Editor’s Note: A shortened form of the following Rosary miracle story (of events in 1974-1975) was originally published by The Fatima Center at – and exclusively for – www.fatima.org in 2004.
Read about more Rosary Miracles.
Miracle of Catholic Restoration from the Consecration
After the Portuguese bishops consecrated their nation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on May 13, 1931, Portugal experienced a three-fold miracle: a magnificent rebirth of Catholic life; a miracle of political and social reform, in accordance with Catholic social principles; and a twofold miracle of peace, in which Portugal was preserved from the ravages of the Spanish Civil War and World War II.
There is yet another example of Portugal being especially blessed with the protection of Our Lady, this time because the laity united in petition to Her through the weapon of the Rosary.
The Staggering Growth of Communism
From its inception in the 19th Century, Communism sought to be an international movement that would take over the entire world. This goal was pursued with relentless zeal. Communist agents were sent throughout the world to foment revolution, and they were extraordinarily successful.
The Russian Empire fell to Communism (1917) and Tsar Nicholas II and his family were brutally executed. Eastern Europe was overrun by Communism in the aftermath of the Second World War. Most people also know that China became communist in 1949 under Mao Tse Tung, and North Korea succumbed to Marxist errors in 1948.
Over the next few decades Communism spread aggressively in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Fidel Castro took over Cuba in 1959. Che Guevara, an Argentinian Marxist, led numerous rebellions in the Western Hemisphere. Grenada would succumb in 1979. Vietnam was split in 1954 with the North becoming communist, and a devastating war would finally end with South Vietnam likewise falling to Communism in 1975. Cambodia and Laos also went red[1] in 1975 and Afghanistan would follow a few years later. A number of revolutions in Africa also turned countries into Marxist strongholds: Congo and Somalia in 1969; Ethiopia in 1974; Benin, Mozambique, and Angola – a Portuguese colony – in 1975.
A series of bloody communist wars and victories dominated the global scene during the 1970s. Many observers considered their movement unstoppable. And every land where they gained power suffered from material devastation and spiritual malaise. The Catholic Church was always a primary target, and Communists attempted to stamp out the True Faith everywhere they could. The danger of having one’s country and church fall to Communism was very real during this decade. It’s important to keep this context in mind as we reflect upon the miracle in Portugal.
Diabolical Communism Overwhelms Portugal
On April 25, 1974, the Communists came to power in Portugal. The Red “Armed Forces Movement” (AMF) staged a successful coup d’etat. A few days later on “May Day,” revolutionary activists stirred up public demonstrations throughout the nation.
Social unrest, exacerbated by a colonial war against Marxists in Angola, quickly spiraled out of control. Strikes, occupations of buildings, street demonstrations, and even violent kidnappings of important businessmen were planned to fuel the explosive movement. These activities were led by ‘workers’ committees, or soviets, in various industries. Cinemas sympathetic to Marxism showed films previously forbidden due to their immoral and anti-Catholic content. A pro-divorce commission was set up. Even high school students used the opportunity to rebel against taking their exams!
As is customary, the revolution was much stronger in urbanized areas. People in the countryside were far more devoted to God, Church, and country and rooted in piety and common sense. So in Fatima, on the very same day of the coup d’etat (April 25), a small group of devotees of Our Lady spent the night in prayer before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.
Rosary Miracle Defeating Communism
They sought Divine Guidance for deliverance from the great evil that had befallen their country. They concluded the following morning that like Austria, which was freed from Communism in 1955 by a Rosary Campaign – in which millions of Rosaries were prayed for that country – Portugal should turn to Our Lady’s Rosary for aid. The previous decade, they had also witnessed a Rosary campaign stave off Communism in Portuguese-speaking Brazil.
The Bishop of Fatima listened to their suggestion that a Rosary campaign be launched for the nation from Fatima. The bishop sent them to the Fatima Shrine Rector, Father Guerra, who told them that he did not want to launch the campaign from Fatima. Therefore, the apostles of the National Rosary Crusade in Portugal went north to the most Catholic part of Portugal, near Braga, to the nearby city of Guimares, where King Denis had set up the first capital of Portugal. There, on April 28, 1974, they launched the crusade.[2]
They discreetly set about asking their neighbors, one by one, to join the crusade to free their country. They feared to speak or publish too openly their request that individuals pledge to pray at least five decades of the Rosary every day for their country, now held by the Communists.
1975 was a tumultuous year in Portugal. Social unrest, worker strikes, armed revolts, and political upheaval, continued to plague the nation. As the months dragged on, the socialist revolutionaries began to splinter. They fought amongst themselves. True to form, the devils always eat their own.
Our Lady Triumphs
For their part, the devotees of Our Lady persevered in their Rosary Crusade. In real time, they saw the prophetic words of David materialize before their eyes (Ps 67:2-4):
Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered;
and let them that hate Him flee from before His Face.
As smoke vaniseth, so let them vanish away;
as wax melteth before the fire,
so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
And let the just feast, and rejoice before God;
and be delighted with gladness.
In November 1975, almost eighteen months after the Rosary Crusade had started, the Communists were removed from power. Through the powerful intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary, the enemies of God had vanished like smoke and melted away.
Please join The Fatima Center in praying a powerful 54-day Rosary Novena for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the resulting world peace.
[1] Red is associated with Communism due to its historical symbolism of revolution and its adoption in the flags of various socialist and communist movements. Catholics do not fail to notice that in the Apocalypse St. John sees satan as a red dragon (12:3).
[2] An interesting connection is that April 28 is the feast of St. Louis de Montfort, one of the greatest Marian saints who was a strong advocate for total consecration to Jesus through Mary. He died on April 28, 1716.