Fatima: Important for Catholics and Pope Benedict XVI

A photostatic copy of a page from Ilustração Portugueza, October 29, 1917

Today many in the Roman Catholic faith reflect upon a miracle that many believe happened in the sky in Fatima, Portugal on October 13, 1917. Many believe that an apparition claiming to be Mary, mother of Jesus, (directly or indirectly) caused the sun to “dance in the sky” on this day as proof that the apparitions and the related messages were from God. The apparition that appeared in known as “Our Lady of Fatima”.

The apparition, who did not initially give her name, began a series of monthly visits seen by three Portuguese children: Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco beginning on May 13, 1917. This culminated in a large group claiming seeing some type of change in the sky on October 13, 1917. At least Lucia and Jacinta claimed to have received certain messages from the apparition.

While in the past, Pope Benedict XVI acted like much of the messages were essentially historical and of no significant future use, earlier this year he made some statements that Fatima watchers found of interest. Here are some of what Pope Benedict stated:

…Our Lady of Fatima. Dearly beloved brothers and sisters, I too have come as a pilgrim to Fatima, to this “home” from which Mary chose to speak to us in modern times…

We would be mistaken to think that Fatima’s prophetic mission is complete…(Vatican Radio, May 13, 2010. http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=392469)

…this great vision…pointed out realities of the future of the Church…not only attacks coming from the outside to the Pope and the Church, but the sufferings of the Church come from right inside the Church, by the sins committed inside the Church itself (Pope Benedict XVI vindicates Fatima Center. Fatima Crusader magazine. Summer 2010 issue, p. 4)

The Pope’s statements suggest, like many of us who have reviewed differing accounts of the “third secret” tend to believe, that part of the message from Fatima was that part of the Catholic Church would ultimately become unfaithful to it. And this is not just limited to the sex scandals that have rocked the Vatican around the world (including in Southern California).

The Pontiff’s current position does not seem to be exactly the same as he wrote about it in the year 2000, which was prior to becoming pope:

A careful reading of the text of the so-called third “secret” of Fatima, published here in its entirety long after the fact and by decision of the Holy Father, will probably prove disappointing or surprising after all the speculation it has stirred. No great mystery is revealed; nor is the future unveiled. (Ratzinger Joseph, Prefect of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith. Fatima: Theological Commentary. 2000. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000626_message-fatima_en.html)

Has he changed his views? The Fatima Crusader magazine hints that he did and clearly believes that he vindicated many of their long held views on the “third” (or fourth) secret.

But irrespective of what may or may not be part of the “third secret” from Fatima and the pontiff’s positions, the reality is that there are many private Catholic prophecies/writings that suggest that an antipope will arise and betray the Catholic Church. This is also consistent with biblical prophecy about the betrayal of a city that resembles Rome by the final Beast power (Revelation 17:15-16).

Some Fatima watchers have claimed that something negative was to happen in the Church of Rome in 1972 and would fulfill part of one of the secrets of Fatima (see also Pope Benedict in Fatima, Portugal).

That view is also consistent with views espoused by at least two relatively recent Catholic leaders:

Pope Paul VI spoke on June 29, 1972 at St. Peter’s Basilica and said: “By means of some fissure, the smoke of Satan has entered the temple of God…(Ligourian, Volume 60, 1972, p. 70)

Vatican Chief Exorcist Priest Gabriele Amorth (March 2010) said: “he has dealt with 70,000 cases of demonic possession, said that the consequences of satanic infiltration included power struggles at the Vatican as well as “cardinals who do not believe in Jesus, and bishops who are linked to the Demon“. He added: “When one speaks of ‘the smoke of Satan’ [a phrase coined by Pope Paul VI in 1972] in the holy rooms, it is all true – including these latest stories of violence and paedophilia.”” http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7056689.ece

Both biblical and Catholic prophecy tell of a coming ecumenical religious leader (who sounds like an antipope) that will not really believe in his faith. Such leaders are already in the Vatican if people such as Priest Amorth can be believed (see also Vatican’s Chief Exorcist Claims the Devil is in the Vatican).

It perhaps should be mentioned that it appears that from both biblical (cf. 1 Timothy 4:1-4) and Catholic prophecy, problems like this sex scandal were expected to affect the Church of Rome in the end times (see Vatican sex scandals may fulfill Catholic prophecy for details). And this is to apparently coincide with an ecumenical leader who rise up, and be trusted by many (biblically known as The King of the North) along with an ecumenical pope who is expected to make changes to the Church. These leaders are alive today (see also Guttenberg holds military meeting in Berlin. Might he become the King of the North?). One is likely to be an antipope who will become the final Antichrist.

And it may be that Pope Benedict XVI somewhat confirmed that there was more to the Fatima secrets this year.

Perhaps it should be noted that “No movement or other phenomenon of the sun was registered by scientists at the time” (Wikipedia), so many discount that anything happened on October 13, 1917.

Yet, whether it did or not, there is no doubt that many feel that the Fatima message is important.

Others, though have advised extreme caution. Notice some of what my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect reports:

Even some Eastern Orthodox writers have been concerned that apparitions of “Mary” will be used as an ecumenical symbol for a false unity for Catholics, Muslims, and others that will lead people to follow the final Antichrist:

Peter Jackson (20^th century): To which Mary are Muslims and Protestants being drawn?… Rome began to see her more and more as a “goddess,” a fourth Hypostasis of the Trinity…Today, as heterodox Christians become more and more ecumenist and work toward creating a “One World Church,” the search has begun for a Mary of universal recognition, one who will appeal not only to those who bear the name Christian, but apparently to Muslims and others as well, just as attempts are likewise being made to identify the “new Christ” with the Muslim concept of their coming Mahdi and with the Messiah still awaited by the Jews. This, of course, will be no Christ at all but the antichrist.

Many people of all persuasions, including apparently atheists are going to fall away from their current beliefs in vast numbers (even according to many Catholic leaders) to embrace one who will promote a powerful ecumenical religion that is to be accompanied by what will appear to be real miracles.

But, a small group will not be deceived, even by such wonders:

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect (Matthew 24:24, KJV).

While I do believe that Catholics need to be concerned from problems arising within the Vatican, I also believe that they should not put their faith in apparitions claiming to be Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Ecumenical compromise within the walls of the Vatican is expected to accelerate and Catholics need to be on guard that they are not individually swept away by it. And this needs to be the case whether or not there are future apparitions claiming to be the Mother of Jesus who do so–even if these apparitions are seen by multiple millions. We seem to be moving into very dangerous times.

For more information on Fatima and other mystic Catholic claims, please check out the following:

Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions Do you know much about Mary? Are the apparitions real? What happened at Fatima? What might they mean for the rise of the ecumenical religion of Antichrist? Are Protestants moving towards Mary? How do the Orthodox view Mary? How might Mary view her adorers?
Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus? Will the final “Anti-Christ” be Jewish, insist on Saturday, be opposed to the trinity, and bring in the millennium? Certain Catholic writings indicate this, while others take a different view, but what does the Bible show?
Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster?