A
Unknown Secret of Fatima
As
the sun travels from the east to the west in the sky, so has the
light of the understanding of God's Plan for Man traveled in my
consciousness. For the light first rose in me upon my hearing the gospel
that began 1,983 years ago in Israel that now shines brightly in the
land that I call home.
However,
something specifically occurred to the east of where I sit now that
beckoned me to seek the deeper meanings of the stories and words of
the Bible more than I had ever before. To focus more intently on the
lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as a daily practice. This was the
message and miracle of Fatima, Portugal.
It
has been reported in 1916 three shepherd children by the names Lucia,
Jancinta and Francisco were visited by an angel who referred to
himself to be " the Angel of Peace" and later the guardian
angel of Portugal. His message for the three Catholic children was to
adore God and that a "Merciful design" was going to unfold
through them. That they should offer reparation for all those sins
which offend God and as a petition for the conversion of sinners and
who do not believe. And lastly, to beg for conversion of sinners
through "the infinite merits of Jesus' Sacred Heart and the
Immaculate Heart of Mary" by receiving the Holy Communion
worthily.
In
May of 1917 a woman appeared to the children and asked them to meet
Her there on the 13th of each month for 6 consecutive months. You
can check out Her words at
http://www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/approved/words/wordfati.html
http://www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/approved/words/wordfati.html
However,
it seems to me She offered primarily a three fold message; first to
pray, specifically the Rosary. Second that this is way to peace and
conversion. And third, as for Lucy, Her Immaculate Heart will be our
refuge. Her appearances culminated in October, 1917 with a miracle
of the sun and by Her identifying Herself as Our Lady of the Rosary.
 |
| Reported over 70,000 saw Miracle of the Sun |
Now,
the story of Fatima is predominately held up as a "Catholic" thing that
many other sects of Christianity would dispute or ignore. However as a former Roman Catholic, I would have to say that if
people could suspend what ever prejudice they might have concerning
this event, perhaps more will be able see it pointing to God's Plan
for Man.
A Chain that can Set you Free
The story of the vision is a certainly captivating one and has encouraged
millions of people to pray the Rosary. For me praying the Rosary was the very beginning of
my conversion into the spiritual reality of the Kingdom of God.
The
prayer is meant to be a meditative one that focuses on the salvation
story as revealed in the lives of the Holy Family and to contemplate
the virtues they exhibited during different parts of their lives. The
"Our Fathers", "Hail Mary's" and "Glory
Be's" are meant to be mantra points to help one focus on a
particular virtuous aspect of the lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (called mysteries) by using
the beads as a way to keep track of time one meditates on each "Mystery" by
feel.
The
funny thing is that after years of meditating on the mysteries they became less and less mysterious, but just a way to
live. Now, one sincerely prayed Our Father and one Hail Mary fill my
day.
In
praying the Rosary, I became a less confused and anxious person. Plus, slowly but surely, a great peace
settled into my heart, as well as a great gratitude for the Mercy
Jesus has shown me by letting me feel His love during Holy Communion. And that experience of HIS presence gave me the courage to "go forth" as I have.
It
was while holding the chain of the Rosary in Cenacle prayer groups (inspired by the writings of Rev Don Stefano Gobbi) that
the words of scripture became real and present for me. Setting me
spiritually free from religious theology. A theology that is primarily
based on past interpretations of Scripture. Never really seemingly to acknowledge the Truth of the words as a present day spiritual reality.
The
miracle of the sun at Fatima must have been quiet a sight. In thinking
about that phenomenon, reviewing my own experiences and listening to counsel I have come to
realize that the spinning of the sun was/is a heavenly prompting for us to delve deeper
into understanding God's Plan for Man here on earth. I believed that Fatima was a navigational coordinate that would point towards and confirm what was being presented by the author of God's Plan for Man as true.
In the book the author draws a distinct line between the meaning of the Son of God and the Son of Man. And in doing so he draws a literary picture of what is the foundation truth God wants His Church to be built upon. What is asserted is contrary to over a millennia of standard Jewish-Christian belief. So, I decided to test it. By using Fatima literally as a navigational starting point.
If you have read or recall my January 2016 post Star of Wonder , I shared that the author, Dennis A. Gunn was born in Cincinnati, OH aka "the Queen City" on Christmas day 1941. Well, one day while in a library I had in my mind the lyrics to the Christmas song Star of Wonder; that lyrics went "western leading still proceeding guide us with thy perfect light." So, I decided to see how Fatima, Portugal lined up geographically with Cincinnati, OH. Fatima is located at 39.61 degrees North latitude. If you travel due west 3,919 miles along that line you will virtually run into Cincinnati OH at 39.10 degrees North by moving only approximately 8 miles south. Virtually a straight line!
But there is more.
Church of Light
I mentioned the writings of Rev. Don Stefano Gobbi as an inspiration to the formation of Cenacle Prayer groups as part of a movement called the Marian Movement of Priests. As described in the books To The Priests, Our Lady's Beloved Sons. It began while he was on a pilgrimage to Fatima and while he was praying at the little chapel of the apparitions for some priests who had given up their own vocations, but were even trying to set up an association against the Catholic Church authority.
"He felt a force that urged him to have confidence in the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our Lady, making use of him as a poor and humble instrument, would gather all those priests who would accept Her invitation to consecrate themselves to He Immaculate Heart, to be strongly united to the Pope and to the Church united with him, and bring the faithful into the secure refuge of Her motherly heart."
His writings consist of "interior locutions" which is defined in the book as "very clear words perceived by the person who receives them as though they were born from the heart and which, taken together form a message".
So, what does this do with the Church of Light? Well, during his 24 year mission Rev. Gobbi was given 604 messages that served as luminous guide for the Church to be in spiritual union with Her, but most importantly to come into Communion with Jesus. The cenacles served as that vehicle. And it is the spiritual formation point where a new Church began. One that was not in rebellion to the old, but in union to the spiritual truth held within as based on the Word of God in scripture.
For in May 1996 a Church was formed called the Word of God Church of Philadelphia from the bold inspiration of the message the angel gave to the ancient church of Philadelphia in the book of Revelations.
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
And to me this Church also confirms a message #429 that was given to Rev Gobbi given August 1990 entitled "The Way of Light"
"It is the way of light. It is the way I have traced out for you during these years, to lead you all to the church of light. Jesus is forming this church of His, by means of the powerful action of the Holy Spirit and in the garden of the Immaculate Heart of your heavenly Mother. It is the new Church of light, which has a splendor greater than a thousand suns put together."
Okay, Yeah. This might strike you as a stretch to ascribe this message from a Roman Catholic priest to any church one belongs too. Especially, if it is not Roman Catholic Church. And perhaps very presumptuous to equate this New Church as the Church of Philadelphia described in the book of Revelations. But do you remember I said - there is more. Lets return to the map.
If you start from Fatima and follow the 39th degree latitude line west you will come to Cincinnati, but along the way you will run through Philadelphia, Pa at 39.95 degrees North. Also, The Word of God, Church of Philadelphia first service occurred; October, 1996 in Wilmington, Delaware at 39.73 degrees North. Just dumb coincidences, right? Well, consider this- if you travel due east along the same latitude line from Fatima you will come approximately 20 miles north of the ancient city of Philadelphia that is now Alasehir, Turkey at 38.35 degrees North.
So, it seems at least to me that the movement of the Holy Spirit concerning this Church of Light really began in ancient Greece. And like a laser beam moved through history in a geographic straight line west to be realized in this land.
The unknown secret of Fatima is that it reveals the Church of God's Plan For Man. A Church that would begin in the Immaculate Heart of Mary as deemed by God. Leading Her Sons to the Heart of Jesus.
Personally, I see the what the Mother of Jesus has traced out for me. How about you? Is it not worth exploring? Miracles big and small do happen. And remember the first miracle for the sake of conversion occurred by the waiters listening to the words of Jesus' Mother at the wedding at Cana.
The unknown secret of Fatima is that it reveals the Church of God's Plan For Man. A Church that would begin in the Immaculate Heart of Mary as deemed by God. Leading Her Sons to the Heart of Jesus.
Personally, I see the what the Mother of Jesus has traced out for me. How about you? Is it not worth exploring? Miracles big and small do happen. And remember the first miracle for the sake of conversion occurred by the waiters listening to the words of Jesus' Mother at the wedding at Cana.
"Do whatever HE tells you."
John 2:5
You now have a Map.
The door is open. Will you enter?
