Post by Pacelli on Feb 23, 2023 17:32:15 GMT -5
The following is fascinating commentary on the very interesting statement made by Our Lady in which she stated that "In Portugal the Dogma of the Faith will always be preserved."
The excerpt is from the book, The Whole Truth About Fatima, Vol. III, Frère Michel de la Sainte Trinite. 1983. The entire book is scanned and can be found on archive.org, and also in text format HERE
One common issue that people often bring up when this statement of Our Lady is brought up is that by all appearances Portugal has gone the way of the world, and seems to be decadent, and the Conciliar sect with its Novus Ordo is well entrenched there. That all may be true, but Our Lady does not say the extent to which the Faith will be preserved in Portugal, only that it will be preserved there, and perhaps we can reason that this will be by some special protection of God over this country. Another observation is that Our Lady seems to alluding that the Faith will be preserved in a time when either the rest of the world, or perhaps most of the rest of the world will fall away, so it may be that this statement guarantees that when this happens, Portugal will not completely fall away.
(All emphasis added):
The excerpt is from the book, The Whole Truth About Fatima, Vol. III, Frère Michel de la Sainte Trinite. 1983. The entire book is scanned and can be found on archive.org, and also in text format HERE
One common issue that people often bring up when this statement of Our Lady is brought up is that by all appearances Portugal has gone the way of the world, and seems to be decadent, and the Conciliar sect with its Novus Ordo is well entrenched there. That all may be true, but Our Lady does not say the extent to which the Faith will be preserved in Portugal, only that it will be preserved there, and perhaps we can reason that this will be by some special protection of God over this country. Another observation is that Our Lady seems to alluding that the Faith will be preserved in a time when either the rest of the world, or perhaps most of the rest of the world will fall away, so it may be that this statement guarantees that when this happens, Portugal will not completely fall away.
(All emphasis added):
I. «IN PORTUGAL THE DOGMA OF THE FAITH WILL ALWAYS BE PRESERVED»
THE DECISIVE SENTENCE
Along with the many historical facts and positive criteria already pointed out, in effect we are aware of a little sentence which is, in all certainty, an element of the authentic third Secret. It is this sentence which gives us the key: «Em Portugal se conservara sempre o dogma da fé, etc. In Portugal, the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved, etc.»
This little sentence which, curiously, has gone unnoticed by the majority of Fatima historians,1012 is obviously of vital importance. Since Lucy’s Memoirs were published in their integral text, in effect we can make a decisive critical remark: in her third Memoir, written in July-August 1941, Sister Lucy had been content to mention the existence of a third part of the Secret, but as yet she had said nothing about it. A few months later, in her fourth Memoir, written between October-December 1941, she decided to say more. She recopied almost word for word the text of the third Memoir, but adding after the final words – «... and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world» – the new sentence: «Em Portugal se conservara sempre o dogma da fé, etc.»
Thus we now know the first sentence of the final Secret. This addition is definitely significant. For it is certain that Sister Lucy did not insert it here out of levity, but in the specific intention of showing us, in a veiled manner, the essential contents of the third Secret. Indeed, in 1943, when Bishop da Silva had asked her to write down the text, and she was encountering insurmountable obstacles in obeying this order, she declared that it was not absolutely necessary to do so, «since in a certain manner she had said it».1013 Undoubtedly she was alluding to the ten words discreetly added in December 1941 to the text of the great Secret – but added so discreetly that almost nobody noticed them. However, they are very enlightening when we stop and think about them.
A REASSURING PROMISE...
«In Portugal, the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved.» This is a reassuring promise concerning the Faith of Portugal, parallel to the other promise of the temporal order from which the “Land of Holy Mary” had already benefited. These two promises shed a mutual light on each other.
On August 18, 1940, Sister Lucy wrote to Father Gonçalves:
«The proof that (God) gives us (of the authenticity of His requests) is the special protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary over Portugal due to its consecration to Her. Those people whom you write to me about have a good reason to be scared. All this would have happened to us, had our bishops not paid attention to the requests of Our Good Lord, and prayed with all their heart for His mercy and the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, our Blessed Heavenly Mother.»1014
A few months later, in her letter of October 24, 1940, destined for Pope Pius XII, she wrote:
«Our Lord promises a special protection to our little nation due to the consecration made by the Portuguese Prelates to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as proof of the graces that would have been granted to other nations, had they also consecrated themselves to Her.»1015
It is clear that for the same reason, because of the filial devotion of its Pastors to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Portugal «will always preserve the dogma of the Faith».
However, it is important not to exaggerate the contents of this promise. The wording is impersonal: the true Faith will be preserved in Portugal – but it is not said by whom. Will it be by a unanimous nation or by a tiny remnant of the Faithful? In any case, it is not a striking triumph for the Church being announced. The obvious meaning of the phrase is different; this promise, which is narrowly limited in space, supposes a broader picture which is very sombre. Father Messias Dias Coelho noted it again recently: «This allusion, so positive about what will happen among us, suggests to us that it will be different around us...»1016
... IN A DRAMATIC CONTEXT
This unconditional prophecy concerning Portugal “most faithful” – to repeat the title once granted the kings of Portugal by the Popes – is situated in a context which we know, through other sources, is extremely grave and tragic. As we have said, the third Secret is surely a prophecy of chastisement. It comes immediately after the final words of the second Secret, which are so terrible: «The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated.» And the events which it announces appear again as the fearsome consequences of refusing to accomplish Our Lady’s requests. Finally, we know that it is being fulfilled during the intermediate period which began in 1960, and will last until the end of the chastisements with the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Indeed all the experts are in accord on this point. In her fourth Memoir, when she discreetly revealed the first sentence of the third Secret, Sister Lucy did not situate it in its logical place. She added it all at the end of the Secret, while its real place is obviously between the second part and the general conclusion.1017
Thus the obvious meaning of the first words of the third Secret, when they are considered in their immediate context, leaves little room for doubt.
II. APOSTASY WILL INVADE THE CHURCH
We can do no better than to quote Father Alonso’s judicious commentary here:
«“In Portugal, the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved”: The phrase most clearly implies a critical state of Faith, which other nations will suffer, that is to say, a crisis of Faith; whereas Portugal will preserve its Faith.»1018
Father Alonso writes again:
«In the period preceding the great triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, terrible things are to happen. These form the content of the third part of the Secret. What are they?
«If “in Portugal the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved”... it can be clearly deduced from this that in other parts of the Church these dogmas are going to become obscure or even lost altogether.»1019
«Thus it is quite possible that, in this intermediate period which is in question (after 1960 and before the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary), the text makes concrete references to the crisis of the Faith of the Church and to the negligence of the pastors themselves.»1020
«One conclusion does indeed seem to be beyond question: the content of the unpublished part of the Secret does not refer to new wars or political upheavals, but to happenings of a religious and intra-Church character, which of their nature are still more grave.»1021
THE RALLYING OF THE EXPERTS
It must be remarked that Father Alonso was not the first to express this hypothesis. It imposes itself as soon as we pay serious attention to the first words of the third Secret, purposely revealed by Sister Lucy. In 1967, Father Martins dos Reis wrote in Sintese Critica:
«Everything which was said (on the contents of the third Secret) was nothing more than fantasies in bad taste, except what has to do with a crisis in “the dogma of the Faith” in certain nations, and less so in Portugal...»1022
In 1968, Father Roger Rebut was more explicit:
«This statement of the Blessed Virgin suggests, by opposition to the word always, that in other places it will not be the same. These words recall Our Lady’s words pronounced at La Salette and Pellevoisin regarding the Church.»1023
Before long, the majority of Portuguese experts rallied to this hypothesis: Father Messias Dias Coelho, publicly, in his journal Mensagem de Fatima; more discreetly, Canon Galamba, Father Luis Kondor, vice-postulator of the causes of beatification for Jacinta and Francisco, and undoubtedly Bishop Venancio himself, who strongly desired publication of Father Alonso’s works.
Can we be more precise on the probable contents of this prophecy concerning the crisis of the Faith? In 1970, Father Messias Dias Coelho wrote:
«From the mouths of some Fatima experts we were able to hear this opinion: very probably the third part of the Secret does not only speak about the crisis of the Faith, but also about the countries in which it is more acutely felt.»1024
We know that this was also Father Schweigl’s opinion. He confided it to a member of his entourage – from whom we have this information – after returning from his investigative trip to Portugal, when he had the privilege of being able to question Sister Lucy at length.
AN UNPRECEDENTED APOSTASY
Whether various nations are cited in the Secret or not, we now know that it concerns not only a crisis of the Faith strictly limited to some regions of the world: «The loss of Faith of a continent (declares the Bishop of Leiria) is worse than the annihilation of a nation; and it is true that Faith is continually diminishing in Europe.»1025
As for Cardinal Ratzinger, it is clear that his declarations to Vittorio Messori, in August 1984, equally confirm Father Alonso’s hypothesis. The Cardinal tells us that the third Secret of Fatima deals with «dangers threatening the faith and life of Christians, and therefore the world». It is even probable that it was reading this extraordinary document that made the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith decide to denounce the grave errors which have taken root, and today threaten the integrity of the Catholic Faith in four continents out of five.1026
Such a crisis of faith, on the scale of several nations or entire continents, has a name in Holy Scripture: apostasy. The word itself might even be found in the text of the Secret.
Now everything is clear. This hypothesis, and it alone, corresponds perfectly to all the data concerning the mysterious Secret – we will have an opportunity to return to this point in the next chapter. And first of all, the fulfilment of this prophecy, expressed at the Cova da Iria forty years earlier, is as striking as it is undeniable.
THE DECISIVE SENTENCE
Along with the many historical facts and positive criteria already pointed out, in effect we are aware of a little sentence which is, in all certainty, an element of the authentic third Secret. It is this sentence which gives us the key: «Em Portugal se conservara sempre o dogma da fé, etc. In Portugal, the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved, etc.»
This little sentence which, curiously, has gone unnoticed by the majority of Fatima historians,1012 is obviously of vital importance. Since Lucy’s Memoirs were published in their integral text, in effect we can make a decisive critical remark: in her third Memoir, written in July-August 1941, Sister Lucy had been content to mention the existence of a third part of the Secret, but as yet she had said nothing about it. A few months later, in her fourth Memoir, written between October-December 1941, she decided to say more. She recopied almost word for word the text of the third Memoir, but adding after the final words – «... and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world» – the new sentence: «Em Portugal se conservara sempre o dogma da fé, etc.»
Thus we now know the first sentence of the final Secret. This addition is definitely significant. For it is certain that Sister Lucy did not insert it here out of levity, but in the specific intention of showing us, in a veiled manner, the essential contents of the third Secret. Indeed, in 1943, when Bishop da Silva had asked her to write down the text, and she was encountering insurmountable obstacles in obeying this order, she declared that it was not absolutely necessary to do so, «since in a certain manner she had said it».1013 Undoubtedly she was alluding to the ten words discreetly added in December 1941 to the text of the great Secret – but added so discreetly that almost nobody noticed them. However, they are very enlightening when we stop and think about them.
A REASSURING PROMISE...
«In Portugal, the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved.» This is a reassuring promise concerning the Faith of Portugal, parallel to the other promise of the temporal order from which the “Land of Holy Mary” had already benefited. These two promises shed a mutual light on each other.
On August 18, 1940, Sister Lucy wrote to Father Gonçalves:
«The proof that (God) gives us (of the authenticity of His requests) is the special protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary over Portugal due to its consecration to Her. Those people whom you write to me about have a good reason to be scared. All this would have happened to us, had our bishops not paid attention to the requests of Our Good Lord, and prayed with all their heart for His mercy and the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, our Blessed Heavenly Mother.»1014
A few months later, in her letter of October 24, 1940, destined for Pope Pius XII, she wrote:
«Our Lord promises a special protection to our little nation due to the consecration made by the Portuguese Prelates to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as proof of the graces that would have been granted to other nations, had they also consecrated themselves to Her.»1015
It is clear that for the same reason, because of the filial devotion of its Pastors to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Portugal «will always preserve the dogma of the Faith».
However, it is important not to exaggerate the contents of this promise. The wording is impersonal: the true Faith will be preserved in Portugal – but it is not said by whom. Will it be by a unanimous nation or by a tiny remnant of the Faithful? In any case, it is not a striking triumph for the Church being announced. The obvious meaning of the phrase is different; this promise, which is narrowly limited in space, supposes a broader picture which is very sombre. Father Messias Dias Coelho noted it again recently: «This allusion, so positive about what will happen among us, suggests to us that it will be different around us...»1016
... IN A DRAMATIC CONTEXT
This unconditional prophecy concerning Portugal “most faithful” – to repeat the title once granted the kings of Portugal by the Popes – is situated in a context which we know, through other sources, is extremely grave and tragic. As we have said, the third Secret is surely a prophecy of chastisement. It comes immediately after the final words of the second Secret, which are so terrible: «The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated.» And the events which it announces appear again as the fearsome consequences of refusing to accomplish Our Lady’s requests. Finally, we know that it is being fulfilled during the intermediate period which began in 1960, and will last until the end of the chastisements with the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Indeed all the experts are in accord on this point. In her fourth Memoir, when she discreetly revealed the first sentence of the third Secret, Sister Lucy did not situate it in its logical place. She added it all at the end of the Secret, while its real place is obviously between the second part and the general conclusion.1017
Thus the obvious meaning of the first words of the third Secret, when they are considered in their immediate context, leaves little room for doubt.
II. APOSTASY WILL INVADE THE CHURCH
We can do no better than to quote Father Alonso’s judicious commentary here:
«“In Portugal, the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved”: The phrase most clearly implies a critical state of Faith, which other nations will suffer, that is to say, a crisis of Faith; whereas Portugal will preserve its Faith.»1018
Father Alonso writes again:
«In the period preceding the great triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, terrible things are to happen. These form the content of the third part of the Secret. What are they?
«If “in Portugal the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved”... it can be clearly deduced from this that in other parts of the Church these dogmas are going to become obscure or even lost altogether.»1019
«Thus it is quite possible that, in this intermediate period which is in question (after 1960 and before the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary), the text makes concrete references to the crisis of the Faith of the Church and to the negligence of the pastors themselves.»1020
«One conclusion does indeed seem to be beyond question: the content of the unpublished part of the Secret does not refer to new wars or political upheavals, but to happenings of a religious and intra-Church character, which of their nature are still more grave.»1021
THE RALLYING OF THE EXPERTS
It must be remarked that Father Alonso was not the first to express this hypothesis. It imposes itself as soon as we pay serious attention to the first words of the third Secret, purposely revealed by Sister Lucy. In 1967, Father Martins dos Reis wrote in Sintese Critica:
«Everything which was said (on the contents of the third Secret) was nothing more than fantasies in bad taste, except what has to do with a crisis in “the dogma of the Faith” in certain nations, and less so in Portugal...»1022
In 1968, Father Roger Rebut was more explicit:
«This statement of the Blessed Virgin suggests, by opposition to the word always, that in other places it will not be the same. These words recall Our Lady’s words pronounced at La Salette and Pellevoisin regarding the Church.»1023
Before long, the majority of Portuguese experts rallied to this hypothesis: Father Messias Dias Coelho, publicly, in his journal Mensagem de Fatima; more discreetly, Canon Galamba, Father Luis Kondor, vice-postulator of the causes of beatification for Jacinta and Francisco, and undoubtedly Bishop Venancio himself, who strongly desired publication of Father Alonso’s works.
Can we be more precise on the probable contents of this prophecy concerning the crisis of the Faith? In 1970, Father Messias Dias Coelho wrote:
«From the mouths of some Fatima experts we were able to hear this opinion: very probably the third part of the Secret does not only speak about the crisis of the Faith, but also about the countries in which it is more acutely felt.»1024
We know that this was also Father Schweigl’s opinion. He confided it to a member of his entourage – from whom we have this information – after returning from his investigative trip to Portugal, when he had the privilege of being able to question Sister Lucy at length.
AN UNPRECEDENTED APOSTASY
Whether various nations are cited in the Secret or not, we now know that it concerns not only a crisis of the Faith strictly limited to some regions of the world: «The loss of Faith of a continent (declares the Bishop of Leiria) is worse than the annihilation of a nation; and it is true that Faith is continually diminishing in Europe.»1025
As for Cardinal Ratzinger, it is clear that his declarations to Vittorio Messori, in August 1984, equally confirm Father Alonso’s hypothesis. The Cardinal tells us that the third Secret of Fatima deals with «dangers threatening the faith and life of Christians, and therefore the world». It is even probable that it was reading this extraordinary document that made the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith decide to denounce the grave errors which have taken root, and today threaten the integrity of the Catholic Faith in four continents out of five.1026
Such a crisis of faith, on the scale of several nations or entire continents, has a name in Holy Scripture: apostasy. The word itself might even be found in the text of the Secret.
Now everything is clear. This hypothesis, and it alone, corresponds perfectly to all the data concerning the mysterious Secret – we will have an opportunity to return to this point in the next chapter. And first of all, the fulfilment of this prophecy, expressed at the Cova da Iria forty years earlier, is as striking as it is undeniable.