The M+G+R Foundation

Apparitions of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fátima (1917)

Detailed Chronology of Key Events


As Reported by Church Authorities (1)

and... With Confirming Historical Annotations



INTRODUCTION

[Added on January 12, 2008] We have acquired a rare publication (2) with the original chronicles of the very early Fátima events as well as the photocopies of many —unpublished elsewhere— letters from Lucía. With this historical 400+ page book we have been able to add many details to this Chronology, which we had previously published based on much more recent and heavily edited information.


In the year 1917

What had been the independent Diocese of Leiria prior to the establishment of a Republican government in Portugal was now under the administration of the Patriarchate of Lisbon.

In February 1917

Striking workers lead a revolution in Russia to overthrow the Tsar. A provisional government rules the country from March through October. Tsar Nicholas II abdicates in March, and the Bolshevik party of Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky will seize power in Petrograd in the name of the Soviets, in October 1917.

On May 13, 1917

The first apparition to the three shepherds - by whom later identified Herself as Our Lady of the Rosary (the Virgin Mary) - takes place the in Cova da Iria in the parish of Fátima - Portugal.

On July 13, 1917

The Virgin Mary delivers key messages not to be revealed by Lucía until later on:

"To save them [souls of sinners that are going to hell] (3), God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. ...but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one [than World War I] (3) will break out during the pontificate of Pius XI". [Whole Text, in English and Portuguese, may be seen as Item A in ATTACHMENT II (4)]

"To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace;..." [Whole Text, in English and Portuguese, may be seen as Item B in ATTACHMENT II (4)]

On October 13, 1917

A series of obviously supernatural occurrences take place in the Cova da Iria [henceforth referred to as Fátima]. Many of the key occurrences were confirmed and witnessed by fifty to seventy thousand people - believers and non believers alike. Even the secular Portuguese press covered these events at length.

On November 3, 1917

The Governor of the Lisbon Patriarchate, Archbishop D. João Evangelista de Lima Vidal, in response to a request from the then Fátima parish priest, R.P. Manuel Marques Ferreira, ordered that a thorough inquiry be conducted about the most unusual events which culminated on the 13th of the prior month.

The inquiry was immediately begun. It was completed and turned over to Archbishop D. João Evangelista de Lima Vidal about a year and a half later, on April 28, 1919. Under Church law, the Archbishop had the right to investigate these events and rule on their authenticity.

On January 17, 1918

A little over two months later the Diocese of Leiria was re established.

The M+G+R Foundation Comments

Obviously the Vatican recognized the Ecclesiastical importance and reality of the 1917 events in Fátima within less than a year after they began; even before the completion of the official inquiry.

In 1918:

Lenin moves his government to Moscow. The new Russia signs the treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany in March 1918, ending Russia's participation in World War I. Tsar Nicholas and his entire family are executed by the Bolsheviks at about midnight July 16/17. [Feast of Mary, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. (4)]

During 1918-21

Russian civil war between the Bolsheviks, known as the Reds, and the monarchists and their allies, known as the Whites.

On August 5, 1920

The Bishop of the newly re established Diocese of Leiria, D. José Alves Correia da Silva, assumes the reins of the Diocese.

In October, 1921

The Bishop of the Leiria Diocese authorizes open air masses in the location of the apparitions for the benefit of the ever increasing stream of pilgrims visiting the area. By this time he had already purchased over 125,000 square meters of the Cova da Iria for the future Sanctuary complex.

The M+G+R Foundation Comments

There could not have been a stronger unofficial acknowledgment of the 1917 events in Cova da Iria than that given by the positive actions of the Ecclesiastical authorities.

Also in 1921

The Russian communists (Reds) win the civil war. Lenin crushes his opponents, inside and outside the Party. Russian Orthodox Church property is confiscated and religion is officially prohibited outside the home.

In 1922

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is formed.

On May 3, 1922

The Diocesan Canonical Process to formally investigate the details of the Fátima events commenced.

The M+G+R Foundation Comments

This is done to officially acknowledge what has already been de-facto approved - see the above listing of Ecclesiastical approved events.

On October 13, 1922

With the approval, and under the supervision, of the Ecclesiastic authorities, the first issue of "Voz da Fátima" - the still current official Sanctuary news publication - was published. 3,000 copies were printed.

The M+G+R Foundation Comments

As the reader may see, by the year 1922 the Fátima events were no secret to the Church authorities in Portugal nor in Rome - who had, de-facto, approved them through the related organized and endorsed public religious events.

However, they were completely ignorant to the heavenly requests which were to be made known to some Church authorities by Lucía in the years 1925 and 1930.

On December 10, 1925

The Virgin Mary clearly specified to Lucía the terms of the devotion/reparation to Her Immaculate Heart; to wit:

"...all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me."

In 1924 and 1926

The Canonical erection of the Pious Union of Servites of Our Lady yielded four distinct support groups for the budding Sanctuary:

1. Priests to provide Spiritual Assistance
2. Physicians to assist the visiting sick
3. The Servites of Our Lady, to transport the sick and to keep order in the Sanctuary
4. Nurses in the Servites of Our Lady, to assist the sick and oversee the other services.

In 1926, also with the required Episcopal approval, the first edition of 10,000 copies of the Fátima Pilgrim's Manual saw the light of day.

The M+G+R Foundation Comments

How can there be a any doubt that the Vatican officials - Pope Pius XI included - had been kept abreast about the events at Fátima?

However, they were still ignorant about the two key requests: The acts of reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart.

On February 15, 1926

Jesus appeared to Lucia to talk with her about the spread of the requested devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

On June 26, 1927

The Bishop, D. José Alves Correia da Silva, for the first time in Fátima publicly officiated at a formal religious act of great significance: The inauguration of the original Stations of the Cross. However, nothing was done about the requested devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

On December 17, 1927

In an apparition Jesus told Lucía:

"My daughter, write what they ask of you. Write also all that the most holy Virgin revealed to you in the Apparition, in which She spoke of this devotion [Jesus wishes to make use of you to make Me known and loved. He wants to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart.] (4) As for the remainder of the Secret, continue to keep silence."

On May 13, 1928

As part of the National Pilgrimage celebrations - the largest yet - the Archbishop of Evora, D. Manuel Mendes da Conceição Santos blessed and placed the first stone of the new Basilica.

In 1928

Joseph Stalin comes to full power in the Soviet Union. An oppressive security regime is put in place, including massive Party purges, arrests, deportations, imprisonment, and execution of "enemies of the people" and "counter-revolutionaries". This continues until Stalin's death in 1953 .

The M+G+R Foundation Comments

Heaven was now ready to request the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary - "How could they refuse now", God may have reasoned, "Its necessity could not be made any clearer".

On June 13, 1929

The Virgin Mary appeared to Lucia at her convent in Tuy, Spain, regarding the Consecration of Russia:

"The moment has come in which God asks the Holy Father, in union with all the Bishops of the world, to make the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, promising to save it by this means. There are so many souls whom the Justice of God condemns for sins committed against me, that I have come to ask reparation: sacrifice yourself for this intention and pray." [Original Text, in English and Portuguese, may be seen as Item C in ATTACHMENT II (4)]

Unfortunately, as Lucía wrote to Rev. P. Gonçalves on October 28, 1934, that she forgot to again remind the Bishop of Leiria about this request during her contact with him in the second half of the year 1934. About four years after Heaven requested it!

We have a photo copy of the original of that letter in her own hand writing.

'Later' the Virgin Mary (5) complained to Lucia regarding the consecration:

"They did not wish to heed my request. Like the King of France, (6) they will repent and do it, but it will be late. Russia will have already spread her errors throughout the world, provoking wars, and persecutions of the Church; the Holy Father will have much to suffer." [Original Text, in English and Portuguese, may be seen as Item D in ATTACHMENT II (4)]

The definition of "later" is established through a letter from Lucia to Rev. Gonçalves (7) dated January 21, 1935, wherein she states: "Three years ago Our Lord was very unhappy because His request (about the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary) was not fulfilled. I made that known to the Bishop in a letter."

"Three years ago" would place the date signified by "later" in the year 1931. We have not been able to find a copy of the referenced to letter Lucia wrote to the Bishop, however, other sources have placed the exact date at August 1931. Although we cannot vouch for the other sources, the date that they claim such letter was written to the Bishop is coherent with all else; therefore, we will accept it as valid.

According to Lucía's letter to Pius XII dated December 2nd, 1940, her confessor, Rev. Gonçalves (*), did what he was able to do that the information would reach the hands of Pius XI yet we have no confirmation that it did and, if it reached him, what was Pius XI reaction. What we do know was that in 1929 Pius XI was in the proverbial honeymoon with Mussolini (**).

           
(*) The first confession took place on May 19th, 1929. It is safe to assume that Lucía informed him sometime after the first confession took place.
(**) Ample Confirmation

By the end of 1929

The Pastoral Letter that was published by Bishop D. José Alves Correia Da Silva solemnly declared that the Apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima from May 13 to October 13, 1917, were worthy of belief. In this letter, the Bishop officially approved the cult of Our Lady of Fátima.

The M+G+R Foundation Comments

This Pastoral Letter was just a technicality if one considers all the official Ecclesiastically endorsed situations/events/publications which occurred prior to this date. Yet, one of Heaven's central request through Jesus and Mary - the establishment of the First Five Saturdays of Reparation to Her Immaculate Heart - was ignored.

On March 11, 1931

The Vatican enriched the Pious Union erected in 1924-26 with many indulgences.

On May 13, 1932

The Apostolic Nuncio (8) in Lisbon presided the events associated with the National Pilgrimage to Fátima. His opening words, as he officially described the event on May 15th, tell us:

"I must sincerely confess that I have never witnessed such spectacle as I did on the thirteenth of this month in Fátima".

A description which he closed with:

"Fátima is a true blessing for Portugal. I am convinced that Mary will always protect this Nation.... and will save it from the great dangers which threaten the whole of society."

The M+G+R Foundation Comments

The rest is history. World War II started on September 1st, 1939. By the end, the direct and indirect death toll was one hundred million (9) people, whose blood is upon the relevant bureaucracy of the Roman Catholic Church. By their negligence and disobedience, the controlling Roman Catholic Church relevant Hierarchical Administrators became accessories to the fact of the greatest holocaust yet known to man - World War II.

It is as simple as this:

Lenin and Hitler were indeed evil and were going to be allowed, by Heaven, to punish mankind for its many crimes. Heaven, through the Apparitions of the Virgin Mary, provided the antidote to neutralize the actions of these tyrants. The controlling Roman Catholic Church relevant Hierarchical Administration consumed in their bureaucratic confusion failed to act in a timely manner in accordance to Heaven's request, thus, Lenin and Hitler were turned loose upon humanity - without restraint.

Thus we ask:

Who is mostly to blame for World War II and the spread of errors by Russia? The Virgin Mary gave us a partial answer to that question:

"They did not wish to heed my request. Like the King of France (6), they will repent and do it, but it will be late. Russia will have already spread her errors throughout the world, provoking wars, and persecutions of the Church; the Holy Father will have much to suffer."

Who can accuse God of injustice when He razes to the ground the physical empire of the Roman Catholic Church? He originally established the Church to spread the Good News of Salvation to mankind, but it became a den of thieves, and prostituted itself with the princes of the Earth - a perfect image of the Biblical Babylon spoken about in St. John's Book of Revelations.

In spite of that, Ratzinger a.k.a. Benedict XVI, the blasphemer, had the audacity to ask "Why, Lord, did you remain silent? How could you tolerate all this?" while visiting Auschwitz in Poland in May 2006. (10)

Regarding the Church Administration's defiance and disregard of the clear and timely instructions that Heaven gave them through Fátima, we have yet to see how the magnitude of the final "invoice" presented to them by God.

May God have Mercy on them!



NOTES           
(1) All quotations are taken from "FÁTIMA in Lucia's own words" published by the Postulation Centre in Fátima, Portugal with its "Approval to Publish" granted at Fátima on May 13, 1976 by the Bishop of Leiria-Fatima, Don Alberto Cosme Almaral. This English translation is backed up by the original version in Portuguese "Memórias da Irmä Lúcia", 6th Edition. Imprimatur granted on May 13, 1990 by the same Bishop.
(2) Nossa Senhora da Fátima - Aparições, Culto, Milagres, by Luis G. da Fonseca, S.J., Professor no Pontificio Instituto Biblico (Roma), 2nd Edition, Livraria Apostolado da Imprensa, Porto, 1947
(3) Commentaries in brackets, [ ], added to clarify the text since the entire quotation was not transcribed.
(4) Photocopies of documents cited may be found in http://www.mgr.org/attach2.html Attachment II
(5) In the original Portuguese version it states that it was "Nossa Senhora" (the Virgin Mary) but in the English translation it was changed into "Our Lord".
(6) The "King of France" is an allusion to a message given by Christ in June of 1689 to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, calling upon Louis XIV to consecrate France to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This was not done in timely fashion - and France began its move toward the Revolution, which began 100 years later.
(7) documentos FATIMA by António Maria Martins, S.J., Porto, 1976, p 415
(8) The Apostolic Nuncio is the equivalent of the Ambassador of the Vatican in Portugal. His name was: João Beda Cardinale
(9) 50 million directly associated with World War II and the remaining 50 million caused by the communist domination in Russia and the spread of its errors worldwide.
(10) http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/pope-benedict-auschwitz.htm



Main Related Documents

Attachment II - http://www.mgr.org/attach2.html

Main Text - http://www.mgr.org/fatima.html



Other Related Documents

Our Documents on Fatima - An Index



En Español:  Apariciones de Fátima (1917) - Cronología detallada de acontecimientos clave

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