The Message of Fatima

Much has been written about Fatima over the past century, but what really constitutes the message of Fatima?

In essence, the message is no different to what has already been taught but serves to reinforce those teachings – placing the highest emphasis on central truths and devotions of the Catholic faith: The Blessed Trinity, the Eucharist, penance, the Rosary and sacrifices for the conversion of sinners.

As delineated by Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the message of Fatima is “the exhortation to prayer as the path of ‘salvation for souls‘ and, likewise, the summons to penance and conversion.” Perhaps the most well-known utterance of the apparition of Our Lady at Fatima was Her confident declaration that “My Immaculate Heart will triumph”.

Cardinal Ratzinger had interpreted this utterance as follows: “The Heart open to God, purified by contemplation of God, is stronger than guns and weapons of every kind. The fiat of Mary, the word of her heart, has changed the history of the world, because it brought the Saviour into the world—because, thanks to her”.

Yes, God could become man in our world and remains so for all time. The Evil One has power in this world, as we see and experience continually; he has power because our freedom continually lets itself be led away from God. But since God himself took a human heart and has thus steered human freedom towards what is good, the freedom to choose evil no longer has the last word.

From that time forth, the word that prevails is this: “In the world you will have tribulation but take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The message of Fatima invites us to continually trust in this promise.