Brief Catechism About The Secret of Fatima
In preparation for the Society of Saint Pius X’s pilgrimage to Fatima, here is an extract from the book Brief Catechism on Fatima, published by Kolbe Publications. It offers 33 questions and answers divided in four chapter: The Apparitions at Fatima, The Secret of Fatima, The Third Secret & the Crisis in the Church, and Practicing Devotion to the Immaculate Heart.
10. Why is the message called the Secret of Fatima?
It is also called the Secret of Fatima, because it was at first given by Our Lady to Lucia in great secrecy, only to be revealed later. The first 2 parts of the secret were revealed between 1917 and 1929. In 1944 Our Lady told Lucia she should give the third part of the Secret to the Hierarchy. It is also called the Secret of Fatima because this most serious part has not yet been revealed to the world even though Our Lady requested that it be revealed by 1960.
11. What is the first part of the Secret of Fatima?
The first part of the Secret of Fatima was the vision of Hell and the explanation of God’s desire to establish throughout the world devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as a privileged means of saving souls, especially by means of the Rosary.
12. What is the second part of the Secret of Fatima?
On June 13th, 1929, Our Lady appeared to Lucia, then a Religious Sister in Tuy Spain and said: “The moment has come when God asks the Holy Father to make, in union with all the bishops of the world, the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, promising to save it by this means. ... So numerous are the souls which the justice of God condemns for sins committed against Me that I come to ask for reparation. Sacrifice yourself for this intention and pray.” And Our Lady promised the end of persecutions in Russia if the Pope obeyed!
13. Did the Catholic Hierarchy obey Our Lady’s request to consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart?
No, Pope Pius XI and Pope Pius XII chose not to follow Our Lady’s request because they did not want to be influenced in their policies vis a vis the political powers of their times. While these ministers were good Popes who were sound in Catholic Doctrine, unfortunately, by some design of Divine Providence, they did not obey Our Lady. This would prepare the way for the refusal of later Popes to reveal the Third Secret by 1960.
14. When was the Third Secret written down?
In 1944, Sr. Lucia, despite three months of spiritual trials and difficulties — which were alleviated only by a special apparition of Our Lady — wrote the Third Secret down on a single piece of paper in 25 lines and handed it to the Bishop of Fatima, who could either reveal it or communicate it to the Cardinal of Lisbon. The Secret was eventually passed on to Rome but was never revealed to the world as Our Lady had requested.
Extract from the Brief Catechism on Fatima, Kolbe Publications, 2017
