Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of three critical reviews which The Fatima Center is posting regarding the new Fatima movie released earlier this year. A round-table discussion video, with Fr. Rodríguez, will also be posted at our website and YouTube channel.
There are many things inaccurate, missing, or erroneous in Marco Pontecorvo’s new Fatima (2020) movie – too much to consider for the scope of this article, which does not intend to provide an exhaustive list of the differences between the movie and historical fact – even as they pertain to the apparitions. Rather, this article primarily focuses on the significant differences within the apparition of the Angel of Portugal and those of Our Lady, demonstrating that their statements were greatly embellished and had much omitted.
The Apparition of the Angel of Portugal
The movie opens with Lucia encountering the Angel of Portugal in a cave. There are several falsehoods and embellishments here.
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- The Angel of Peace was depicted as a woman (or at least as androgynous).
- The Angel’s appearance was to Lucia alone, and in a cave. In reality, the Angel appeared to all three children on three different occasions: twice at the Cabeço (a grassy hill near Fatima), and once at the well in the nearby tiny hamlet of Aljustrel, home of the three child seers and their families.
- Two additional appearances of the Angel are depicted: (1) during a funeral procession in which the Angel, walking alongside a grieving woman, makes eye contact with Lucia a distance away; and (2) during an interrogation of Lucia by the bishop in the dos Santos home. In reality, there were no further apparitions of the Angel after 1916.
- In addition to Lucia’s vision of battle scenes of World War One being a complete fabrication, the dialogue between the Angel and Lucia contained both embellishment and omission. Here is the movie’s version of the prayer taught by the Angel to Lucia: “I believe, I have hope, and I love God.”
On the contrary, in his apparition to the children at the Cabeço in the Spring of 1916,[1] the actual prayer taught by the Angel to all three of them, followed by his closing statement, was:
“My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love Thee. I ask pardon of Thee for all those who do not believe in Thee, do not adore Thee, do not hope in Thee, do not love Thee.”
“Pray thus. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications.”
Here we see that references to adoration of God, the asking for pardon for the offenses of others against God, and making supplications to God have all been expunged from the movie. Also, the Angel’s final statement links the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and indicates that we should pray in petition to the Blessed Virgin Mary, both of which concepts would be offensive to Protestants and Modernist Catholics.
Furthermore, the other two apparitions of the Angel in 1916 – in the summer (at the well) and fall (at the Cabeço) – were completely omitted. Here are the dialogues between the Angel and Lucia in those two apparitions (the Angel’s words in italics).
Summer:
“What are you doing? Pray, pray very much! The Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy on you. Offer prayers and sacrifices constantly to the Most High.”
“But how are we to make sacrifices?”
“Make of everything you can a sacrifice, and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners. You will thus draw down peace upon your country. I am its Angel Guardian, the Angel of Portugal. Above all, accept and bear with submission the sufferings which the Lord will send you.”
Fall:
“Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I adore Thee profoundly, and I offer Thee the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of the same Son Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for all the sacrileges, outrages and indifferences by which He Himself is offended. And by the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners.” (Prayer taught by the Angel to three children, repeated three times.)
“Take and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by ungrateful men. Make reparation for their crimes and console your God.” (Just prior to giving Holy Communion to the three children.)
Why were these two apparitions of the Angel omitted from the movie? Perhaps, the references to “the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary,” making sacrifices in reparation for sins, “supplication for the conversion of sinners,” the Holy Trinity, and the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament – all extremely distinctively and Catholic elements – did not fit in with the intended theme of the movie?
Interview with the Professor / Author
Before moving on to the apparitions of Our Lady in 1917, I should make one very important digression. Scattered throughout the movie (including in the very next scene following that of the Angel of Portugal) are several scenes in which Sister Lucia is being interviewed by a skeptical professor / author, who is working on a new book. This is pure fabrication; it would never have happened. Since 1960, Sister Lucia was no longer allowed to receive any visitors other than close friends and relatives – even her longtime confessor since the 1930’s was not allowed to see her when he returned from Brazil. And even then, Sister Lucia was never left alone to speak with visitors privately. Thus, all the interview scenes are irrelevant and distracting nonsense.
The Apparitions of 1917
In each of the apparitions that were included in the movie, the dialogue between Our Lady and Lucia contained both embellishment and omissions. For each apparition I note only the most significant differences between that which is presented in the movie and that provided by Sister Lucia in her memoirs (as presented by Frère Michel de la Sainte Trinité in The Whole Truth About Fatima, provided in an Appendix referenced at the end of this article).
May 13:
First, the movie version of the dialogue between Our Lady (in italics) and Lucia.
“Who are You? Where do You come from?”
“I come from Heaven.”
“Are you seriously from Heaven?”
“Will I go to Heaven?” [Our Lady nods ‘yes’.]
“What about Jacinta?”“Also.”
“And Francisco?”
“Same, but …” [Francisco stops hearing Our Lady.]
“Our friend, Maria das Neves?”
“She is in Heaven.”
“Why did You come? What do You want from us?”
“You must come back here every month at this time for the next six months.”
[The Lady opened Her hands and shed upon the children an intensely bright light. After a few moments,] “Pray the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world, and to end the war. The world needs peace.”
In the movie, the embellishments and the significant omissions of Our Lady’s words include the following.
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- “Are you seriously from Heaven?” is a quite unbefitting remark attributed to Lucia.
- “He [Francisco] will go there too, but …” We do not hear the rest, which is “he will have to say many Rosaries.” Perhaps this was intentionally omitted to discount the necessity of praying the Rosary. Many Catholics believe that the mercy of Our Lord is unconditional – that we’re all going directly to Heaven when we die, so there is no need to do penance and make reparation for sin.
- “She [Amelia] will be in Purgatory until the end of the world” (omitted). Consistent with my previous point, most Catholics are unaware – to say the least – that virtually all souls who are saved must first endure the fires of Purgatory for some time before going to Heaven. One should consider which sins demand, in justice, suffering in Purgatory until the end of the world.
- The following statement of Our Lady was omitted: “Are you willing to offer yourselves to God and bear all the sufferings He wills to send you, as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and of supplication for the conversion of sinners?” This is yet another reference to making reparation for the sins of others and making supplication for the conversion of sinners.
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Dear Reader, please note, it would have been very easy for the movie script to have included these precious words of Our Lady. The script already exists because it came from Heaven. A conscious decision was made not to include these divinely-revealed words about the Rosary, Purgatory, suffering, reparation, and how much man has offended God. Why?
June 13:
First, the movie version of the dialogue between Our Lady (in italics) and Lucia.
“It pleases Me that you have been praying for Me. You must keep on praying the Rosary. You should also learn to read. It is very important.”
“We will.”
[Lucia asked for the cure of a boy who couldn’t walk.]
“He will heal if he starts believing.”
“Mother, thank you.”
[Jacinta turns away from Our Lady and informs the parents of disabled boy of what Our Lady said. Objection raised by boy’s mother. Blood drips from Our Lady’s tunic.]
“I’m sorry, Mother. We want to go to Heaven with You.”
“Francisco and Jacinta will join Me soon. But you have to stay. Jesus has chosen you. You are going to be the messenger of faith in Mary’s Immaculate Heart.”
“Why does it have to be them and not me?”
“One day, a long time from now, I will come for you. [Our Lady caressingly touches the face of Lucia.] I will never leave you alone.”
In the movie, the embellishments and the significant omissions of Our Lady’s words include the following.
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- “It pleases Me that you have been praying for Me” (embellishment). Why would anyone in Heaven – especially Our Lady – need our prayers? As Catholics, we never pray for Mary but to Mary.
- The depiction of any of the three seers dialoging with anybody within the crowd during the apparition is a complete and irreligious fabrication.
- “Jesus has chosen you. You are going to be the messenger of faith in Mary’s Immaculate Heart” What exactly does this mean? This does not convey the same meaning as Our Lady’s actual, and very specific, words: “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. To whoever embraces this devotion I promise salvation; these souls shall be dear to God, as flowers placed by Me to adorn His throne.” Furthermore, the latter two sentences were completely omitted in the movie. Was it due to the references to worldwide “devotion to My Immaculate Heart” and such devotion to Our Lady being crucial to the conversion and salvation of sinners?
- “Why does it have to be them and not me?” – vs. Lucia’s actual statement, “Am I to stay here alone?” – depicts very arrogant, childish behavior (like a child throwing a tantrum).
- And Our Lady’s final statement, “My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God,” was also omitted – most likely due to its reference to the intercessory power of Our Lady regarding eternal salvation.
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July 13:
First, the movie version of the dialogue between Our Lady (in italics) and Lucia.
“… and nobody believes me. Can I ask You for a miracle so that everyone will know that You appear to us?” [Our Lady nods; Jacinta informs the crowd of Our Lady’s response.]
“You must pray often and suffer greatly. Sacrifice yourselves for sinners. Do not hurt yourselves with ropes. And repeat this prayer: ‘I’m offering You this in exchange for Your love, for the conversion of sinners, and to amend for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.’” [Followed by the Vision of Hell.]
“What was that?”
“That was hell where the sinners’ poor souls go. If we do not stop insulting God, there will be a war worse than this one.” [Followed by the Third Secret Vision]
“This is what will happen if sinners do not convert. Do not tell anyone what you have seen until I tell you to.”
In the movie, the embellishments and significant omissions of Our Lady’s words (both shown in italics) include the following:
– “I want you to come here on the 13th of next month, and to continue praying the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, in order to obtain peace in the world and the end of the war, because only She can help you.” Our Lady’s entire opening statement was omitted. Perhaps it was because of Her speaking about the power of the Rosary and Her own intercessory power, under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary – both of which would be offensive to Protestants and other like-minded people.
– The depiction of Jacinta talking to the crowd during the apparition – and some demanding an immediate miracle – is a complete and impious fabrication.
– Our Lady’s response (omitted) to Lucia’s request for a miracle: “In October … I will perform a miracle for all to see and believe.” Our Lady Herself will perform the miracle.
– In the prayer taught by Our Lady, “I’m offering You this in exchange for Your love …,” these initial words seem to imply a barter situation. To ‘exchange’ is to give one thing and receive something else – usually of similar value – in return. We can never claim that even our most severe penances and sacrifices have similar value to Our Lord’s love for us. Our Lady’s actual words were: “O Jesus, it is for love of Thee …”
– Only in the movie – but not in reality – did the children repeat this prayer (in segmented portions), followed by the crowd doing so in the same manner. Also, in reality, Our Lady instructed the three children to say this prayer “many times,” not just the one time on July 13.
Following the vision of Hell, the movie omits Our Lady’s remaining words of this apparition almost entirely.[2] This includes the following statements:
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- “To save them [poor sinners from going to hell], God wills to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart.” Again, a reference to worldwide devotion to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart and its role in the salvation of sinners.
- The movie depicts Our Lady as saying: “If we do not stop insulting God” when in fact She said, “if people do not cease offending God”. This blasphemous statement implies that Our Lady is among those who are insulting God!
- “He is about to punish the world for its sins, by means of war, famine, and persecutions against the Church and of the Holy Father.” God punishes mankind for its sins.
- “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 of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated.” This is another reference to the intercessory power of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart and it being the only solution to the crises of our times. Our Lady also asks for the Consecration of Russia specifically – not the world, as the Vatican and its party line have been insisting upon these past 36 years, since John Paul II’s consecration of the world on March 25, 1984.
- “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.” Yet another reference to the intercessory power of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart.
- “In Portugal the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved etc. Do not tell this to anybody. Francisco, yes, you may tell him.” The italicized text was omitted most likely because Fatima scholars have been unanimous in their belief that the phrase “In Portugal the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved etc.” begins the Third Secret, and the “etc.” that Sister Lucia wrote indicates the rest of the words spoken by Our Lady. There are many reasons for us having moral certitude that the text published by the Vatican on June 26, 2000, which contains no words of Our Lady, cannot be the entire Third Secret of Fatima, and that there exists another document that contains Our Lady’s words indicated by the “etc.”
- “When you pray the Rosary, say after each mystery: O my Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need.” Hell exists, and many people go there for all eternity. In the Church today, how many of our pastors speak of hell?
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August 19:
Why was this apparition omitted from the movie? Was it because, amongst other things, Our Lady announced that She Herself will work the miracle in October and also told the children:
“Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to hell because there are none to sacrifice themselves and pray for them.”
September 13:
And why was this apparition also omitted from the movie? Was it because, amongst other things, Our Lady told the children: “God is pleased with your sacrifices”; or when asked to cure some sick persons, Our Lady said: “I will cure some, but not others, because Our Lord does not trust them”? Was it because Our Lady announced that She Herself will work the miracle in October?
October 13:
First, the movie version of the dialogue between Our Lady (in italics) and Lucia.
“Hello, My children. Thank you for coming to see Me.”
“Can you please tell us who You are. These people want to know.”
“I am the Lady of the Rosary. I am going to lead them to My Son, through peace and love. [Jacinta informs the crowd of what Our Lady said.]
“We must not insult the Lord, Who is already far too insulted. You have to pray. The war will end soon, and the soldiers are to return to their families. Some people are never going to believe, even when standing before the face of God. Look!” [Miracle of the Sun]
“Thank you.”
“Go.”
In the movie, the embellishments and the significant omissions of Our Lady’s words include the following.
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- “Hello, My children. Thank you for coming to see Me.” An embellishment; Our Lady does not speak this way, using such mundane statements.
- “I am going to lead them to My Son, through peace and love.” What is this vapid statement supposed to mean? How will this be accomplished? We are not told.
- Again, the depiction of Jacinta and Lucia dialoging with the crowd during the apparition is a complete fabrication.
- The movie depicts Our Lady as saying: “We must not insult the Lord …”; whereas Our Lady actually said: “People must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. They must not offend Our Lord any more for He is already too much offended.” As with the July apparition, this statement implies that Our Lady is among those who are insulting the Lord – blasphemy!
- “Some people are never going to believe, even when standing before the face of God.” This is patently false – “the devils also believe and tremble” (James 2:19).
- The movie omits the following statement of Our Lady: “People must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins.” Why must people do so? To avoid going to hell for all eternity! Hell is real, and many people go there. How often do you hear the clergy speak of hell?
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Conclusion
Though the Fatima Shrine in Portugal has apparently endorsed this movie – presumably as being true and accurate – we find that it contains many embellishments as well as significant watering down and even outright omission of numerous statements of both the Angel of Fatima and Our Lady in their apparitions to the three children-seers of Fatima.
Throughout the apparitions presented in the movie, we see the expunging of the truly Catholic concepts that many today find too harsh and don’t want to hear about, such as: devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the intercessory power of Our Lady, the power of the Rosary, amending our lives, punishment for sin, the existence of purgatory and the eternity of hell, making reparation for sins, asking for pardon for the offenses against God, and supplicating for the conversion of sinners.
With all the omissions, embellishments, falsehoods, and other inaccuracies in this movie – including many things not covered in this article – what we end up with is a Vatican-approved sanitized version of the story and Message of Fatima – palatable to everyone except those who truly love Our Lady and want to adhere to Her Message and fulfill all Her requests.
[1] The True Story of Fatima, Chapter 1, “The Angel”, pp. 7-10.
[2] For this portion of the exposé, the reader may want to refer to the “July 13” entry in the Appendix (linked below) for the four paragraphs of Our Lady’s words following the Vision of Hell.
Link to Appendix: The Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917
READ OUR OTHER CRITICAL REVIEWS OF THIS MOVIE:
– An Expensive Step Backward by James Hanisch
– Why I don’t Recommend the New Fatima Movie (Part 1) by David Rodríguez
– A Modernist Movie About Fatima (Part 2) by David Rodríguez