady of the Rosary had just entrusted her with. With great enthusiasm and great faith, she cried out: “Do penance! Do penance! Our Lady wants you to do penance. If you do penance, the war will end...” She appeared inspired... It was really impressive to hear her. Her voice had a certain intonation, like the voice of a great prophet. » (Sister Frances, pp. 275-276)

In her sixth Memoir, Sister Lucy writes on the same tone, not being afraid of comparing herself to the patriarch Isaac, father of a great nation: « While I write, I remember the story of Abraham and of his son Isaac. The latter was climbing up the mountain, loaded with the bundle of wood that would serve for his sacrifice, but he did not suspect this, and God sent him a ram to replace him for the holocaust, and He made him the father of renowned and numerous descendants.

« I as well carried the wood, [that of « a large Cross of rough-hewn trunks as of a cork-tree with its bark », carried as a heavy secret], and God also gave me a numerous posterity [all the « souls that were making their way to God » by going on pilgrimage to Fatima], not according to nature, flesh and blood, but according to God’s grace and blessing and the motherly protection of our Mother of Heaven.

« My posterity is numerous, scattered throughout the world. From those far-flung regions they call me, they hold out an imploring hand to me; those far-off children are asking me for God’s blessing, Our Lady’s protection, the cure for their illness, comfort in their anguish, strength in their life’s fights and light to illuminate their way. There are the descendants that God has granted me; we are united, not by bonds of nature, but by those of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. St. Paul said it to us in those words: «It is in one Spirit that we all have been baptised, in order to create one body; Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, we all have quenched our thirst of one Spirit.” (1 Co 12, 13)

« It is this Spirit who makes the whole earth fruitful, who makes the entire human being bear fruit, who transforms all of us into sons of the same Father who is the eternal, immense and immortal God, who makes us all participate in His immortality. All those who are seeking the Lord enter his posterity… and you who are united to us in this same Spirit of faith, hope and love, you who come from so far, or from very near, and who pass through this poor house, so modest a house as this [ the house of the dos Santos in Aljustrel ], you are repeating the echo of voices of those who preceded us, working, praying and singing, and now, in Heaven, they sing the new Canticle of thanksgiving and praise of our only God, our true Saviour. » (Sixth Memoir, p. 96-97)

Let us listen to Sister Lucy. Her book has been translated into six languages, but not into French! We will quote from the original text, translated from Portuguese by our good offices. Before enumerating the twenty “Calls from the Message of Fatima”, Sister Lucy presents, in a first part, entitled “In the presence of God”, the “families of the little shepherd children” and the “Guardian Angel”.

The Catholic Counter-Reformation in the 21^st century
HE IS RISEN!
N^o 12	Editor : Abbé Georges de Nantes	August 2003