We have just read Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's commentary on the Message of Fatima a second time and still come to the same conclusion. It's beautiful and inspiring. Few words can properly convey the brilliance of the cardinal's words. Reading the Holy See's commentary I perceived a greater sense of how and why the Church was established and persevered through every obstacle over the past two millenniums. Think about it. If the Fatima "Secret" were given to ten-thousand Protestants, you no doubt would have ten-thousand interpretations because that is the way they have been taught - self-interpretration of the Scriptures. However, the Church did not "interpret" the message, but rather "discerned" it. The difference is that interpretation is more often than not finite in source, whereas discernment trusts in the Holy Spirit for enlightenment. It was pure prose and poetry how the Prefect for the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith delineated so clearly the difference between Public Revelation, which we must believe as Catholics, and Private Revelation, which we are not required to believe. However, he reinforced the importance of private revelation in enhancing the liturgy, in complementing and emphasizing what was revealed in Public Revelation. That's the key. There is nothing new in Private Revelation. The last words in Saint John's Apocalypse, now called Revelation, closed the book, so to speak, on Public Revelation. Yet Jesus had said often, most notably in John 16: 12, "Many things yet I have to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will teach you all the truth. For He will not speak on His Own authority, but whatever He will hear He will speak, and the things that are to come He will declare to you."

    All Private Revelation, to be authentic, must come through the Holy Advocate. This includes locutions, interior visions, apparitions and visits by Our Lord, His Blessed Mother Mary, His angels and His saints. John also verified that Jesus imparted much more and performed many more wonders that were not written down, "There are, however, many other things that Jesus did; but if every one of these should be written, not even the world itself, I think, could hold the books that would have to be written. Amen" (John 1: 25). But, He covered the essentials, recorded by four evangelists and followed up by a few trustworthy servants - most notably Saint Paul - and that is what is important.

    Also important is to heed the wisdom of the Church. It took forty years before the Holy Spirit deigned that the Third "Secret" should be released. Consider that it happened in 1917, was written down in 1944, and released in 2000; we have an 83-year span. Also consider we had a 300-year span from the time Public Revelation ended and it was compiled into what today is the "Bible." But what is time to God? There are those who will argue that a lot was lost or watered down in the "translation" to print. In the same manner, there are those who are arguing that a lot was lost and watered down, read "whitewashed," because of the 27-year period between the actual vision and the one remaining visionary Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart writing it down. She herself didn't understand the meaning of the vision but obediently wrote down what she saw through the grace of the Sanctifier. They forget the Holy Spirit's role. Remember Thursday's Gospel from Matthew 16: 19, "And I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven; and whatever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven."

    But sadly there are those who challenge this...right within our Church and this controversy is coming from those who want to stir controversy, who thrive on it. One such group is the Fatima Center, headed by Father Nicholas Gruner, the renegade priest who thrives on controversy and being a constant thorn in the Vatican's side, the fly in the ointment, so to speak. For years he has made it the staple of his Fatima Crusader to lambast the Vatican for not consecrating Russia to the Immaculate Heart, despite the fact that the entire world - the universal Church - was dedicated to the Immaculate Heart in an Act of Entrustment not once, not twice, but three times. I know for a fact that on the Feast of the Annunciation - March 25, 1984 not only did Pope John Paul II consecrate the world to Mary's Immaculate Heart, but he sent Bishop Paolo Hnilica, S.J. into the heart of Russia - to the very bowels of the Kremlin. There, he smuggled into a hidden room off Red Square his Mass Missal within the folds of the famous Communist newspaper Pravda which, in Russian means "truth." Truly, Our Lord's words "The truth will set you free" were never truer. I know this consecration took place because Bishop Hnilica told me himself during an interview for A Call To Peace while I was attending a special seminar for Marian leaders at Notre Dame in the early nineties.

    Cardinal Ratzinger's commentary, along with the comments and accounts of the chronological events by his Secretary Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, SDB and Sister Lucia's own words confirm this and confirm many other things. This also "vindicates" the "other Fatima priest" - the one respected by the Bishop of Leiria-Fatima, the Archbishop in Moscow, the Holy See and those who have truly understood the Message of Fatima from day one: Father Robert J. Fox. Fr. Fox, who heads the Fatima Family Apostolate in South Dakota and has a deep-seated love for his Heavenly Mother, is a mild-mannered, obedient priest who has always gone through the proper channels and put the emphasis not on the sensational or the apocalyptic bent, but on what Our Lady has always imparted - at Lourdes, Fatima, and Medjugorje as well: Prayer, penance, conversion of heart. However Fr. Gruner has always emphasized the sensational, stirring up so much controversy and ill-feelings that he has burned many bridges throughout the Church and has had a difficult time procurring faculties in any diocese, save for a remote one far oversees. He has worn out any welcome he had in Fatima and with the Bishop there. He is basically personna non-gratis in Rome. Rather than expressing a humility and acceptance of the message, he and his cohorts have chosen to accuse the Vatican of "whitewashing" the message. To enhance his siren, he words it such that the Vatican must conform to his demands, such as making available the original text written in Lucia's own writing. The Holy See did this and placed it on their web site, but believe us, it had nothing to do with his involvement. If you go to his web site at Fatima.org you'll see numerous releases that seem to question everything the Vatican does and exaggerate his involvement in all things regarding Fatima. Just as the Cancer Society doesn't want to find a cure for cancer because it would put them out of business, just as politicians don't want to clean things up because it might lessen their importance, just as Planned Parenthood points the finger at the Holy See and all others in desperation for their own inadequacies, so also Fr. Gruner's Fatima Center will not accept the truth; instead they seek out conspiracies where there are none.

    For those who don't understand, let us quote Fr. Gruner himself. In his May 18, 2000 release he demands that the original text be published. "Only when we see the original text of Sister Lucia's handwriting can we put to rest all speculation about the Third Secret's true contents." Does that sound familiar to the Gospel for this Monday from John 20: 29? "Because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed." Consider the millions of faithful who have not seen, but trust and believe. Well, Fr. Gruner, the original text of Sister Lucia's handwriting has been published for all to see. Ergo, you can now put to rest all speculation about the Third Secret's true contents. But noooo! In a release Tuesday, another priest at Fr. Gruner's center in Ontario, Canada accuses the Vatican of "whitewashing" the Message. Fr. Gruner's comments: "Cardinal Ratzinger said the Church is not imposing any particular interpretation of the Third Secret, but rather that he is merely offering a comment. This was a very prudent disclaimer, because the interpretation offered by the Vatican yesterday raises far more questions than it answers." Maybe in the conspiratorial mindset of Fr. Gruner, but not in the majority of faithful. Wherever you read anything on that website, or in the Fatima Crusader there is a self-imposed self-importance that makes it sound like he is so important within the structure of the Church. For instance the releases make a point to emphasize that "Fr. Gruner was there" (Fatima) when the message was released, but they fail to say he was just another speck in the vast crowd. We can assure you he was not invited by the Bishop and had no recognition from the Church. In truth, he greatly exaggerates his involvement, self-importance, and authority on Fatima. He has always been on the outside looking in and this riles him. Rather than accepting his situation and being obedient like Blessed Padre Pio or Father Ken Roberts, he is out to make waves. He is determined to rationalize that the Church is at fault, not him. Despite the overwhelming evidence in the documents released by the Holy See, he is still looking for shadows. His behavior and misbelief that there's a communist behind every tree makes him the Joe McCarthy of today. To him he makes it sound like it is all a great conspiracy, one that now the Vatican and Russia are in cahoots with, and all to discredit him. Please..! Don't for a moment think the Holy See even gives Fr. Gruner a passing thought. He is merely a fly in the great basin of ointment - a speck. He is very important to God and to Our Lady as one of God's children, but his impact with Rome is very, very minute. In all respect, he is also a priest, and therefore should be accorded respect, but there are times he has crossed the line and we must speak out. Keep in mind, as a priest, he has a very special calling, one which carries with it special responsibilities and those responsibilities are to be obedient and encourage those who follow him to be in full compliance with the Magisterium of the Church in all things. He is a heck of a poltician, a heck of a promoter, but we question his modus operandi in regards to Fatima and fostering division over something that is now fulfilled. From his track record and devisive tactics, one has to wonder what are his motives. Are they what Our Lady wants?

    On the flip side of the coin is Father Robert J. Fox. He doesn't have the slick, corporate like structure that Fr. Gruner has. Fr. Fox's magazine is called the Immaculate Heart Messenger and is only published quarterly because he is underfunded. But you get so much more in that quarterly because it is filled with sincerity, facts, authority, and an overwhelming love for Jesus and Mary. One magazine foments conflict, the other preaches love and unity. Sadly, as a mirror of society, more are drawn to the sensational, apocalyptic tone of the Crusader than the mundane, carry your cross "pray, do penance and convert your heart" concept in Fr. Fox's publication.

    We've seen this magnetic draw to the sensational throughout our own apostolate. Whenever Cyndi would speak, she was sought out by many who wanted her to be a "divining rod" to what would happen in the future, what would happen to them. Often they would ask her about another visionary or messenger, about personal things, and treat her like she was a saint who they were so unworthy to meet, let alone touch her hand. These attitudes were something that Cyndi, as the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart always shunned, because she was merely a messenger. Too often people want to make the messenger more important than the message and that is the biggest mistake. Though Cyndi obediently spoke when Our Lady asked her to and the Holy Spirit would inspire her with the right words, she was greatly relieved when the talks were over and she could retire to the quietude of prayerful contemplation. Through 632 messages received over a five-year period from September 22, 1990 to June 18, 1995 - the Feast of Corpus Christi - only a few were apocalyptic in tone and only a few "sensational" in respect to events to come. Yet those garnered the most attention and this bothered Cyndi greatly for in seeking out the spectacular, they were missing the essence of Our Lord and Our Lady's words. It is in the day-to-day living our faith, the "little way" described so beautifully by the Little Flower Saint Therese of Lisieux, that we inch our way to Heaven; not in one fell swoop.

    The Third "Secret" of Fatima was quite similar in nature to the interior visions Cyndi received during the two and a half years she was asked by Our Lady to go on the road and give talks. In every talk she would first go before the Blessed Sacrament in quiet prayer to empty herself completely. This was after she would always confide in me that she had no idea what she would say and expressed fright that she would get up before all those people and not have anything to say. That did happen once, but that was because she was manipulated by the hosts to speak when Our Lady didn't want her to; thus when she stood before the expectant crowd, she politely told them that she had nothing to say because Our Lady was silent. Many understood. Some didn't. Cyndi spent the remainder of that day praying for the latter that they would understand man cannot turn God on and off. The Gift of Prophecy is a gift and it comes only from the Holy Spirit. When Our Lady did want Cyndi to speak it flowed. She would begin by entrusting all to Jesus and Mary and inform them how she saw Mary at that particular moment, and how pleased Our Lady was that they were there. Then Cyndi would describe an interior vision she was given while she was speaking. After describing it in detail, she would often tell them what Our Lady meant by the images. Everytime it was taken in the same vein as the Holy See has discerned the Third "Secret." That is, not to take it literally, but symbollically. Cyndi would wrap up her talk by coordinating all the pieces of the puzzle, so to speak, together into one beautiful tableau that Our Lady wanted to present. After the talk she had no conscious idea what she had imparted, only a spiritual intuitive sense. It would take days of writing, rewrite and polishing to compose a finely-tuned talk like that, not to mention memorizing all the words. I can assure you, Cyndi, like many other visionaries, messengers and locutionists we have met over the years, did only one thing in preparation: pray and lessen themselves so God could increase.

    That, too, is the essence of the Medjugorje visionaries and messages. And the fruits of all these have multiplied greatly despite satan's attempt to demean and discredit through half-truths, clever slurs, and false syllogisms. The Third "Secret" of Fatima greatly vindicates Medjugorje and the tone of those messages, as well as the obedient persistence of Fr. Fox and many messengers who people have sat in judgment of without any basis of truth or understanding of the Church's position on Private Revelation. But no one is complaining because all who are truly from God have accepted their fiat to be willing messengers and put up with the slings and arrows that would be thrust at them because, as Jesus says in John 15: 20, "If they have persecuted Me, they will persecute you also; if they have kept My word, they will keep yours also."

    Therefore, let us all put to rest any questions about the Third "Secret" and get on with living its message rather than worrying about what it means or what is to come. We repeat what we have said so often to so many: If we are prepared spiritually, than there is no need to worry about what is to come and what dangers lay ahead physically for we will always have hope - hope that we will all see Jesus sooner rather than later. It reminds us of our first trip to Medjugorje back in 1990. As we were taxiing on the tarmac, one woman expressed fear that the plane might go down and she would not have the opportunity to be with Our Lady in Medjugorje. We pointed out to her that if that drastic measure were to happen, she'd just be with Our Lady sooner and forever. That brightened her perspective and the trip from then on was smooth for her. We also need to look at it that way and spend less energy chasing messages, and more time with her Divine Son in the Blessed Sacrament. The Tabernacle in most parishes is a lonely place and we need to keep Him company. That would be the best way to not only fulfilling the Fatima message, but go a long way in expediting the Triumph of Mary's Immaculate Heart.

    The whole concept of penance is carried out in Mary's request for First Saturdays. This was repeated in Our Lady's August 25th, 1991 Message in Medjugorje when she said "Therefore, I call all of you, dear children, to pray and fast still more firmly. I invite you to renunciation for nine days so that, with your help, everything I wanted to realize in Fatima, will be fulfilled. I call you, dear children, to grasp the importance of my coming and the seriousness of the situation. I want to save souls and present them to God. Therefore, let us pray that everything I have begun be fully realized." How appropriate that in the year all the Fatima Messages are fully revealed, the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary falls on a First Saturday. First Saturday Devotion, like First Friday Devotion, are both derived from Private Revelation. The latter came from Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century and consisted of the faithful attending Mass and and Holy Communion on nine consecutive First Fridays of the Month to gain the grace of repentance, an assurance of receiving the Last Sacrament or Sacrament of the Sick, and being consoled at the moment of their death by the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Three centuries later the First Saturday Devotion was introduced at Fatima. This, too, incorporated receiving Holy Communion for nine consecutive Saturdays and going to Confession within eight days on either side of the First Saturday. In addition Our Lady asked that we say a Rosary and make a fifteen minute meditation on one or more of the Mysteries of the Rosary which bring us closer to Jesus and Mary. After this was announced in 1917, Pope Benedict XV, the Sovereign Pontiff at the time of the Apparitions, decreed that a plenary indulgence would be granted at the hour of a person's death if they had made the acts of reparation on the nine successive Saturdays. Actually there have evolved other devotions, one calling for eight consecutive, another for five consecutive First Saturdays. By doing penance constantly, as Our Lady calls for in all her messages, we are conditioning ourselves to willingly carry our crosses and prepared when the road gets rougher, and the temptations greater.

    No one can argue with the accuracy of the Fatima messages. They've been right on, from the terrible World War II to other wars, from the rise of communism to the fall of the hammer and sickle through prayer and penance and the entrustment of Russia, incorporated within the entire world, to Mary's Immaculate Heart. Let us then celebrate this weekend in grateful thanksgiving on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart on Friday, and the Feast of His Blessed Mother's Immaculate Heart on Saturday. For the first time in recent memory her feast this year falls in July. July is the month devoted to the Precious Blood and no one understands this mystery better than His Own Mother who suffered with her Divine Son all for one purpose: to bring others closer to Him. As Pope John Paul II has pointed out so many times, as the Fatima Messages convey, the 20th Century was the "Century of Martyrs" who shed their blood in the same manner our Savior shed His Precious Blood. Though His Loving Mother did not shed physical blood, she suffered the seven sorrows and suffered every sling and arrow aimed at Jesus. Mary is mentioned very sparingly in the New Testament, but she falls into the category Jesus spoke of in John 16: 12, for she is the spouse of the Provider of Life and through the Holy Spirit she has been sent to remind us over and over that God exists and desires us to be with Him forever. To do this, we must comply by praying, fasting and convert our hearts and heed Christ's words in Matthew 7: 5, not to "give to dogs what is holy, neither cast your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet and turn and tear you." Public Revelation has already revealed this, but, as man is wont to do, he often forgets and wallows in the mud of sin. Therefore God allows His Mother to come again and again to her children and, like a loving, concerned mother, remind us of His Will - of His Commands. This is carried out through the Pearls of Private Revelation.

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