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The Triple Message of Fatima:
Penance, Daily Rosary and Devotion
to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

  Our Lady Appeared at Fatima, Portugal in 1917

... Let us therefore summarize the MESSAGE
of FATIMA. Its Message is threefold consist-
ing of the MESSAGE OF PENANCE, the
MESSAGE of the ROSARY, and the MESS-
AGE of the DEVOTION TO THE IMMAC-
ULATE HEART OF MARY. In so doing we
will understand what Our Blessed Mother,
Our Lady of Fatima, requires of each and
everyone of us. To quote the words of the
illustrious Cardinal Schuster of Milan: "If we
comply with these demands, Our Lady of Fa-
tima promises us the cessation of the war,
the return of Russia to Catholic Unity, and
the beginning of a new era of apostolate and
conquest for the Catholic Church."

In the following chapters we shall set forth
the triple MESSAGE OF OUR LADY OF
THE ROSARY OF FATIMA: PENANCE,
DAILY ROSARY, AND DEVOTION TO THE
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY.

Let us study it fervently, lovingly and de-
voutly, and by faithfully practicing it, and
spreading it around us, we will more effica-
ciously draw down the blessing of God on
ourselves, our families, our country and the
world.

THE MESSAGE OF PENANCE

As we have seen in the Angelic Prepara-
tion of the three children, the Angel asked for
prayers and sacrifices in reparation for the
sins of the world, and to obtain
the conversion of sinners.

The Three  Seers at Fatima did Heroic Penanaces

The insistent, ever-recurring 
content of each apparition empha- 
sized PENANCE. Our Blessed 
Mother emphasized the importan- 
ce and the necessity of an amend- 
ment of life. She said: 'MEN 
MUST AMEND THEIR LIVES, 
AND ASK PARDON FOR THEIR 
SINS." And again in a more sor- 
rowful tone she added: "MEN MUST NO 
LONGER OFFEND OUR LORD, WHO IS AL- 
READY OFFENDED TOO MUCH." This 
shows that we must not only repent of our 
sins and expiate them faithfully but we must 
seek to change our lives for the future and 
break completely with sin, which grieves God 
and draws down on us His castigation and 
punishment.

This repeated demand for penance by Our
Lady made a deep impression on the chil-
dren. So great was this impression that they
entered an era of penance far beyond their
years. Lucy, the sole surviving member of
the three Seers of Fatima, says: "That which
has remained most deeply imprinted on my
heart is the request of our Heavenly Mother,
begging us to no longer offend God Who is
already offended too much."

 Lucia Santos (R) with her Cousin Jacinta Marto 

Even Jacinta, the youngest of the three
shepherd children of Fatima, says: "Oh, if
men only knew what eternity is, how they
would make efforts to amend their lives."
Continuing, Jacinta added: "The sins of the
world are too great. The sins which lead most
men to hell are the sins of the flesh. Oh
men must do penance! If they amend their
lives, Our Lord will still pardon the world,
but if they do not, the chastisement will come."

The avoidance of sin, which presupposes a
great and everlasting sacrifice at every mo-
ment of the day, is to be a part of our daily
duty. These sacrifices we must offer up for
the conversion of sinners. Thus, those of us
religious or laity, who shirk our duties, are
to that degree retarding the triumph of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Mary has told the world that the triumph
of her Immaculate Heart would be a sign of
the conversion of Russia, and of world peace.
To accomplish that triumph a sufficient num-
ber must make sacrifice and fulfill her de-
mands. PENANCE is one of her requests.
Let us do penance.

(End of Part 1 of The Triple Message of Fatima)

Extracted from: "The Story of Fatima: A New
Historical and Devotional Résumé of Fatima."
By Fr. Joseph Cacella, pp. 21-22, Imprimatur 1949

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