Fatima Examined (2017)
Fr. Martin Fuchs´s sermon on 14th May 2017, Prague, Czech
republic
***
Exactly one
hundred years ago, Our Lady appeared to three children at Fatima. These
apparitions have been carefully examined and considered authentic by the
Catholic Church.
During the
apparitions from the 13th May till the 13th October, the communication between
Our Lady and the children was different. Jacinta could see and hear Our Lady,
Lucia could see and hear Our Lady speaking and only she could also speak to
her. Francesco could see her but he could not hear what she was saying.
It is similar to
what we read in the Acts about the conversion of Saul. Saul could see and hear
a voice. His travel companions could hear but they could not see. (Acts 9:7)
Let us have a look
at the most important stages of such an examination:
1. True doctrine
must have been proclaimed.
2. A supernatural
origin, an intervention of God must be proved.
3. The seers must
lead a real Christian life.
Point 1: The true
doctrine must have been proclaimed.
This is important
but not sufficient by itself because everybody who has really learnt the
catechism is able to proclaim the true doctrine.
We see that an angel appeared to the child seers in Fatima
three times in 1916.
The Catholic
catechism teaches about the existence of angels and that they can visibly
appear. The angel also taught the children a prayer which fully corresponds to
the Catholic doctrine:
“O my God, I believe in You, I worship You, I
trust in You and I love You. I ask your forgiveness for those who do not
believe in You, do not worship You, do not trust in You and do not love You.”
The angel gave the
Holy Communion to the children. Saint Thomas Aquinas teaches that an angel
cannot administer a sacrament but that he can bring men the fruits of the
sacrament.
The angel gave the
Holy Host to Lucia and the Precious Blood to Jacinta and Francesco.
Investigations showed that these came from the church of Juncal.
On the 13th of May
Lucia asked about the destiny of two dead girls from Aljustrel. Our Lady
answered: “One of them is in Heaven, the other one still has to wait in the
purgatory.“ Our Heavenly Mother thus proclaimed the existence of the purgatory.
On the 13th of
June the apparition spoke of Heaven. Lucia asked Mary to take her to Heaven
with her. And she got the following answer: “Yes, I will take Jacinta and
Francesco to Heaven soon. You, however, will have to stay here for a while.
Jesus wants to use you so that men will recognize me.“ On this occasion Lucia
pleaded for a sick person.
Thus the Catholic
faith in the community of the saints is expressed: Men can pray for each other
and appeal to the saints. Our Lady consoled her with the words: “If he returns
to God, if he converts, he will be cured.“
This is an
important condition in the religious life! The temporary well-being is
subordinated to eternal welfare.
“If he returns to
God, he will be cured.“ God wants the salvation of the soul and everything else
has to be subordinated to this purpose.
On occasion of
this apparition the Blessed Virgin promised salvation to those who practice the
devotion to Her Immaculate Heart.
On the 13th of
July 1917 Mary showed the hell to the children. They saw angels and men there.
Mary talked about the necessity of prayer and penance. In fact the war would
end soon but if men do not stop offending God, a much greater war will break
out under the pontificate of Pius XI. And then she taught Lucia the following
prayer: “O my Jesus, have mercy on us.
Forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Take all souls into
heaven, especially, those most in need of thy mercy. Amen.” And she
requested that it be repeated after every decade of the Rosary.
On the 13th of
August the Heavenly Mother did not appear because the children were kept
prisoners until the 19th of August. On the 19th of August she said that men had
to collaborate with the God’s grace and that they should make many sacrifices
and make penance.
On the 13th of
September she announced miracles. The Catholic catechism also teaches that
miracles are necessary. Miracles can only be produced by God and by these works
man can recognize the true religion.
Mary asked the
children for moderation. They should wear the penitential belt during the day.
On the 13th of
October the Holy Family appeared. On this day the famous Miracle of the Sun took place and many sick persons were cured.
Point 2: A
supernatural origin, an intervention of God has to be proved.
On the 13th of
October the announced Miracle of the Sun took place which could be noticed in a
distance of 30 miles during 3 x 10 minutes. But also many sick persons were
cured and many people returned to God on this day.
Numberless graces
can be attributed to Fatima. How many Rosaries might have been said due to
these apparitions? How many people might have returned to God? How many prayer
nights has been hold since then? And how much penance has been made since then?
God alone knows their number!
Point 3: The seers
must lead a real Christian life.
Jacinta,
Francesco, and Lucia led the pious lives. They made great sacrifices, said many
Rosaries, and they were even ready to go into the fire for the truth.
They did not want
anything but to go to Heaven one day and to save many souls.
Francesco died in
1919 from the Spanish influenza and Jacinta followed him one year later. Before
she died, she said to a nurse: “If the people knew about the eternity, they
would certainly do everything to change their lives. They should avoid a
luxurious life! They should love the poverty! Love everyone, evil people, too!
They should not say anything bad about others or contempt them. They should
have patience. Patience leads to heaven!”
Lucia entered the
carmel of Coimbra and died there on the 13th February 2005.
Fatima is an
apparition which came from heaven. Fatima was the last great grace! Let us
follow the appeal of Our Lady. Amen.
