Innumerable volumes have been written about the miraculous apparition of Our Lady to three shepherd children in Fatima. Each one adds its own flavor and gives new insight into this most important event.
Such is the case with a new book: Fatima: A Message More Urgent Than Ever, written by TFP author Luiz Sérgio Solimeo and published by the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP).
A Narrative Style
While many excellent books are written in a scholarly style and deal with the theological and technical aspects of the apparitions, this one takes a different approach. It lays out the details of the event in a narrative style.
Since this story can be told best by the seers, themselves, it relies heavily on the writings of Sister Lucy. This frees the book from the dangers of literary license that could easily steer it off course. The heavy reliance on Sister Lucy’s profound testimony also keeps the book from becoming superficial, as often happens with narrative-style books.
Nevertheless, the book does analyze sensitive issues, such as the consecration of Russia, not by entering the debate of whether or not the consecrations were valid, but by pointing out that the first of the consecrations was not performed until after the outbreak of World War II, when it was too late.
Particularly interesting, is Mr. Solimeo’s description of the seers’ families and lives before and after the apparitions. This explains better the actions of those involved, which are often misinterpreted.
For example, many harbor resentments against Lucy’s mother, who intently tried to dissuade her daughter from believing in the apparitions. However, Mr. Solimeo puts her behavior in a different light, by explaining that the pious woman was struggling with a husband who took to drinking with friends and could no longer support the family.
The poor lady was even forced to send two of her daughters into the work force to make ends meet. In spite of their efforts, she was slowly losing the property that was her family’s patrimony. Thus, when Lucy began telling extravagant stories about apparitions of Our Lady, it is understandable, that she was skeptical and unwilling to accept the scorn and difficulties this would cause.
Nevertheless, she did support Lucy, after the miracle of the sun, which convinced her of the vision’s veracity.
Insightful Analysis
In addition to the retelling of the story, Mr. Solimeo also analyzes many of the issues surrounding the Fatima events, including which parts of the Fatima message have been fulfilled and which have not, what it means to put the message into practice, the spread of communism throughout the world and devotion to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart
A very insightful chapter, deals with the “errors of Russia” which Our Lady foretold would spread throughout the world. In it, Mr. Solimeo argues that these errors go beyond totalitarian governments and communist parties and include the errant philosophy of communism and its effects.
Thus, many of the errors of the modern world are encompassed in the “errors of Russia,” including: Homosexuality, abortion and radical Islam.
Buy the Book.
A Must Read
This makes Fatima: A Message More Urgent Than Ever a must read for all those interested in Fatima or concerned with the moral crisis of the modern world. It leads one to the ultimate solution for all the world’s problems: devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
It is a clarion call, for everyone to develop this devotion and spread it far and wide. It calls the reader to practice hope amid a seemingly hopeless situation. This hope is contained in the promise Our Lady made to mankind at Fatima, saying: “Finally my Immaculate Heart will Triumph.”
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