HIS BEATITUDE LEADS FATIMA CONSECRATION FOR UKRAINE

 

      As the centenary of the 1917 Apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima, Portugal is upon us, and with unexpected movements in Ukraine and Russia that involve the nations of the world, “Fatima” is once again coming to the fore. Just last year, the coordinators of the Ukrainian Catholic Church’s “Vibrant Parish” initiative chose to meet at Fatima. The number of pilgrimages to the famous shrine is increasing. Last year the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops led an “all Ukraine” pilgrimage to Fatima. This month, His Beatitude Sviatoslav and all the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops from Ukraine and many other Eastern Catholic Bishops from around Europe made a pilgrimage to Fatima where they met and led a special consecration of their peoples to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the spirit of the request of the Mother of God during her appearances and conversations with three little shepherd children many years ago.

 

 A View of the Pilgrimage of Ukrainian Migrants to Fatima October 2016

      

       “We find ourselves at the unique miraculous place where the Mother of God appeared which carries within itself a message and a spiritual challenge to the revelation of the mystery of the spiritual history of all mankind, but especially the history of our nation. Because we, like no one else, upon hearing the words of the Fatima apparitions of the Mother of God, understand that it is especially about us, especially about those that suffer from war.”     

       The Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav preached on October 23^rd at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Fatima attended by Ukrainian pilgrims that came from all across Portugal, Italy and Spain. Concelebrating the Liturgy were all the members of the Ukrainian Synod of Bishops of Ukraine, as well as many other Hierarchs from the other Eastern Catholic Churches of Europe.  

       “Imagine that a hundred years ago this was a barren, empty rocky place to which little shepherd children brought their flocks to graze. And it was precisely to these, to these uneducated children the Mother of God spoke. She asked of them that which Jesus Christ asked of His first Apostles.”  

       The Immaculate Virgin Mary called people to collaboration with God in the effort for the Salvation of the human race. The response and readiness to be with the Lord and to fight against evil that the children expressed was exactly what the Mother of God sought. The first request that she made of the children in order to save the world from war was, “do you want to freely accept suffering and offer it up for the affronts made by mankind toward God? Do you want, by your prayers and sacrifices and by your penance and conversion, to save sinful souls from hell?” “Those children said, Yes”.

       “Such a response from a single person and the readiness to do penance and sacrifice for the conversion of sinners… is more powerful than modern weapons of mass destruction. Pope Saint John Paul II witnessed to this as he placed the bullet by which he had been shot into the crown of Our Lady of Fatima.”

      The Primate thanked the Ukrainian migrants for their love for their Church, their people and for their motherland. “I especially thank you that regardless of where you find yourselves, you remain Christians that carry into this world the possibility to encounter and know among us Ukrainians – the living God!”

       His Beatitude went on to say, “Today I feel my obligation to respond to your request to consecrate Ukraine, our people and other peoples of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and commend us all to her protection. Because we know that only by personal mortification and by fighting against sin and evil will we be victorious in this war in which we presently find ourselves.”  

       Then His Beatitude posed to the pilgrims the same question that the Mother of God inquired of the little shepherds 100 years ago, “do you want, by your personal sacrifices and penance to join in the fight against sin? Are you ready by your perseverance and suffering to make sacrifices for the conversion of sinners? Are you ready by offering the tears and suffering of Ukraine to ask forgiveness of God for the countless insults by which we and other nations have offended Him?” All the pilgrims responded in unison, “yes”.   

       During the consecration of Ukraine and other nations to the care of the Mother of God, His Beatitude Sviatoslav prayed, “Mary, we stand today before your face and consecrate to your Immaculate Heart and place under you protection – Ukraine and the other nations of Eastern Europe and the world. We offer to you all the pain and all the suffering of Ukraine, because it is only by conversion and repentance that peace comes. Accept our sacrifice and save our people and our country and the world from sin and death”

       To read the original source of this report, click [HERE]