Remembering Sister Lucia of Fatima

The Freeman (Phillipines) ^ | February 16, 2005 | Valeriano S. Avila

[nickcarraway]

Last Monday evening's big breaking news was the Valentine Day's bombing of a bus in Makati at the corner of EDSA and Ayala Ave,. another one in Davao City and another at the Gaisano Mall in General Santos City. Let's call this the Philippine version of the St. Valentine's Day massacre, where a dozen or so thugs were killed in a gangland war in Chicago in the 30's. The difference of course is that, Al Capone's gang used the famous .45 cal "Tommy Gun", while our terrorists used bombs. It strengthens our beliefs that the insurgency and the separatist movements have only achieved senseless deaths and economic downturn for our nation.

While the news of the bombings in the Philippines were splashed in CNN and BBC News, there was another bombing, this time in Beirut which shifted international attention away from us-the killing Mr. Rafik Hariri, former Prime Minister of Lebanon who led the post war reconstruction of strife-torn Lebanon. We submit that this piece of breaking news was given more space and time by international news and thus diverting their focus so that hopefully, we will not lose the thousands of tourists who are now making plans to come and visit our country.

At this point, we ask the Arroyo administration to stop handling the insurgency or the separatist movements with kid gloves. It is time to nip insurgency in the bud and weed out these criminal elements that has brought down the Philippine economy for their selfish albeit violent ambitions. Jesus Christ teaches in the Beatitudes that the peacemakers are blessed; however, the Bible also teaches us that there is a time for peace and a time for war. If there can be no peace because the separatists or the insurgents will not lay down their arms, then so be it. Let's give them war so we can finally have peace!

* * *

Last week when his holiness Pope John Paul II fell seriously ill, rumors circulated about an earlier prediction that a high religious official would die this year. Indeed, as the Vatican reports showed, Pope John Paul II was truly close to death and if he weren't immediately rushed to the hospital, we would have lost our beloved Pope. But he is well enough to attend again to his duties, thanks to the prayers of millions of Catholics all over the world.

But the big breaking news from the Vatican is that, Sister Lucia (no, she is not yet a saint, but I'm sure she would soon join her other sis and brother who are saints) born as Lucia Dos Santos, died last Sunday, Feb.13th in her Carmelite Convent in Coimbra, Central Portugal.

Sister Lucy was the eldest of the three shepherd children, Jacinta and Francisco who, on May 13, July 13, August 19, September 13 and Oct.13 1917 was given the apparition of our Blessed Virgin Mary now known as the Lady of Fatima. The number 13 seems to play a huge role with our Lady of Fatima, except when she appeared on Aug.19 due to the incarceration of the three children by communist authorities ruling Portugal in those days.

Our lady revealed three secrets to the children, who spoke of terrible events that would happen in the 20th century and what we should do to avoid these chastisements. Mama Mary's revelations were very accurate as the world witnessed all the horrors that she told the children of Fatima.

Cardinal Tarcisco Bertone wrote in an official Vatican statement about the visions of Mama Mary in 2000 saying, "Fatima is undoubtedly the most prophetic of modern apparitions. The first and second parts of the 'secret' refer especially to the frightening vision of hell, devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Second World War, and finally the prediction of the immense damage that Russia would do to humanity by abandoning the Christian faith and embracing Communist totalitarianism".

In a letter to Pope John Paul in 1982, Sister Lucy wrote: "The third part of the secret refers to Our Lady's words: 'If not [consecrated and converted] she (Russia) will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated' (July 13, 1917)... And let us not say that it is God who is punishing us in this way; on the contrary it is people themselves who are preparing their own punishment. In his kindness God warns us and calls us to the right path, while respecting the freedom he has given us; hence people are responsible."

No doubt, Sister Lucy's death saddened many Catholics who wanted her to clarify confusions and controversies regarding the messages she has received… because of misinformation by the evil one.

[M. Espinola]

Sister Lucia of Fatima

Sister Lucia de Jésus dos Santos as a small girl