Consecration of the World To the Immaculate Heart of Mary

The Statue of Our Lady of Fatima traveled to Rome at the request of Pope Francis to attend the Marian Day promoted by the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization. While the statue was there, a historical event took place, the likes the world has never seen before.

History of Fatima:
Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal during the year of 1917. The apparition has been approved by the Church as supernatural in nature. If you would like to know more about the history of Fatima and see actual pictures of seers and the apparitions in 1917, click here>>>
http://www.medjugorjeusa.org/fatima.htm

History of Fatima Statue:
The Statue of Our Lady which is enthroned in the Little Chapel in Fatima is the original, made by José Thedim back in the early 1920's, when the apparitions were fresh and not yet approved. Mr. Thedim was a gifted maker of statues of Saints. The Statue of Our Lady of Fatima is quite pretty; Fatima seer "Sister Lucia" liked it very much.

Current News August 15, 2013:
Popes Francis has asked that the image of "Our Lady of the Rosary," (Title in which Our Lady appeared during the Fatima Apparitions) venerated in the Chapel of the Apparitions in the Sanctuary of Fatima, be present during Marian Day, which takes place in Rome. The first request came from the now emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, and later reinforced by Pope Francis. This is the first time that the image will be missing, said the rector of the Shrine of Fatima.
 
 "The Bishop of Leiria-Fatima, António Marto, in response to the desire of the Holy Father Francisco ... stated; "The image will be in Rome on October 12 and 13 on Marian Day, promoted by the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization."
 
On October 13, 2013, with the image of Our Lady of the Rosary present, Pope Francis will make the consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The meeting is a major event in the calendar of planned papal celebration of "The Year of Faith," and gathering in Rome of hundreds of movements and institutions linked to Marian devotion.  "It's a lively desire of the Holy Father that the Marian Day may have as a special sign one of the most significant Marian icons for Christians around the world, and for this reason, we thought of the beloved original statue of Our Lady of Fatima." The president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, Rino Fisichella writes, "All ecclesial Marian spirituality" are invited to the journey that provides the 12 October, a pilgrimage to the tomb of the apostle St. Peter, and the next day, the Eucharistic celebration presided by the Pope."
 
The Shrine of Fatima said that the image of Our Lady will leave the Sanctuary of Fatima, Portugal, on the morning of October 12th and return on the afternoon of the 13th.

NOTE: The Bishop of Leiria-Fatima, António Marto has the same last name as Fatima visionaries, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, but they aren't related. The Parish Priest of Fatima is also named Marto; Fr. Rui Marto, but once again not related to the seers of Fatima. That could lead one to think that, then, Marto is a very common Portuguese last name, but no, it is actually quite rare. How things then combined to have a Bishop and a Parish Priest of Fatima named Marto is a mystery only God knows!

What could the The Consecration of the World to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, mean?:

During  Her July 13, 1917 messages to the three Fatima seers, "Our Lady of the Rosary," said that Russia needed to be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart, or Russia would spread its errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church where the good will be martyred. Sad to say, the Consecration of Russia would not take place till March 25, 1984, "The Feast of the Annunciation." Pope John Paul consecrated Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and shortly afterwards the Berlin Wall fell and freedom of religious was again allowed in Russia as they began a new policy of "openness."

 

We should all be excited that Pope Francis will offer the consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart. No one can deny the world is in one big mess. There are wars, and civil unrest and problems in the world economy. People are turning away from God, in favor of the creature over the creator. The land, sea, air, lakes rivers and oceans are full of pollution. Global warming continues to be mostly ignored by the world. Sin and evils of so many kinds are overtaking the world. The consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart I believe is just what the doctor ordered. There is no greater fix than the intercession of Heavenly Hosts.