IX. The “apparitions of Mary”.

1. The “apparitions of Mary” – a foundation of faith for many Catholics.

The alleged apparitions of Mary are for many Catholics an important foundation of their belief in the authority and teaching of the Catholic church, since they seem to provide a supernatural proof of both this authority and the Catholic teachings.

Many of the so called “apparitions” – both of Mary and all other “saints” – are made up stories and legends, a great part of which could have originated from someone presenting as a fact something thatthey saw in their imagination – and someone else believing such an account. This phenomenon has been present for millennia.

16 Thus says the Lord of hosts,“Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you.They are leading you into futility;They speak a vision of their own imagination,Not from the mouth of the Lord.”Jeremiah 23:16 NASB

1 Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own inspiration, ‘Listen to the word of the Lord! 3 Thus says the Lord God, “Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing. 4 O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among ruins. 5 You have not gone up into the breaches, nor did you build the wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the Lord. 6 They see falsehood and lying divination who are saying, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord has not sent them; yetthey hope for the fulfillment of their word. 7 Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, ‘The Lord declares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?”’”Ezekiel 13:1-7 NASB

Accounts of this sort gather momentum and spread quickly, frequently achieving in the eyes of many the status of real events despite being devoid of any basis.1

It does seem, however, that at least some of the so called “apparitions of Mary” could have really been supernatural events.

2. The origin of supernatural events.

2.1. Miracles performed by the power of Satan.

The fact that a certain “apparition” or other miracle was a supernatural event does not mean that it originated from God. In the scripture we have numerous examples of miracles wrought by the power of Satan, for example by Pharaoh’s magicians.

10 So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh, and thus they did just as the Lord had commanded;and Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts. 12 For each one threw down his staff and they turned into serpents. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.Exodus 7:10-12 NASB

20 So Moses and Aaron did even as the Lord had commanded. And he lifted up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood.21 The fish that were in the Nile

1 We observe the same mechanism in the case of false, unverified gossip.

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died, and the Nile became foul, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. Andthe blood was through all the land of Egypt. 22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same with their secret arts; and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the Lordhad said.Exodus 7:20-22 NASB

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 2 But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite your whole territory with frogs. 3 The Nile will swarm with frogs, which will come up and go into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed, and into the houses of your servants and on your people, and into your ovens and into your kneading bowls. 4 So the frogs will come up on you and your people and all your servants.”’” 5 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the streams and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’” 6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. 7 The magicians didthe same with their secret arts, making frogs come up on the land of Egypt.2Exodus 8:1-7 NASB

Jesus warns against the coming of false messiahs and false prophets during the time of the tribulation who “will shown great signs and wonders”.

21 For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. 22 Unless those days had been cut short, no life would havebeen saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.Matthew 24:21-24 NASB (also Mark 13:19-22)

Paul refers to the same events in 2 Thessalonians.

7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.2 Thessalonians 2:7-10 NASB

It is exactly these events that John describes in the book of Revelation. The time of the tribulation which will precede Christ’s second coming will be a time of miracles never so far witnessed by the world. Supernatural events will be taking place as the Antichrist – the Beast – becomes the world rulerand miracles will be performed by his false prophet. The Antichrist will seem to have been mortally wounded, but the wound will be healed which will cause the whole world to marvel.

1 And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names.2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. 3 I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;Revelation 13:1-3 NASB

2 We should note that despite the Egyptian sorcerers being able to turn the water into blood and make the frogs come up to the land, they were, contrary to Moses, unable to cleanse the water and remove the frogs. There were other miracles they did not have the ability to perform (such as bringing forth the gnats – Exodus 8:18).

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His false prophet will on the other hand perform signs and wonders that will cause almost the whole world to follow the Antichrist.

1 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound washealed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.Revelation 13:11-15 NASB

20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.Revelation 19:20 NASB

Thus both the Old and the New Testament teach us that the fact that a certain phenomenon is supernatural by no means guarantees that it comes from God.

The same refers to the miraculous healings which have allegedly been taking place at various places of cult. In those cases where a healing that is difficult to explain in medical terms could really have taken place (and we should bear in mind that if such cases can be established with certainty at all, their number is scarce compared to all the cases which are attributed to supernatural causes), we should by no means assume that we are dealing with a work of God.

We know that the devil can cause illness (Luke 13:10-17) and so he is also able to reverse it, if it shouldserve his cause. Let us imagine a situation where a person is suffering from an illness caused by demon X. Another person comes who works under the influence of demon Y. Demons X and Y are cooperating. In order to deceive a group of people observing these events, on a request made by demon Y, demon X leaves the person whose illness he caused and the illness goes away. Those observing see a supernatural removal of illness and ascribe it to God, but in reality it is a result of demonic cooperation. Having been deceived they are now ready to accept false teachings from the person acting under the influence of demon Y, since a false miracle has established their authority (I am indebted to Curtis Omo from the Bible Academy ministry – http://www.bibleacademyonline.com/omo/ – for explaining this mechanism of a demonic manoeuvre).

2.2. Supernatural phenomena – a test of faithfulness.

Supernatural phenomena – miracles and apparitions – can thus be of demonic origin and consequently they constitute a test of faithfulness to God. In the book of Deuteronomy God warns Israel:

1 “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen toHis voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to seduce you from

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http://www.bibleacademyonline.com/omo/

the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from among you.Deuteronomy 13:1-5 NASB

It was hence possible that a false prophet or a dreamer would give a sign or wonder which would reallytake place and yet he was not to be heeded if he should call the people to follow other gods. God has assigned to Satan his sphere of activity within which he is allowed to operate and he is using all the means at his disposal – including supernatural phenomena – to draw humanity away from God. We, on the other hand, are exercising our free will choice – more important than any other choice – to follow God or Satan.

A supernatural phenomenon of satanic origin is consequently an opportunity for us to make a choice. Whether we accept it and its message or reject it shows if we love God.

3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.Deuteronomy 13:3 NASB

And if we follow Him by observing His Word.

4 You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.Deuteronomy 13:4 NASB

2.3. The truth of the Word of God – the only criterion of verification of the source of a supernatural phenomenon.

As Deuteronomy 13:4 clearly states, the criterion for verification of the source of a given supernatural phenomenon is the truth of the Word of God. Satan, his demons and some of those who serve them have the power to perform miracles and the purpose of these miracles is to “mislead” (Matthew 24:24)and to lead into error those who do not love the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Thus it is faithfulness to God and following His truth – the inspired Word of God (John 17:17; Psalm 119:160; James 1:18; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; cf. Ephesians 1:13; 2 Timothy 2:15) – that protects us from following a lie, even if it should be backed up by a miracle.

Thus the only criterion to verify the divine origin of an apparition or revelation is its agreement with the Word of God. The content of a revelation that comes from God cannot contradict His Word.3 Quitethe contrary – an authentic revelation must be in harmony with the Bible and confirm its teaching.4

Apparitions and revelations which could really have been supernatural events but the teaching of which contradicts the Word of God cannot come from God. They must consequently come from another source which means that they are of demonic origin. We know that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.2 Corinthians 11:13-14 NASB

Lies and deception have been his main methods from the beginning of history and they still remain such.

3 For example according to the Muslims Muhammad also received numerous revelations, but their teaching which has been preserved in the Quran directly contradicts the Bible. The same God cannot be the author of revelations and scriptures that contradict each other.

4 Just as the miracles that Christ performed testified to the truth of His teaching and His divine nature which was their purpose (this is also the reason John calls them “signs” – John 2:11, 2:23, 3:2, 4:54, 6:26, etc.).

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2.4. Scripture forbids necromancy.

Finally we should remember that the scripture forbids seeking contact with the dead.

10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you.Deuteronomy 18:10-12 NASB

19 When they say to you, “Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,” should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? Isaiah 8:19 NASB

God who forbids anything to do with necromancy would not choose the dead as a medium to communicate with us and the same principle applies to Mary. Jesus Christ, who appeared several times after His death (Matthew 28; Luke 24; John 20-21; Acts 1:1-8, 9:1-19), is an exception.5 He, however, contrary to the rest of the human race including Mary, is firstly the God-man and could haveonly died in His human nature since as God He is eternal. Secondly, Christ is the only one who has already risen from the dead and is in His new, resurrection body in which He has also returned to His divine glory that He gave up for the time of His earthly ministry (1 Corinthians 15:20-24; John 17:5; see chapter V, point 3, analysis of paragraph 34). Believers will not be resurrected until His second coming (1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; see chapter V, point 3, analysis of paragraph 34).

3. Fatima apparitions.

Over the centuries there have been numerous alleged “apparitions” of Mary and other Catholic “saints”. However, only those officially approved by the Catholic church whose content has been preserved should be used to verify whether Marian apparitions accord with the scripture or not. Thesecriteria are met by the Fatima apparitions and they will be analysed.

Fatima apparitions are among the most renowned in the Catholic Church. The popes, together with the entire Catholic hierarchy, have been referring to them on numerous occasions in their teachings and Fatima has become of the main destinations of pilgrimage for Catholics from around the world.

Fatima apparitions took place between the spring/summer 1916 (including the apparitions of the „angel of Portugal”) and the 13th of October 1917, when the last apparition occurred. The account of these apparitions has been related by sister Lucia who was the witness of the apparitions. The authenticity of this account has been officially approved by the Catholic church and is available on the official website of the Fatima apparitions – https://fatima.org/about/fatima-the-facts/.6 Quoted below are the utterances of the angel and the woman who appeared to the children. The messages from the underlined fragments of these have been compared to the teaching of the Word of God.

3.1. Apparitions of the “angel of Portugal”.

5 We can consider Moses and Elijah who appeared to Jesus at the mount of transfiguration as unique exceptions as well (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36). Transfiguration foreshadowed Christ’s second coming in glory and the events preceding it when Moses and Elijah will appear again at the time of the tribulation (Revelation 11:1-13), for which purpose they have been taken to the Lord (cf. 2 Kings 2:1-11). Saul asking the woman who was a medium to conjure up Samuel (1 Samuel 28) was a biblically illegitimate activity (Leviticus 19:31).

6 Since it is the analysis of the content of the apparitions that is necessary to establish their origin, the descriptions of the phenomena which allegedly accompanied the apparitions – subjective and frequently elevated and exaggerated – have largely been omitted.

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https://fatima.org/about/fatima-the-facts/

3.1.1. The first apparition of the angel – spring 1916.

In the spring of 1916, three young Portuguese shepherds, Lucy dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, led their sheep to graze on a hill called the Cabeço. Rain began to fall, so the children found a place on the hillside to serve as a shelter. Even after the rain had passed and the sun had returned, the little shepherds spent the day at this spot, eating lunch, saying the Rosary and playing games. Lucy was then only nine years old, Francisco was eight, and Jacinta was six.

As they were playing, a strong wind suddenly blew, shaking the trees, and the children saw a figure approaching above the olive trees. Lucy described the figure as having “the appearance of a young man of fourteen or fifteen, whiter than snow, which the sun rendered transparent as if it were of crystal, and of great beauty. We were surprised and half absorbed. We did not say a word.

While coming closer to us, the Angel said:

Angel: “Do not fear! I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me.”

And kneeling on the earth, he bent his forehead to the ground. Prompted by a supernatural movement, we imitated him and repeated the words which we heard him pronounce:

Angel: “My God, I believe in Thee, I adore Thee, I hope in Thee and I love Thee. I ask pardon for all those who do not believe in Thee, do not adore Thee, do not hope in Thee and do not love Thee.”

Having repeated that prayer three times, he got up again and said to us:

Angel: “Pray in this way. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications.”

And he disappeared.

Lucy recalled, “The supernatural atmosphere which enveloped us was so intense that, during a long moment, we barely realized the fact of our own existence. We remained in the position in which the Angel had left us, always repeating the same prayer. The presence of God made itself felt in such an intense and intimate manner, that we did not dare even to speak any longer among ourselves. The next day, we still felt our spirit enveloped in this atmosphere which only disappeared very slowly.”

3.1.1.1. I ask pardon for all those who do not believe in Thee, do not adore Thee, do not hope in Thee and do not love Thee.

We receive forgiveness with God only through faith in Christ (John 3:16, 3:36; Acts 4:12, 10:43, 16:31; Romans 3:21-25, 5:10; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-9, 4:32; 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18; cf. Romans 4:25; Philippians 3:8-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 John 5:11-13; see also the study of salvation).

God cannot forgive those who do not believe in Him, do not adore Him, do not Hope in Him and do not love Him. If God could forgive all those who do not believe in Him and in His Son Jesus Christ as their Saviour, then it would be meaningless whether one believes or not, since ultimately all could be saved anyway – some through their faith and some through someone else pleading for their salvation. As a result our free will would be deprived of its meaning, since our decisions – and above all else our choice to believe in Christ or not – would be immaterial. Consequently, Christ’s sacrifice for the sins ofhumanity on the cross would become useless, since accepting this payment through faith would not benecessary for salvation. The entire plan of God and the history of salvation would lose their purpose.

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The scripture clearly teaches that unbelievers – those who do not accept Christ’s sacrifice for their sin through faith – will be in the lake of fire for eternity.

36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”John 3:36 NASB

47 If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.Mark 9:47-48 NASB

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in thebook of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.Revelation 20:11-15 NASB

8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral personsand sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”Revelation 21:8 NASB

6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 NASB

The prayer of the angel, seemingly pious and charitable, in reality directly contradicts the teaching of the scripture and could not have been spoken by an angel faithful to God.

3.1.1.2. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications.

As it has been discussed in depth in chapter VIII, the scripture teaches that we are to address our prayers to God only. Bringing our supplications to Mary or any other human being contradicts the Word of God.

We should note how the angel insidiously mingles the truth with falsehood. As the addressee of the supplications he puts not just Mary – which should immediately alarm every true believer as a serious violation of the teaching of the scripture (even if Catholics would fail to detect this error since they are in it themselves) – but Mary together with Jesus. It is much more probable that falsehood will go unnoticed if it is introduced together with the truth or contains an element of the truth. Satan knows itvery well and has been employing this mechanism from the beginning (in his temptation of Eve or when tempting our Lord, when he quoted the scripture – Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13).

The angel says that it is both “the heart” of Jesus that is attentive to the voice of the children’s supplications – although the scripture nowhere teaches that it is the “heart” of Jesus that hears our prayers, but rather that Jesus Himself as the God-man and our Lord can be the addressee of our prayers – and the heart of Mary – which directly contradicts the teaching of the scripture.

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3.1.2. The second apparition of the angel – summer 1916.

The second apparition of the Angel took place during the summer of 1916. While the children were playing around their favorite well, the Angel suddenly appeared.

Angel: “What are you doing?” he asked. “Pray, pray a great deal! The Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy on you. Offer unceasingly prayers and sacrifice yourselves to the Most High.”

Lucy asked the Angel how they were to make sacrifices.

Angel: “Make of everything you can a sacrifice and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners. In this way, you will draw peace upon your country. I am its Guardian Angel, the Angel of Portugal.7 Above all, accept and bear with submission the sufferings which the Lord will send you.”

Lucy comments, “Those words of the Angel engraved themselves in our spirit, as a light which made us understand Who God is, how much He loves us and wants to be loved by us, the value of sacrifice and how pleasing it is to Him, and that out of respect for it, God converts sinners.”

3.1.2.1. The Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy on you.

The words “The Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary” equate the sinless God-man Jesus Christ with Mary –a sinful human. This is a serious error and another attempt to give equal status to Jesus and Mary. The heart of Mary was not “holy” – she was a sinner as all of us are (chapter IV).

Just as the scripture nowhere teaches that a human being can be an addressee of our prayers (point 3.1.1.2 above, chapter VIII), so also it clearly points to God as the only One to whom sinners come to ask for mercy and from whom they receive it (Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 103:8, 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Ephesians 1:7; Titus 3:5; etc.).

6 Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the LordGod, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;”Exodus 34:6 NASB

5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.

7 It is noteworthy that the angel describes himself as “the Angel of Portugal”. We know that the fallen angels are given geographic areas they supervise, as indicated by Daniel 10:13:

7 Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to adeathly pallor, and I retained no strength.9 But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon asI heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.10 Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me,I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, yourwords were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.Daniel 10:13 NASB

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Psalm 86:5 NASB

36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.Luke 6:36 NASB

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,5 even whenwe were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),Ephesians 2:4-5 NASB

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,1 Peter 1:3 NASB

By stating that the heart of Mary has “designs of mercy on you” the angel again ascribes to Mary a prerogative which belongs only to God.

3.1.2.2. Offer unceasingly prayers and sacrifice yourselves to the Most High. (…) Make of everything you can a sacrifice and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners.

Here we again encounter falsehood which clearly shows that the angel uttering these words (if such a thing ever did happen) did not come from God.

The most important teaching of the scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, is that our sins are forgiven on the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross – the sacrifice foretold in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New – and that we are saved through faith in Him as our Redeemer. On the cross Christ paid for all the sins committed in the history of humanity and by putting our faith in Him we accept the payment made for our sins.

7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.1 John 1:7 NASB

That’s why the Word of God teaches us that we are saved “by grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“By grace”, because it is a gift of God that He sent His Son to pay for our sins and did not require this payment from us. It’s a payment we could never make ourselves, because we are sinners and all our works are tainted with sin and through it cannot be accepted as a payment for sin by an absolutely righteous God. Christ offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice and paid the redemption price by dying on the cross in our stead.

1 Who has believed our message?And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,And like a root out of parched ground;He has no stately form or majestyThat we should look upon Him,Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.3 He was despised and forsaken of men,A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;And like one from whom men hide their faceHe was despised, and we did not esteem Him.4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore,And our sorrows He carried;Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,Smitten of God, and afflicted.

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5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,He was crushed for our iniquities;The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,And by His scourging we are healed.6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,Each of us has turned to his own way;But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us allTo fall on Him.7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,Yet He did not open His mouth;Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,So He did not open His mouth.Isaiah 53:1-7 NASB

21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.Romans 3:21-25a NASB

25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.Romans 4:25 NASB

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.Romans 5:10 NASB

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His graceEphesians 1:7 NASB

32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.Ephesians 4:32 NASB

5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.1 Timothy 2:5-6 NASB

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercyTitus 3:4-5a NASB

24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.1 Peter 2:24 NASB

18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;1 Peter 3:18 NASB

2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.1 John 2:2 NASB

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“Through faith” – because it is by making the free will choice to believe in Christ as our Saviour that we accept this payment for our sins and are justified before God.

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”John 3:16 NASB

36 “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”John 3:36 NASB

40 “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”John 6:40 NASB

12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.Acts 4:12 NASB

43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Himreceives forgiveness of sins.Acts 10:43 NASB

31 Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.Acts 16:31a

28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.Romans 3:28 NASB

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,Romans 5:1 NASB

8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count thembut rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,Philippians 3:8-9 NASB

11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.1 John 5:11-13 NASB

3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”Romans 4:3 NASB

There is no other path to salvation, because we are all sinners.

46 “When they sin against You - for there is no man who does not sin”1 Kings 8:46a NIV

4 “Who can make the clean out of the unclean?No one!”

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Job 14:4 NASB

3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,O Lord, who could stand?Psalm 130:3 NASB

2 And do not enter into judgment with Your servant,For in Your sight no man living is righteous.Psalm 143:2 NASB

9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,I am pure from my sin”?Proverbs 20:9 NASB

20 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.Ecclesiastes 7:20 NASB

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,Romans 3:23 NASB

8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.1 John 1:8 NASB

And everything we do is tainted with our sin and because of that cannot be accepted by God whois absolutely holy and righteous.

45 For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.’”Leviticus 11:45 NASB

48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.Matthew 5:48 NASB

4 In You our fathers trusted;They trusted and You delivered them.Psalm 22:4 NASB

9 Exalt the Lord our GodAnd worship at His holy hill,For holy is the Lord our God.Psalm 99:9 NASB

1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said,“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,The whole earth is full of His glory.”Isaiah 6:1-3 NASB

15 “I am the Lord, your Holy One,The Creator of Israel, your King.”Isaiah 43:15 NASB

This is why Paul clearly says in Ephesians 2:9 that salvation is “the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast”.

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8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB

Thus the angel’s exhortation to the children to “sacrifice” themselves and to make of everything they can a sacrifice and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, despite sounding pious, is in reality an outright blasphemy. For it firstly assumes that Christ’s sacrifice is insufficient and we must add our own works to it. This teaching is a serious error and directly contradicts the Word of God. Christ is God incarnate whose perfect sacrifice paid for all sins committed by all men – from Adam and Eve to the last man who will live on the earth – and completely satisfied God’s righteousness.

21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.Romans 3:21-25a NASB

5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all , the testimony given at the proper time.1 Timothy 2:5-6 NASB

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is thepropitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.1 John 2:1-2 NASB

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.1 John 4:10 NASB

Secondly, this exhortation paints a false picture that our works can really atone for our sins and so either they are perfect and free from any sin, or they are indeed tainted by sin, but God can accept them as such. Both possibilities are false. Everything that a sinner does is tainted with sin and an absolutely holy God cannot accept anything that is less than perfect – this would be against His holy nature. The angel’s words thus firstly falsely assume that Christ’s sacrifice is deficient and secondly that human works – all of which are tainted with sin – can in some way add to this sacrifice, as if tainted works could somehow add to the perfect sacrifice of the God-man Jesus Christ. We are saved only by accepting this sacrifice for our sins by putting our faith in Christ. The angel hence teaches a false gospel. Exactly what Paul warned us against.

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!Galatians 1:8 NASB

Finally, as it has been discussed in point 3.1.1.1 above, the angel’s words de facto make our ability to make free will choices irrelevant, since the conversion of sinners can be secured for them through someone else’s sacrifices.

It is the gravest error of the Catholic church that it has perverted the most important and most fundamental teaching of the scripture about salvation by faith through Jesus Christ which has cost and is costing billions their eternal condemnation. The teaching of the Catholic church on salvation directly contradicts the teaching of the scripture.

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In the “Canons Concerning Justification” established at the Council of Trent (“The Council of Trent, Session VI”, n.d.) the Catholic church teaches that the one who according to the scripture considers himself justified through faith in Christ is anathema.

If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone, meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification, and that it is not in any way necessarythat he be prepared and disposed by the action of his own will, let him be anathema.Council of Trent, Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 9

If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema.Council of Trent, Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 24

If any one saith, that, after the grace of Justification has been received, to every penitent sinner the guilt is remitted, and the debt of eternal punishment is blotted out in such wise, that there remains not any debt of temporal punishment to be discharged either in this world, or in the next in Purgatory, before the entrance to the kingdom of heaven can be opened (to him); let him be anathema.Council of Trent, Canons Concerning Justification, Canon 30

Canons 9 and 24 directly contradict the teaching of the scripture about salvation by grace through faith. The scripture clearly teaches that we are saved and justified only through faith – “not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:9). There is thus no question of any other “cooperation” or of the justice received being “preserved and also increased before God through good works”. One of the criminals who was crucified together with Christ, immediately before his death repented and believed in Christ who told Him that He would be with Him in Paradise today – despite him now only being able to put his faith in Christ and having no possibility of any “cooperation”.

39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Doyou not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!”43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”Luke 23:39-43 NASB

According to Canon 30, since a further punishment needs to be discharged on the person who has repented and believed in Christ – in this life and the next in purgatory (which is an unbiblical invention of the Catholic church, see point 3.2.1.2 below) – Christ’s perfect atoning sacrifice is effectively deemed insufficient.8

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that:

1. We can “merit for ourselves and for others” the graces for the attainment of eternal life:

Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification, at the beginning of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life. Eventemporal goods like health and friendship can be merited in accordance with God's wisdom. These graces and goods are the object of Christian prayer. Prayer attends to the grace we need for meritorious actions.Catechism of the Catholic Church, §2010

8 Many other examples could be provided from the Council of Trent Canons (cf. Canons 12, 14, etc.).

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No one can merit the initial grace which is at the origin of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit, we can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life, as well as necessary temporal goods.Catechism of the Catholic Church, §2027

2. We are saved not just through faith in Christ, but also through “baptism and observance of theCommandments”.

The Council of Trent teaches that the Ten Commandments are obligatory for Christians and that the justified man is still bound to keep them (Cf. DS 1569-1570.); the Second Vatican Council confirms: “The bishops, successors of the apostles, receive from the Lord . . . the mission of teaching all peoples, and of preaching the Gospel to every creature, so that all men may attain salvation through faith, Baptism and the observance of the Commandments” (Lumen gentium, 24).

The scripture clearly teaches that “by the works of the Law” – of which the Decalogue is a part – “no flesh will be justified” (Romans 3:20) and that “a man is not justified by the works of 1the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 2:16).

20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.Romans 3:20 NASB

16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.Galatians 2:16 NASB

3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”Romans 4:3 NASB

3. The following are necessary for salvation:

• “Sacrament of Penance” (which is also nowhere to be found in the scripture):

It is through the sacrament of Penance that the baptized can be reconciled with God and with the Church:Penance has rightly been called by the holy Fathers “a laborious kind of baptism”. This sacrament of Penance is necessary for salvation for those who have fallen after Baptism, just as Baptism is necessary for salvation for those who have not yet been reborn (Council Of Trent, 1551: DS 1672; Cf. St. Gregory Of Nazianzus, Oratio 39,17:PG 36, 356).Catechism of the Catholic Church, §980

• “Sacraments of the New Covenant”:

The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation ( Cf. Council of Trent, 1547: DS 1604 ) . “Sacramental grace” is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament. The Spirit heals and transforms those who receive him by conforming them to the Son of God. The fruit of the sacramental life is that the Spirit of adoption makes the faithful partakers in the divine nature (Cf. 2 Peter 1:4) byuniting them in a living union with the only Son, the Savior.Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1129

• Observance “of the natural law”.

The authority of the Magisterium extends also to the specific precepts of the natural law , because their observance, demanded by the Creator, is necessary for salvation. In recalling theprescriptions of the natural law, the Magisterium of the Church exercises an essential part of

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https://biblia.com/books/nasb95/Ga2.2#

its prophetic office of proclaiming to men what they truly are and reminding them of what they should be before God (Dignitatis humanae, 14).Catechism of the Catholic Church, §2036

The Catholic church first perverted the fundamental teaching of salvation and then usurped the monopoly for salvation.

“The sole Church of Christ [is that] which our Savior, after his Resurrection, entrusted to Peter's pastoral care, commissioning him and the other apostles to extend and rule it. . . . This Church, constituted and organized as a society in the present world, subsists in (subsistit in) the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him” (Lumen gentium, 8, §2).The Second Vatican Council's Decree on Ecumenism explains: “For it is through Christ's Catholic Church alone, which is the universal help toward salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained. It was to the apostolic college alone, of which Peter is the head, that we believe that our Lord entrusted all the blessings of the New Covenant, in order to establish on earth the one Body of Christ into which all those should be fully incorporated who belong in any way to the People of God” (Unitatis redintegratio, 3, §5).Catechism of the Catholic Church, §816

The second revelation of “the angel of peace”, just as the first one, shows the guile in the works of Satan. The angel’s message consolidates false Catholic doctrines which detract away from Jesus Christ. Firstly, the teaching of salvation through works which is the most catastrophic Catholic doctrine contradicting the most important message of the entire scripture and which will cost billions their salvation. Secondly, putting Mary on a par with Jesus which amounts to idolatry – the worship ofa creature instead of the Creator.

Satan knows to which lies people are most susceptible and it is those lies that He gives them. The lies of the angel given according to the false Catholic teachings fell on fertile ground and played a significant role in solidifying these teachings.

3.1.2.3. Those words of the Angel engraved themselves in our spirit, as a light which made us understand Who God is, how much He loves us and wants to be loved by us, the value of sacrifice and how pleasing it is to Him, and that out of respect for it, God converts sinners.

Another serious error, since in fact God gives to everyone free will and does not “convert sinners” against their will. Sinners may choose to repent and believe themselves or they may choose not to. If they choose not to do that, God will not “convert” them against their free will. This would be against His justice since it would amount to God saving and condemning according to His choice and nullifying man’s free will. A sinner can only repent himself, making a free will choice to turn to God through Jesus Christ and if he chooses not to do that, God does not “convert” him against his will. Lucy’s words make a mockery of God’s call for people to repent – since according to what she said it is God who converts them (!).

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”Mark 1:15 NASB

3.1.3. Third apparition of the angel – autumn 1916.

In the autumn of the same year, the children took their sheep to the same place where the firstapparition took place. There in the blessed place of the Cabeço, they were reciting the prayer the Angel had taught them when above them an unknown light appeared. Lucy relates, “We got up again to see what was happening, and we saw the Angel again, who had in his left hand a Chalice over which was suspended a Host, from which some drops of Blood fell into the Chalice.”

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Leaving the Chalice and the Host suspended in the air, he prostrated himself down to the earth near the children and repeated three times this prayer:

Angel: “Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I adore You profoundly, and I offer You the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He, Himself is offended. And I draw upon the infinite merits of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, that You might convert poor sinners.”

Then, getting up, the Angel took the Chalice and Host. He gave Lucy the Sacred Host on the tongue. Then while giving the Precious Blood from the Chalice to Francisco and Jacinta, he said:

Angel: “Eat and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by ungrateful men. Make reparation for their crimes and console your God.”

Then, prostrating himself on the ground he repeated with the children three times the same prayer: Most Holy Trinity, etc., and disappeared.

3.1.3.1. Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I adore You profoundly, and I offer You the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He, Himself is offended.

Firstly, Jesus is not present in the tabernacles of the world. Tabernacle, similarly as all others Catholic items and rituals, has got nothing to do with the teaching of the scripture and nowhere in the New Testament are there any guidelines to create such articles of cult. The angel again purposefully cements Catholic errors since he in this way gives an appearance of legitimacy to a religion whose most important teaching – of salvation through works – is false.

We are probably here dealing with the same error as in the first apparition – that unbelief can be propitiated for (see point 3.1.1.1 and 3.1.2.2 above). Although even believers remain sinners, it would be rather difficult to attribute “outrages, sacrileges and indifferences” to genuine followers of Jesus Christ.

3.1.3.2. And I draw upon the infinite merits of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, that You might convert poor sinners.

The same error as in previous apparitions – Mary is given an equal status with Jesus.

The angel’s words also contain the false teaching that Mary’s heart is “immaculate”. The Catholic church erroneously teaches that Mary’s conception was “immaculate” (chapter III) and that she was sinless (chapter IV). All these teachings are false and directly contradict the Word of God.

The angel also attributes “infinite merits” to Mary – the merits of Mary were, however, clearly not “infinite”. Mary was a normal human being who has fulfilled her role assigned to her by God, a role clearly outlined and obviously finite (see chapter VII, point 2.3.1).

3.2. Apparitions of the woman.

3.2.1. First apparition: 13th of May 1917.

On the thirteenth of May, after Sunday morning Mass, they chose to lead their sheep to a property of Lucy’s parents called Cova da Iria. After eating their meal at noon and praying the Rosary, the children began to play. Suddenly they saw a kind of lightning, making them believe that a storm was approaching, and they began to descend the hill to make for home.

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When about halfway down the slope there was another flash of light, and a Lady appeared above a holm-oak tree. Lucy says that the Lady was “all dressed in white, more brilliant than the sun, radiating a light clearer and more intense than a crystal glass filled with clear water pierced by the most burning rays of the sun.” The children stopped and found themselves in the light that emanated from Her.

Lucy describes the apparition in this way:

Woman:9 “Do not be afraid. I will do you no harm.”

Lucy: “Where is Your Grace from?”

Woman: “I am of Heaven.”

Lucy: “What does Your Grace want of me?”

Woman: “I have come to ask you to come here for six months in succession, on the 13th day, at this same hour. Later on, I will tell you who I am and what I want. Afterwards, I will return here yet a seventh time.”

Lucy: “Shall I go to Heaven too?”

Woman: “Yes, you will.”

Lucy: “And Jacinta?”

Woman: “Also.”

Lucy: “And Francisco?”

Woman: “Also, but he will have to say many Rosaries.”

I remembered then to ask about two girls who had died recently. They were friends of mine and they used to come to my home to learn weaving with my eldest sister.

Lucy: “Is Maria das Neves already in Heaven?”

Woman: “Yes, she is.”

It seems to me that she was about sixteen years old.

Lucy: “And Amelia?”

Woman: “She will be in Purgatory until the end of the world.”

It seems to me that she must have been between eighteen and twenty years old.

Woman: “Are you willing to offer yourselves to God to bear all the sufferings He wants to send you, as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and for the conversion of sinners?”

Lucy: “Yes, we are willing.”

9 The Catholic sources relating the Fatima apparitions often use the unbiblical designation the “Mother of God” (see chapter I). This title should not, however, be replaced with the name “Mary”,since the message of the apparitions could not have come from Mary, as will be shown. The title “woman” will be used.

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Woman: “You are then going to have much to suffer, but the grace of God will be your comfort.”

It was in pronouncing those last words (the grace of God, etc.) that Our Lady opened Her hands for the first time, and communicated to us, as by a reflection which emanated from them, a light so intense that, penetrating our heart and even to the depths of our soul, it made us see ourselves in God, Who was this light, more clearly than we see ourselves in the best mirrors.

Then, moved by an interior impulse which was communicated to us, we fell on our knees and said repeatedly: ‘O Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee. My God, my God, I love Thee in the Most Holy Sacrament.’

The first moments passed, and Our Lady added:

Woman: “Recite the Rosary every day in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.”

Lucy: “Can You tell me whether the war will still last a long time, or if it will soon end?”

Woman: “I cannot tell you yet, as I have not yet told you what I want.”

Then She began to rise serenely, going up towards the east until She disappeared in the immensity of the sky.

3.2.1.1. Also, but he will have to say many Rosaries. (…) Recite the Rosary every day in order to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.

As it has been discussed in depth above (see chapter VIII, point 3.2), the rosary is an unbiblical prayer. The scripture points to God alone as the One to whom our prayers are to be addressed.

The woman’s admonition is the first of many examples of her seeking her own glory. We here encounter a situation where the woman tells the children to pray to herself10 – “Recite the rosary – theprayer to myself – to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war”. It is obvious that the true Mary – a humble and faithful believer – would never point to herself in such a way, directly contradicting the clear teaching of the scripture that a prayers can only be offered to God.

3.2.1.2. She will be in Purgatory until the end of the world.

Another falsehood showing that the apparition does not come from God. The purgatory is a false Catholic doctrine devoid of any biblical basis which directly contradicts the teaching of the Word of God on salvation.

As discussed above (3.1.2.2), the sacrifice of Christ on the cross is the perfect redemptive payment for all the sins committed in the history of humanity which has completely satisfied God’s righteousness. The teaching according to which we must go through additional “temporal punishment” firstly amounts to stating that Christ’s sacrifice is insufficient and secondly that we are able to redeem our sin ourselves – and so directly contradicts the scripture (see 3.1.2.2 above).

As for the punishment for sin, the scripture teaches that it is not some period of painful penitentiary temporal punishment in the “purgatory”, but death.11

10 Or for her intercession, however the Catholic church wishes to label this idolatrous practice which contradicts the Word of God either way.

11 The teaching of the purgatory contains another paradox – if a man can pay for a part of his sins, then why can he not pay for all of them? And if he can pay for all of them, then why did God send Christ?

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23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 6:23 NASB

It is important, however, that we correctly understand what type of death is being represented here. Physical death is a consequence of sin (Genesis 2:16-17) and is an inevitable end for every human being, but it does not provide the payment for sin12 – otherwise every sinner could expect eternity withGod after their physical death and de facto all the evil he has done would be without consequence. It isthus not physical death that is meant here, but the death which involves separation from God (cf. Isaiah 59:2). That’s why the lake of fire where unbelievers will spend eternity without God (with whomthey wanted to have nothing to do during their earthy life) is called the second death.

14b This is the second death, the lake of fire.Revelation 20:14 NASB

God is absolutely holy and cannot allow anyone who has any sin in them to exist together with Him. From His absolute holiness, on the other hand, stems His perfect standard of righteousness that demands that every sin be punished in an absolute way – through eternal death. The consequence of sin is thus eternal death – eternal separation from God in the lake of fire.

Christ bore this punishment for us on the cross during the three hours of darkness. In a way we cannotnow fully comprehend He was as the God-man separated from God the Father in order to be able to accept the punishment for every sin committed in the history of the human race13 – the punishment ofspiritual death and separation from God in which He was immersed in the fire of the righteous wrath of the absolutely holy God who hates sin (Unger, 2002).14

Only Christ could have accomplished this redemption and we are not able to accomplish it ourselves –for a human being the punishment for sin is eternal death from which there is no return, because we cannot remove the tainting inherent within us. To remove the tainting means to remove us – to condemn us forever, as annihilation is no punishment at all. Thus in order to pay for all the sins a sacrifice was needed which would equate to a sum of every single one of these punishments of eternal death due every sinner – a sacrifice was needed that no human being or any other creature could have provided. A sacrifice was needed provided by God Himself. It was thus necessary that God would become a man and pay this punishment for us. This is what Christ has accomplished for us.

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.John 1:14 NASB

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.2 Corinthians 8:9 NASB

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one anotheras more important than yourselves; 4 do not look out for your own interests, but for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who,

12 Had they not sinned, Adam and Eve would have lived in the garden of Eden forever.13 According to Hebrew 9:14 God the Holy Spirit also had a role in Christ’s sacrifice:

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?Hebrews 9:14 NASB

14 Although we do not know how this separation occurred, it could have had a form in some way related to the lake of fire which is the eternal punishment for people. Christ before His incarnationappeared to Moses in the burning bush which was burning but was not consumed which is a foreshadowing of His sacrifice on the cross (Exodus 3).

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although He existed in the form of God, did not regard being equal to God as something to rapaciously hold on to, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a slave and being born in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.Philippians 2:3-8

3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,Romans 8:3 NASB

5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.1 Timothy 2:5-6 NASB

24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.1 Peter 2:24 NASB

2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.1 John 2:2 NASB

As it is the case with other erroneous doctrines of the Catholic church, Catholic theologians seek support for the teaching of the purgatory in passages which have nothing to do with it. The scripture nowhere mentions the purgatory, however, and also in this case the basis for the doctrine comes from an uninspired source – the apocryphal Book of Maccabees.

43 after this he took a collection from them individually, amounting to nearly two thousand drachmas, and sent it to Jerusalem to have a sacrifice for sin offered, an action altogether fine and noble, prompted by his belief in the resurrection. 44 For had he not expected the fallen torise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead, 45 whereas if he had in view the splendid recompense reserved for those who make a pious end, the thought was holy and devout. Hence, he had this expiatory sacrifice offered for the dead, so that they might be released from their sin.2 Maccabees 12:43-45 NJB

According to the Catholic church the second part of verse 45 – “Hence, he had this expiatory sacrifice offered for the dead, so that they might be released from their sin” – assumes the possibility of sins being forgiven after death. It is, however, irrelevant since the Book of Maccabees is firstly uninspired, and secondly it only provides a historical account of events and the above passage only presents a falseconviction of Judas Maccabeus. No book inspired by the Holy Spirit gives any basis to this false teaching.

There are many passages in the scripture which describe the eschatological events in detail and the purgatory is not mentioned even once – and rightly so since it would fly in the face of the entire biblical teaching on the redemption of sins, salvation and judgment. The testimony of the scripture is clear: during our life we have the time to make a decision to believe in Christ and in this way become saved, or to reject Him – and then comes the judgment. We do not have a possibility to influence our eternal future after our death.

27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,Hebrews 9:27 NASB

The existence of the purgatory would also contradict the most fundamental teaching that we are savedby grace through faith in Jesus Christ. In Him we have the redemption of our every sin and if we put our faith in Him, we are justified in God’s eyes (Acts 10:43; Romans 3:24, 5:10; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7). There is no middle road that would require an invention such as the purgatory – we either believe in Christ and we have the redemption of our sins in His perfect sacrifice

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or we do not believe in Christ, we remain unjustified in God’s eyes (John 3:36) and we condemn ourselves to eternity in the lake of fire.

3.2.1.3. Are you willing to offer yourselves to God to bear all the sufferings He wants to send you, as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and for the conversion of sinners?

The woman here utters words which are similar to the words of the angel from the second apparition (point 3.1.2.2) where he called to offer sacrifices to God “as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners”. As it has been discussed in point 3.1.2.2, we cannot pay for our sin ourselves and both the angel and the women are confirming the children in the false Catholic teaching which directly contradicts the scripture.

3.2.2. Second apparition: 13th of June 1917.

Lucy gives an account of the second apparition of Our Lady in her Fourth Memoir:

…we saw Our Lady, on the holm-oak, just as in the month of May.

Lucy: “What does Your Grace want of me?”

Woman: “I wish you to come here on the 13th of next month, to pray the Rosary every day, and to learn how to read. Later I will tell you what I want.”

I asked for the cure of a sick person.

Woman: “If he is converted, he will be cured within the year.”

Lucy: “I would like to ask You to take us to Heaven.”

Woman: “Yes , I will take Jacinta and Francisco soon , but you, Lucy, are to stay here some time longer. Jesus wishes to make use of you in order to make Me known and loved. He wishes to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart. To whoever embraces this devotion, I promise salvation; those souls will be cherished by God, as flowers placed by Me toadorn His throne.”

Lucy: “Am I to stay here alone?”

Woman: “No, My daughter. Are you suffering a great deal? Do not lose heart, I will never forsake you! My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.”

It was at the moment when She pronounced those last words that She opened Her hands and communicated to us, for the second time, the reflection of that immense light. In it we saw ourselves as submerged in God. Jacinta and Francisco appeared to be in the part of that light which elevated itself to Heaven, and I in the part which spread itself on the earth.

In the palm of the right hand of Our Lady there was a Heart, surrounded by thorns which seemed to pierce it. We understood that it was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, outraged by thesins of humanity, which demanded reparation.

3.2.2.1. I wish you to come here on the 13th of next month, to pray the Rosary every day, and to learn how to read.

As it has been discussed above (chapter VIII, point 3.2), the rosary is an unbiblical prayer.

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3.2.2.2. Lucy: I would like to ask You to take us to Heaven.Woman: Yes, I will take Jacinta and Francisco soon

The woman here ascribes to herself the role of someone who takes the deceased to heaven. The scripture teaches, however, that it is the task of the angels and gives no basis to think that this role is fulfilled by the deceased human beings.

22 Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom;Luke 16:22a NASB

3.2.2.3. Jesus wishes to make use of you in order to make Me known and loved. He wishes to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart. To whoever embraces this devotion, I promise salvation;

We have here another example of words which clearly show that the apparitions we are studying did not come from God. The woman mentions the name of Jesus, but the purpose for which He allegedly wishes to make use of Lucy is to make the woman known and loved (!). She also states that He wishes to establish a devotion to her “immaculate heart”. The woman is seeking her own glory and adoration.

The One whom we are to strive to know, whom we are to love and worship is God alone and this is the most fundamental message of the entire Word of God.

5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.Deuteronomy 6:5 NASB

37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment.Matthew 22:37-38 NASB (also Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27)

The scripture not only nowhere teaches us to “embrace a devotion” towards a human being (however this would take place since in the entire Bible there is no trace of what the Catholic church labels as “devotion” and their entire liturgy is a human invention), but on numerous occasions warns against worshiping anything or anyone except God Himself, since this violates the very first commandment and is outright idolatry (Deuteronomy 6:14; 2 Kings 17:35; Jeremiah 25:6, 35:15, etc.). The glory only belongs to God (Galatians 1:4-5; Ephesians 3:20-21; Romans 16:25-27; 1 Peter 4:11) and it is only He who is to be the object of our adoration (Psalm 99:5, 100:4, 107:31-32, etc.).

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on theearth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not worship them or serve them; forI, the Lord your God, am a jealous God”Exodus 20:2-5a NASB

10 Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”Matthew 4:10 NASB

3 O magnify the Lord with me,And let us exalt His name together.Psalm 34:3 NASB

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1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us,But to Your name give gloryBecause of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.Psalm 115:1 NASB

28 You are my God, and I give thanks to You;You are my God, I extol You.29 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;For His lovingkindness is everlasting.Psalm 118:28-29 NASB

Twice in the book of Revelation John fell down before an angel to worship him and twice the angel warned him not to do that and pointed to God as the one to whom worship is due.

10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he *said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”Revelation 19:10 NASB

8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 But he *said to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God.”Revelation 22:8-9 NASB

Thus an angel – who is a creature far stronger than a human being – does not allow John to worship him and tells him to worship God – and are we supposed to think that a messenger of God would have“devotions” established for Mary?

Apostles – whose status in the church was far greater than Mary’s – also warned not to give them worship since it would be idolatry.

25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.”Acts 10:25-26 NASB

8 At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be [a]made well, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and began to walk. 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” 12 And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.Acts 14:8-15 NASB

It is obvious that the true Mary whom we know from the scripture would have never said the words that the woman says in the apparition.

Satan’s guile, however, can be seen in that according to the woman’s words it is Jesus who wants to make use of Lucy in order to make the woman “known and loved” and it is He who “wishes to establish in the world devotion” to her “immaculate heart”.

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https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+14%3A8-15&version=NASB#fen-NASB-27424a

Jesus wishes to make use of you in order to make Me known and loved. He wishes to establishin the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart.

This is an obvious lie. During His entire ministry Jesus did not even once point to Mary as the one who was to be known and loved and to whom devotion was to be established. Quite the contrary – in Luke 11:27-28 we have Him correct a woman whose attention had been misdirected towards the person of Mary instead of the Word of God.

27 While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.” 28 ButHe said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”Luke 11:27-28 NASB

It is worth noting how the Catholic translations of this verse twist Jesus’ response so that it does not sound too harsh towards Mary, as He not only does not honour her in His words, but in a direct manner moves the misplaced attention of the woman away from Mary and towards what really matters.

27 It happened that as he was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed the womb that bore you and the breasts that fed you!”28 But he replied, “More blessed still are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”Luke 11:27-28 New Jerusalem Bible

27 And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck. 28 But he said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.Luke 11:27-28 Douay-Rheims Bible

27 When he spoke thus, a woman in the multitude said to him aloud, Blessed is the womb that bore thee, the breast which thou hast sucked. 28 And he answered, Shall we not say, Blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it?Luke 11:27-28 Knox Bible

The Greek word μενο ν ῦ (menoun) is used either to emphasise the approval of what has just been said or to correct it (BDAG). The context clearly indicates that Jesus uses this word in its second meaning – to correct the wrong reasoning of the woman and to point to the true source of blessing – hearing and observing the Word of God rather than kinship. It should consequently be translated “rather”, “onthe contrary”. The Catholic translations – “more blessed still” (New Jerusalem Bible), “yea rather” (Douay-Rheims Bible) or the totally elusive “Shall we not say” (Knox Bible) do not render the Greek faithfully and stem from attempting to defend the status of Mary in Roman Catholicism – a status elevated way beyond what the Word of God would allow. Μενο νῦ γε (menounge) the same Greek word with an added particle γέ (ge) at the end (this is an enclictic particle which is appended to the word or words it refers to and serves to “focus the attention upon a single idea, and place it, as it were, in the limelight”; it can be translated “at least”, “even”, “indeed”; BDAG) is used for example in Romans 9:20:

20 On the contrary (μενο νγε – ῦ menounge), who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it?Romans 9:20 NASB

A true revelation or apparition should direct us towards God in Jesus Christ and not directly contrarily– away from Christ and towards Mary. As it has been mentioned above numerous times, it is God whom we are to love above all else and the only Way to Him is Christ alone, our Lord and Saviour.

As it has been discussed above (point 3.1.3.2), Mary’s heart is not “Immaculate”.

Finally another fundamental lie is the promise of salvation which the woman gives to those who embrace the “devotion” to her “immaculate heart”. The way in which we achieve salvation has been discussed in depth in point 3.1.2.2 – by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Promising salvation in

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return for a work – and a work whereby worship is given to man and not to God – clearly shows the falsehood we are dealing with here and the origin of the apparitions.

3.2.3. Third apparition: 13th of July 1917.

The apparition then began in the usual way, with a flash of something like lightning and the appearance of Our Lady atop the holm-oak. Lucy relates the apparition in her memoirs:

Lucy: “What does Your Grace want of me?”

Woman: “I want you to come here on the 13th of next month, to continue reciting the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, in order to obtain peace in the world and the end of the war, because only She can help you.”

Lucy: “I should like to ask You to tell us who You are, and to work a miracle so that everyone will believe that Your Grace is appearing to us.”

Woman: “Continue to come here every month. In October, I will say who I am and what I want, and I will perform a miracle so that all might see and believe.”

Here I made some requests which I do not remember. What I do remember, is that Our Lady said it was necessary to say the Rosary in order to obtain these graces throughout the year. Our Lady continued:

Woman: “Sacrifice yourselves for si nners, and say often to Jesus, especially whenever you make a sacrifice: O Jesus, it is for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary . ”

As Our Lady spoke these last words, She opened Her hands once more, as She had done during the two previous months. The rays of light seemed to penetrate the earth, and we saw as it were a sea of fire. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in the conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames that issued from within themselves together with great clouds of smoke, now falling back on every side like sparks in huge fires, without weight or equilibrium, amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fear. (It must have been this sight which caused me to cry out, aspeople say they heard me). The demons could be distinguished by their terrifying and repellent likeness to frightful and unknown animals, black and transparent like burning coals.That vision lasted only a moment, thanks to our good Mother of Heaven, Who, at the first apparition, had promised to bring us to Heaven. Without that, I think we would have died of terror and fear.

Terrified and as if to plead for succor, we looked up at Our Lady, who said to us, so kindly and so sadly:

Woman: “You have seen h ell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. The war is going to end; but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the reign of Pius XI. When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given you by God that He is about to punish the world for its crimes by means of war, famine, and persecutions of the Church and of the Holy Father.”

“To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays. If My requests are heeded, Russia will be converted and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated. In the end, My

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Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to Me, and she will beconverted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world. In Portugal, the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved, etc. Do not tell this to anybody. Francisco, yes, you may tell him.”

“When you pray the Rosary, say after each mystery: O my Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need.”

After this, there was a moment of silence, and then I asked:

Lucy: “Is there anything more that You want of me?”

Woman: “No, I do not want anything more of you today.”

Then, as before, Our Lady began to ascend towards the east, until She finally disappeared.

3.2.3.1. I want you to come here on the 13th of next month, to continue reciting the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, in order to obtain peace in the world and the end of the war, because only She can help you.

As discussed above, the rosary is an unbiblical prayer (chapter VIII, point 3.2).

We have here another statement, however, in which the woman usurps a prerogative of God to herself.In the words above the woman not only creates a false picture of herself as having the divine power to influence the his