Sister Lucia Confirmed That Russia Had Been Consecrated to Mary
VATICAN CITY, 14 FEB. 2005 (ZENIT)The Fatima secret has been totally
revealed by the Vatican, and Russia has already been consecrated as Mary
requested, confirmed Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate
Heart.
The witness of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin of Fatima made this
statement to the then secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith, Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, on Nov. 17, 2001, contradicting
those who say that the Church still has secrets about the Marian
apparition.
The content of the interview held between the Vatican representative and
Sister Lucia in the convent of Coimbra, Portugal, where she resided, was
made public by the Vatican press office on Dec. 20, 2001.
The text of the document states: "In recent months, especially following
the sad events of the September 11 terrorist attacks, articles appeared
in newspapers alleging new revelations by Sister Lucia, announcements of
letters of warning to the Pope, and apocalyptic reinterpretations of the
Fatima message."
"Moreover, emphasis was placed on the suspicion that the Holy See had
not published the entire text of the third part of the secret, and some
'Fatimist' movements have repeated the accusation that the Holy Father
has yet to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary," the
document continues.
As a result, the Vatican note clarifies, it was considered necessary
that Archbishop Bertone go personally "to clarify and obtain direct
information from the visionary."
The meeting was held in the presence of Father Luis Kondor, vice
postulator of the cause of Blessed Francisco and Jacinta (the other
Fatima visionaries), and of the prioress of St. Teresa's Carmelite
Convent.
The conversation took place on the afternoon of that Nov. 17 and lasted
more than two hours. Sister Lucia, then 94, "was in great form -- lucid
and vivacious," the Vatican envoy said.
The meeting addressed the question of the third part of the secret of
Fatima. The Portuguese religious said that she had read "carefully and
meditated on the fascicle published by the Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith and confirms everything that is written," the Vatican
statement noted.
When the archbishop explained that there are doubts that part of the
secret remains unknown, Sister Lucia replied: "Everything has been
published; there are no more secrets."
"If I had received new revelations, I would not have communicated them
to anyone, but I would have told them directly to the Holy Father," the
religious added.
There was then talk about the statements of Nicholas Gruner, a Canadian
priest suspended "a divinis," who is collecting signatures insisting
that the Pope finally consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
and alleging that this has never been done.
Sister Lucia told the archbishop: "The Carmel community has rejected the
forms for the collection of signatures. I have already said that the
consecration requested by Our Lady was done in 1984, and it has been
accepted in heaven."
Lastly, the conversation turned to Sister Lucia's personal life. Some
press articles suggested that her concern robbed her of sleep and that
she was praying night and day.
The religious answered: "It's not true. How would I be able to pray
during the day if I did not sleep at night? How many things they
attribute to me! How many things they make me do! They should read my
book; the advice and appeals that correspond to Our Lady's wishes are
there. Prayer and penance, with great faith in God's power, will save
the world." ZE05021409
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