World Peace Depends on Us

Everyone in the world is terrified by the images of senseless slaughter and brutality of the Ukrainian people by the soldiers of the Russian Federation. The war commenced near the Roman Catholic Lent, and the Holy Father, Pope Francis, asked that the entire world, both Catholic and non-Catholic, to pray and fast for peace. He broke tradition and visited the Russian diplomat to the Vatican by going to his embassy in an attempt to plead for an end to the war.

On the Feast of the Annunciation to the Lord, March 25th of this year, Pope Francis consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This was done in union with all the bishops of the world. At Fatima, Our Lady asked that Russia be mentioned.

Pope Saint John Paul II had made the same act of consecration on the same feast day in 1984. He didn't specifically mention Russia, but alluded to it. Sr. Lucia de Jesus dos Santos, the last remaining Fatima seer at the time, said that it was acceptable to heaven. In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, and in 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved. Many wondered if the promises of Fatima had been fulfilled. However, living in a world full of violence, war, abortion, and moral decay should have led us to believe that the promises were not yet realized.

Pope Francis said that the consecration was not an act of magic. Simply making it will not bring about the desired end to the war.

If only the world would pray, repent, and truly turn to God, then the conversion of Russia, which Our Lady asked for at Fatima in 1917, would be accomplished. She asked for the daily praying of the Rosary, and that sacrifices be offered up for the conversion of sinners.

Our Lady also said, "I promise to assist at the hour of death, with all the graces necessary for salvation, to all who on the First Saturday of five consecutive months, (1) Confess, (2) Receive Holy Communion, (3) Pray five decades of the Rosary, and (4) Keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, all with the intention of making reparation to my Immaculate Heart."

Surely it is within our power to do so to bring about salvation to sinners and the prevention of a nuclear holocaust. We must comfort the broken hearts of our Mother and her Son, Jesus. For only that can help a materialistic, fallen world in need of redemption. It is a place where wealthy nations fare well, and the Third World suffers from poverty and disease. Even in our country, some children go to bed hungry. This must cease.

I find it interesting that President Vladimir Putin's birthday is October 7th. This is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. It was initially instituted as the Feast of Mary, Queen of Victory, when, in 1571, the Holy League fleet drove out the Ottoman Turks who were trying to capture Europe. Pope Pius V asked all Catholic civilians and those fighting to pray the Rosary for victory in battle. Although they were greatly outnumbered by the Turks, the European fleet won at Lepanto, a Venetian colony in Greece.

Perhaps Our Lady is trying to tell us that once again, through her Rosary, peace will reign if we are willing to follow her plan.

Let us not cease to pray for Russia's conversion. As she said at Fatima, "In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph." Let us hope and pray that it will speedily come without more senseless carnage, displacement of families, and the threat of nuclear annihilation. And let us also pray that it spreads to all parts of the world where violence and human misery exist.