On 13 July 1917, during the third apparition at Fatima, the Virgin Mary entrusted the three children - Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta - with a message in three parts, which would later be called the Three Secrets of Fatima. These revelations, at once mystical, prophetic and profound, have marked the history of the Church and nourished the faith of millions of believers. Long kept confidential, these secrets were gradually revealed, provoking fascination, debate and conversions.
Context of the revelations
At the time of the apparitions, the world was plunged into the turmoil of the First World War. Europe was torn apart, Portugal was going through a political and religious crisis, and the Marian message came as a light in the darkness. Mary insisted on prayer, penance, devotion to her Immaculate Heart and peace. On 13 July, she reveals a three-part message to the children, asking them to keep it secret at that time.
Lucie, the eldest, will be given the task of passing it on later. The first two parts would be revealed as early as the 1940s, but the third would not be made public until 2000.
The first secret: the vision of hell
"She showed us a great sea of fire that seemed to be under the earth. Immersed in this fire were demons and human souls, like transparent embers and black or tan, having human form..."
This first secret is a brief but terrifying vision of hell. The children see the souls of the damned, immersed in fire and torment, surrounded by hideous demons. Jacinta was deeply traumatised.
This vision was not given to frighten, but to awaken consciences to the reality of eternal damnation. Mary does not condemn, but implores men to pray and convert to avoid such an end.
She insists:
"To save souls, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. "
She also shows that the sacrifices offered for sinners are of immense value.
The second secret: historical and spiritual prophecy
This secret concerns the future of the world and the Church, and contains several prophetic announcements.
Mary warns that if humanity does not convert, a war worse than the current one will break out:
"The war will end; but if people do not cease to offend God, under the reign of Pius XI, another even worse will begin."
This prophecy is fulfilled with the Second World War, which began in 1939, under the pontificate of Pius XII - but was foretold under Pius XI, because it was under his reign that Hitler came to power.
Mary also speaks of Russia, which will spread its errors throughout the world:
"If my requests are listened to, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, it will spread its errors throughout the world, provoking wars and persecutions against the Church. "
These "errors" are interpreted as militant atheism, communism, and religious persecution, characteristic of the Soviet regime.
Mary asks for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart and the reparative communion of First Saturdays.
She finally promises a final victory:
"In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. "
The third secret: a symbolic vision of martyrdom and suffering
Long kept secret, the third secret was written by Sister Lucia in 1944, but kept sealed by the Vatican until the year 2000, when it was revealed at the request of John Paul II.
Here is what the vision describes:
"After the two parts I have already outlined, we saw to the left of Our Lady a little higher up an angel with a flaming sword..."
The angel brandishes his flaming sword, ready to strike the earth, but Mary stops him with the light of her radiance. The angel cries out:
"Penance, penance, penance!"
The children then see a bishop dressed in white (interpreted as the Pope), walking through a ruined city, praying for the dead, climbing a mountain, and then falling, killed by soldiers along with other bishops, priests, religious and faithful.
At the top of the mountain, a crude wooden cross stands, and angels collect the blood of the martyrs in chalices.
Interpretation of the third secret
When it was published in 2000, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (the future Benedict XVI) specified that this vision was not a precise prediction, but a symbolic vision of the history of the Church, its sufferings, its trials, and its martyrs.
John Paul II, who was seriously injured in the attack on 13 May 1981 (the anniversary of the first apparition at Fatima), recognised himself in this "pope dressed in white". He attributed his survival to the protection of the Virgin of Fatima, and had the bullet extracted from his body placed in the crown of her statue at the Fatima shrine.
This third secret is therefore a call to conversion, to faithfulness in trial, and to hope, even in the midst of chaos.
Overall message of the secrets
The three secrets are not esoteric enigmas, but one and the same urgent call to return to God, entrusted by Mary to humanity:
The Rosary prayer, for peace.
Conversion and penance.
Devotion to the Immaculate Heart.
The consecration of Russia.
Marian intercession in dark hours.
They foretell grave events, but always with the assurance that evil will not triumph. The Heart of Mary, united with that of her Son, will ultimately crush evil and bring forth an era of peace.
Conclusion
The secrets of Fatima are not looking to the past. They still resonate today in our societies marked by war, moral confusion, violence and forgetfulness of God.
They remind us that the destiny of the world is not in the hands of the powerful, but in the hands of God, and that each of us can participate in the history of salvation through prayer, conversion, and love.
The message of Fatima is not a fear to harbour, but a hope to embrace, in response to the maternal love of a Virgin who never ceases to tell us:
"Do whatever He tells you."
