The Secret in Three Parts:

The Second Part

Context

        Having just shown the fate of the damned (in the first part of the Secret of Fatima) to the three shepherd children of Fatima, on July 13, 1917, Our Lady then confided to them the second part of the Secret. This second part primarily concerns Heaven’s requests for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and for the Communions of Reparation on the First Saturdays and the consequences of failing to heed these requests. As recorded in Sister Lucy’s memoirs, the second part of the Secret is as follows:

Text of Second Part of Secret

        To save them [poor sinners who are on the road to hell], 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. The war is going to end; but if people do not cease offending God, a worse war will break out during the reign of Pius XI. When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given you by God that He is about to punish the world for its crimes, by means of war, famine, and persecutions against the Church and against the Holy Father.

        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; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions against the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated.¹

Conclusion to the Whole Secret of Fatima

        In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to Me, and she will be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world.

Commentary

        The Secret is a most important part of the Message of Fatima, and therefore it needs to be reflected upon thoroughly. Frère Michel de la Sainte Trinité, author of the scholarly three-volume work on Fatima, The Whole Truth About Fatima, provides the following commentary on the second part of the Fatima Secret:

Important Analysis of the Structure
of the Second Secret

        At first glance, the structure of this second part of the Secret is confusing. In fact, if we analyze this text attentively, we discover that it is perfectly constructed in two strictly parallel parts, where fourteen terms rigorously correspond to each other, following a clear, logical plan. We present here this rigorous correspondence in the form of a synopsis.

I. The Salvific Intention of God is Evoked

II. Our Lady States Her Requests

III. First Possibility: If Men Obey

IV. Our Lady States a Double Promise

V. Second Possibility: If Men Refuse To Obey

VI. The Threat of Terrible Chastisements

        The Key To The Drama

        The question occurs: why this construction of the Secret in two parts? What meaning might it have?

        First of all it seems that this text, where twice in a row the most attractive promises alternate with the most terrifying chastisements, is much more eloquent, more convincing, more persuasive than a straightforward exposition would be, simply listing events as they follow chronologically.

        However, there is something else also. This duplication, this "rebounding" effect of the prophecy, in which are repeated the same themes corresponding to each other with precision, visibly tends to underline the capital, decisive importance of the sentence found in the center of the exposition. This becomes the key phrase.

        In expressing the requests of Heaven as precisely as possible, She [Our Lady] puts forward the unique condition of salvation, the unique remedy for all the terrible evils mentioned in the text, and which are stated again even more vigorously: "To prevent this (the chastisements) I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays."

        This is the heart of the drama. The structure of the text brings this out in the most striking way. This is the key to the prophecy, for everything depends on this twofold request: everything which precedes it and everything which comes after it. Placed in the center of the presentation of promises and chastisements, it clearly stands out as the unique condition of their fulfillment.       

        For the complete article by Frère Michel that includes this analysis, see "At This Time of World Crisis: Fatima Is Our Only Hope", in Issue 34 of The Fatima Crusader.

Notes:

1. English translation of text in Sister Lucy, "Fourth Memoir", Fatima in Lucia’s Own Words, (Postulation Centre, Fatima, Portugal, 1976) p. 162. See also Sister Lucy, Memorias e Cartas da Irma Lucia, (Porto, Portugal, 1973, edited by Father Antonio Maria Martins) pp. 340-341; in Sister Lucy’s own handwriting there is no ellipsis after the "etc.". See also Frère Michel de la Sainte Trinité, The Whole Truth About Fatima – Volume I: Science and the Facts, (Immaculate Heart Publications, Buffalo, New York, U.S.A., 1989) p. 182.

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