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Our Lady of Fatima: The Apparitions, Three Secrets, and Historical Impact | Catholic Answers Tract

 

Our Lady of Fatima: The Apparitions, Three Secrets, and Historical Impact

 

The 1917 Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima

 

The story of Our Lady of Fatima stands as one of the most important Marian sagas in modern Catholic history, illustrating anew that the Blessed Mother always leads people to her Divine Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

In 1917 in Fatima, Portugal, the Blessed Virgin Mary—also known as Our Lady of Fatima, Virgen de Fatima, and Señora de Fatima—appeared to three shepherd children with a message that continues to shape Catholic life and the Church’s mission in general. At its core, the message of Fatima calls humanity to repentance, prayer, and trust in God’s mercy, especially during times of crisis.

 

The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima is celebrated annually on May 13.

 

What Is Our Lady of Fatima? What Happened at Fatima?

 

When people ask, What is Fatima? they are referring both to the place Fatima in Portugal and to the extraordinary Marian apparitions that occurred there. Fatima and its significance are rooted in a series of six apparitions that took place over several months in 1917 at the Cova da Iria, where Mary appeared to Francisco and Jacinta Marto and their cousin Sister Lucia dos Santos.

Mary identified herself as the Lady of the Rosary, emphasizing the importance of prayer, especially to pray the rosary daily. Her message unfolded against the backdrop of World War I, a time of immense suffering, and she warned that, without repentance, humanity would face even greater trials. She urged the children to pray for the conversion of sinners and to make sacrifices for the salvation of the souls of poor sinners.

 

At Mary’s request, a chapel was later built here in her honor, and today the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal stands as a global pilgrimage destination, drawing millions every year to reflect on her message.

 

Where Is Fatima?: Why Fatima Portugal Matters to the World

 

Many ask Where is Fatima? or simply wonder where Fatima is located. Fatima, Portugal lies about 80 miles north of Lisbon, the nation’s capital, and has become one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Catholic world, drawing 5-7 million pilgrims every year. What was once a quiet rural village is now home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church and an international shrine visited by pilgrims seeking spiritual renewal.

 

The significance of this place Fatima was confirmed dramatically on October 13, 1917, when tens of thousands witnessed the miracle of the sun, an event confirmed by the theretofore skeptical reporter of O Seculo, the local secular newspaper. This public event reinforced the credibility of the apparitions and brought worldwide attention to Our Lady of Fatima.

 

Who Is Fatima? The Identity of Our Lady of Fatima and Virgen de Fatima

 

The question, Who is Fatima? can be confusing at first, but the answer is clear: Our Lady of Fatima is the Blessed Virgin Mary appearing under a specific title connected to the Portuguese city of Fatima. As Señora de Fatima and Virgen de Fatima, she revealed herself as the Lady of the Rosary, directing our repentant attention to her Son Jesus, our merciful Savior. Indeed, to whom do we repent? Jesus. From whom do we receive forgiveness in the sacrament of confession? Jesus. Whom do we encounter in a most edifying way in receiving the Holy Eucharist? Jesus. These are fundamental elements of Mary’s messages at Fatima.

 

Her messages include references to the Child Jesus to bless the world, further highlighting that her role is always to lead souls closer to her Son. So the apparitions are not isolated events; rather, they are part of God’s ongoing call to conversion and

holiness, which his Church proclaims on his behalf to the whole world (see Matt. 28:18-20). In this regard, Mary is humanity’s spiritual mother, caring in particular for “those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus” (Rev. 12:17).

 

What Are the Three Secrets of Our Lady of Fatima?

 

A central question people ask is, What are the three secrets of Our Lady of Fatima?

 

Mary revealed the secrets to the children, which Sister Lucia later recorded. They are not secrets in the sense of hidden knowledge meant to exclude others, but rather messages gradually disclosed which further call mankind back to God.

 

The first secret included a terrifying vision of hell, in which the children saw the suffering of the damned. This vision underscored the urgency of repentance and the need to pray for the souls of poor sinners in danger of damnation.

 

The second secret focused on history and devotion. Mary foretold the end of World War I but warned of another, more devastating conflict if people did not turn back to God.

 

She called for devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, promising that, in the end, her heart would triumph. This included the request that the Holy Father will consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart. In response, Pope Pius XII consecrated the world by himself in 1942, and Russia in 1952. Later, in 1984, Pope John Paul II consecrated the world and with it Russia, joined by the Church’s bishops worldwide as Our Lady had requested. The pope linked his survival of an assassination attempt in 1981 to the protection of Our Lady of Fatima.

What Is the Third Secret of Fatima? Has It Been Revealed?

 

Questions such as, What is the third secret of Fatima? Has the third secret of Fatima been revealed? and What is the Fatima third secret? continue to generate interest and debate. The Church officially revealed the third part of the secret in 2000. It described a symbolic vision of persecution, including a “bishop dressed in white” who suffers along with others for the Faith.

 

The Church interprets this vision as referring to the suffering of the Church in the modern world and inclusive of the attempt to assassinate Pope John Paul II, which occurred on May 13, 1981, the anniversary of the first Fatima apparition. 

 

While some speculation persists, the Church affirms that the third secret has been fully disclosed and that its meaning points to perseverance in faith amid suffering, confident that Jesus will sustain his Church and lead the faithful unto eternal life (Matt. 6:33; see 10:16-22).

 

The Real Third Secret of Fatima: Clearing Up Confusion

 

Because of ongoing speculation, people often ask, What is the real third secret of Fatima? The Church emphasizes that the message of Fatima and its secrets should not be reduced to conspiracy theories or hidden warnings, including that the Church has yet to tell the real story about the third secret. Instead, the focus remains on conversion, prayer, and fidelity to Christ and his Church. Indeed, the message of the third secret is a call to remain steadfast in times of trial, confident that Jesus will remain faithful to his promise that “the gates of hell will not prevail against” his Catholic Church (Matt. 16:18-19).

 

The Message of Fatima: Prayer, Repentance, and Conversion of Sinners

 

At its heart, the message of Our Lady of Fatima is profoundly simple yet demanding. Mary calls the faithful to recite five decades of the Rosary every day, seek forgiveness through confession, receive Holy Communion, recite other prayers, and live lives of holiness in general. Her emphasis on the conversion of sinners reflects the gospel itself, reminding us that God desires all people to be saved (John 3:16-17; 1 Tim. 2:4).

 

Mary also introduced the devotion of reparation on the first Saturdays for five consecutive months, inviting believers to console her Immaculate Heart of Mary by offering acts of love and devotion. This message is not limited to a specific time or place but continues to remains relevant.

 

The Immaculate Heart of Mary Will Triumph: Hope in Fatima’s Promise

 

One of the most powerful elements of the Fatima message is the promise that “my Immaculate Heart will triumph.” Despite the reality of sin and suffering, Mary assures the faithful that they will ultimately prevail in Jesus, provided we respond to and persevere in God’s grace.

 

This promise has sustained devotion to Our Lady of Fatima across generations, offering hope in times of war, persecution, and personal struggle. It reminds believers that no matter how dark the world may seem, God’s plan is one of redemption.

 

Why Our Lady of Fatima Still Matters Today

 

The message of Our Lady of Fatima remains strikingly relevant. The world continues to experience conflict, moral confusion, and spiritual unrest, much like the time of the apparitions. The call to prayer, repentance, and trust in God is as urgent now as it was in 1917—and arguably more so.

The witness of Sister Lucia and Francisco and Jacinta Marto demonstrates how even the simplest individuals can become powerful instruments of God. Their lives show that holiness is attainable and that responding to God’s call can have a global impact.

 

The Lasting Meaning of Our Lady of Fatima

 

From the fields of Fatima, Portugal to the hearts of millions worldwide, the message of Our Lady of Fatima continues to inspire faith and conversion.

 

Her message invites every person to embrace prayer, seek and offer forgiveness, and trust in God’s mercy. In a world still searching for peace, the message of Our Lady of Fatima offers a clear and hopeful path forward.

 

Saint Louis de Montfort on quickest way to God

 

 

“The most famous of Saint Louis’ devotions is the practice of consecrating oneself

to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and he wrote that, “This devotion is a smooth, short, perfect, and sure way of attaining union with our Lord”.

Dawn Beutner

 

Saint Louis de Montfort and his “short, perfect and sure way” to Christ

Saint Louis de Montfort and his “short, perfect and sure way” to Christ – Catholic World Report

 

Dawn Beutner writes (April 28, 2026) The Dispatch 2Print:

 

The most famous of Saint Louis’ devotions is the practice of consecrating oneself to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and he wrote that, “This devotion is a smooth, short, perfect, and sure way of attaining union with our Lord.”

 

Statue of Louis de Montfort at Saint Peter's Basilica. (Jordiferrer/Wikipedia)

 

Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716) is best known today as the author of the spiritual classics True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Secret of the Rosary. However, Louis de Montfort probably never thought of himself as a writer at all. Instead, he believed God called him to become a missionary priest.

 

Louis was a devout boy and an excellent student. Discerning a call to the priesthood at a young age, he left his hometown of Montfort-sur-Meu to study in a minor seminary in Rennes when he was twelve years old. At twenty, he wanted to complete his studies at the famous seminary of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, but he didn’t have enough money. A wealthy benefactor offered to pay for his education, so Louis traveled all the way to Paris on foot. Along the way, the generous young man gave away all his money and possessions to the beggars he encountered.

 

When he arrived in Paris penniless, Louis discovered that his benefactor no longer had enough money to support him. The idea of giving up his priestly vocation did not appear to cross Louis’ mind. Instead, he attended classes at the Sorbonne University while cheerfully living in cheap boarding houses. After recovering from a serious illness, he tried to continue his studies. Another seminary agreed to accept him, and Louis studied at Little Saint-Sulpice, where he also served as the seminary’s librarian.

 

In terms of intellectual formation, the situation was perfect. Louis learned a great deal from his professors and his coursework, and he also had access to the works of many spiritual writers in the seminary library.

 

Over time, he developed his own eclectic spirituality based on his daily reading of the Bible, writings from the French school of spirituality, and the personal witness of the Dominicans, Jesuits, Oratorians, and Sulpicians he encountered.

 

But his time in seminary was also a period of trial because of the ridicule he endured from his brother seminarians and even many professors.

 

It’s not hard to see why they disliked Louis. He dressed shabbily, took on mortifications far beyond those required by his superiors, prayed the Rosary with the devotion of a simple peasant, and was constantly looking for ways to serve the poor. The other seminarians, however, were looking forward to living comfortable, respectable lives as priests, not becoming ascetics.

 

Louis already possessed one key ingredient for sainthood: he diligently tried to accept all the crosses, mockery, and setbacks he encountered in life—such as resentment from other priests—as gifts from God.

 

On June 5, 1700, Louis de Montfort was ordained a priest. But he was never an ordinary priest.

 

Ordinary priests go where their bishop sends them. Louis immediately walked all the way to Rome to ask the pope for his advice about how to live his priestly vocation. As Louis poured out his heart to the vicar of Christ, Pope Clement XI apparently recognized something extraordinary in the young Frenchman.

He told Louis to set aside his plans of becoming a missionary priest in a faraway country and told him to instead “renew the Church [in France] by the proclamation of the baptismal consecration to the Eternal and Incarnate Wisdom, Jesus, the Son of Mary.”¹

Louis obeyed and walked back to France to start his priestly ministry.

 

Louis started by caring for the sick at a run-down hospital. Initially, the hospital staff was delighted with the new priest, who said Mass in the hospital chapel, preached to the sick, and heard confessions. But he also fed patients, washed dishes, and cleaned bedpans, and he refused to accept any pay for his work. Why did the hospital superiors eventually ask the young priest to leave? Apparently because it was easier for them to get rid of Louis than to change their own lives and imitate his example.

 

That’s why Louis began walking from town to town, traveling on foot and wearing a patched cassock and worn-out boots. He had loved to walk in the fields and woods as a boy, and he still loved hiking through the French countryside as he traveled to remote villages, despite bad weather and hunger. For him, poverty was a friend, not an enemy. It is estimated that Louis covered several thousand miles as he crisscrossed France during his sixteen years as a priest.

 

Louis also had the heart of an artist. As a boy, he drew for the pleasure of it. As a hungry student, he sometimes painted pictures and carved statues to make money. As a priest, he used these talents to beautify churches during parish missions and inspire fallen-away Catholics to return. He composed songs with his own music and lyrics, and he used these canticles to catechize his listeners and help them live lives of virtue.

 

Louis’ father had a terrible temper, and Louis himself was also tempted to anger. But through prayer, trust in God, and self-discipline, Louis seriously endeavored to conquer that weakness. He was remarkably gentle with his penitents, and he brought about many conversions from the unlikeliest of places—such as brothels—by simply speaking to sinners about God’s forgiveness and ignoring the personal insults that were hurled at him. However, when people blasphemed in his presence, Louis’ temper would flare. Sometimes that led to fistfights.

 

Louis probably never meant to travel so much. However, while his zeal rekindled the faith in many listeners, it also turned some people into hardened enemies. Invariably, such people would complain to the local bishop, and then the bishop would tell Louis that he was no longer permitted to say Mass in his diocese. At that point, Louis would obediently pick up his meager possessions and start walking toward another town in another diocese.

 

Not everyone misunderstood Louis’ unorthodox approach. As a young woman, Blessed Marie Louise Trichet (1684-1759) recognized that Louis was a kindred spirit and began caring for the sick while under his direction. Eventually, she became the superior of his order of religious sisters, the Daughters of Wisdom, and she cared for the poor and sick until her death. In addition to the many people who were converted by Louis’ sermons and personal witness, many others claimed to be healed by the holy man. A few men began following Louis as well, leading to the founding of the Company of Mary, now known as the Montfort Missionaries.

 

The Montfort Missionaries are a missionary order of priests and religious brothers currently serving all over the world, and they promote Saint Louis’ writings. Two of the timeless themes at the heart of Louis’ works are the Cross of Christ and the Blessed Mother. Summarizing his theology greatly, Louis reminded his listeners that crosses are not curses but are great blessings, gifts from God and treasures from heaven. He also encouraged people to desire to become “slaves of Mary”, for, as he explained, those who seek to follow in her footsteps of perfect, loving obedience to God also become “slaves of Christ”.

 

In his day, Louis made these teachings very practical. For example, in many villages, he led the people in building calvaries—replicas of the hill on which our Savior died. As the villagers became more involved in each building project, Christ’s Crucifixion and Christ Himself would become more real to them. Tragically, local leaders repeatedly dismantled or destroyed many of these calvaries. But they could not stop Louis from convincing people to love and pray the Rosary, which taught them to love the Son of God and His Mother.

 

But True Devotion and all the other writings of Saint Louis might have been lost forever. After Louis’ death, a devoted Catholic placed Louis’ writings in a chest and buried the chest in a field near Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, France. This action prevented them from being destroyed completely during the French Revolution.

 

More than a century later, on April 29, 1842, that chest was rediscovered by an apparent miracle.

 

Louis’ writings have inspired priests, religious, and the laity ever since. His works have been publicly praised by Popes Pius XII and Paul VI, and Pope John Paul II wrote that “reading [Louis’ classic, True Devotion, as a young man] … was to be a turning point in my life.”²

 

The most famous of Saint Louis’ devotions is the practice of consecrating oneself to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and he wrote that, “This devotion is a smooth, short, perfect, and sure way of attaining union with our Lord.”³ How does one go about doing this?

 

Fortunately, there are many recent books to help us. Saint Louis de Montfort himself explains why Christians should seek to become “slaves of Christ by becoming slaves of Mary” in words that are simple enough for a child to understand yet profound enough for him—we can hope—to someday be declared a Doctor of the Church:

 

As all perfection consists in our being conformed, united and consecrated to Jesus it naturally follows that the most perfect of all devotions is that which conforms, unites, and consecrates us most completely to Jesus. Now of all God’s creatures Mary is the most conformed to Jesus. It therefore follows that, of all devotions, devotion to her makes for the most effective consecration and conformity to him. The more one is consecrated to Mary, the more one is consecrated to Jesus.⁴

 

Endnotes:

 

¹ God Alone: The Collected Writings of St. Louis Marie de Montfort (Bay Shore: Montfort Publications, 1988), xi.

² Ibid, vii.

³ Ibid, 336.

⁴ Ibid, 327.

 

Man bears in his soul the Imago Dei

 

“The fall of communism did not delude John Paul II into thinking that the battle was over. He understood that the human person always bears the responsibility of seeking the truth, and he set the Catholic Church on a path of evangelical renewal and the creation of a “culture of life” to oppose the “culture of death” that pervaded the free countries of the West as much as it did those elsewhere”.

Michael Toth

  

Michael Toth wrote this month (April, 2026):

John Paul II – Modern Age

 

John Paul II

 

A “witness to hope” in fighting communism’s desecration of human dignity.

 

….

 

John Paul II saw what the communists refused to see: man bears in his soul the imago Dei. The “fundamental error of socialism,” he would later write, “is anthropological.” 

….

 

“As a young priest I learned to love human love,” he recalled. Wojtyla’s carefully developed humanism—a philosophy often referred to as “personalism”—also enabled him to make crucial contributions to the Second Vatican Council, where he drafted the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World and the Declaration of Religious Freedom. At the council, the intellectually formidable Polish archbishop set forth his conviction that the dignity of each human person is revealed in his or her lifelong quest to know and live the truth.

 

The priestly character of Wojtyła’s pastoral experience was highlighted to the world in his inaugural papal homily, when he made the bold challenge that would define his pontificate: “Be not afraid.” Less than a year later, he undertook the first of his legendary and exhausting travels by returning to his homeland to deliver a message of courage and nonviolence.

 

John Paul II’s support for Poland’s Solidarity movement was instrumental to the free world’s bloodless victory over communism. After the Soviets imposed martial law on Poland in 1981, President Reagan called John Paul II for advice, believing that the Soviet Union would collapse if it lost Poland.

 

With the Reagan administration applying political pressure on the Soviets, John Paul II added the necessary moral pressure, emerging as the primary spiritual force behind the Revolution of 1989. “Step by reluctant step, the Soviets and the communist government of Poland bowed to the pressure imposed by the Pope and the President,” explained one archbishop to an American diplomat.

 

In a 1992 syndicated column that appeared in major newspapers throughout the world, Mikhail Gorbachev concurred that John Paul II was essential to the end of communism in Eastern Europe.

 

The fall of communism did not delude John Paul II into thinking that the battle was over. He understood that the human person always bears the responsibility of seeking the truth, and he set the Catholic Church on a path of evangelical renewal and the creation of a “culture of life” to oppose the “culture of death” that pervaded the free countries of the West as much as it did those elsewhere. In opposing the tragedies of euthanasia and abortion, John Paul II repeatedly returned to the fundamental issue: the nature of the human person and the meaning of life. Between 1979 and 1984, the pope devoted 130 addresses to the “theology of the body,” contesting the myopic vision of sexuality promoted by sexual liberationists with a penetrating perception of the body as loudspeaker of the soul. John Paul II taught that to be truly human was to be self-giving, an insight he called “the Law of the Gift.”

 

In the later years of his pontificate, the aging pope focused on themes of human suffering. He asked for forgiveness for the mistreatment of Jews at the hands of Christians, and other Christians at the hands of Catholics. He reached out to members of other faiths, seeking to make the new millennium a “springtime of the human spirit.” Speaking before the United Nations in 1995, John Paul II explained the source of his hope: faith in Jesus Christ. His words, so emblematic of his personal mission, could well epitomize how he will be remembered in history: “I come before you as a witness: a witness to human dignity, a witness to hope, a witness to the conviction that the destiny of all . . . lies in the hands of a merciful Providence.” Despite his declining physical capacity, the “man of the century” (in one biographer’s words) continued to witness to the Third Millennium. In his stirring 2001 apostolic letter “Novo Millennio Ineunte,” John Paul II once again challenged the faithful to “go out into the deep” and transform all noble and honest activities by bringing them to Christ.

 

 

Divine Mercy Novena - for the love of humanity

 

 

“Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us

and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins, but upon our trust which we place

in Your infinite goodness”.

 

Divine Mercy Novena

Author: Blessed Faustina

 

DIVINE MERCY NOVENA

As revealed by Our Lord to Blessed Faustina Kowalska

 

Jesus further asked that this Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday. He gave her an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said:

 

These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy.

 

In her diary, Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:

 

On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls.

The different souls prayed for on each day of the novena are:

 

DAY 1 - All mankind, especially sinners

DAY 2 - The souls of priests and religious

DAY 3 - All devout and faithful souls

DAY 4 - Those who do not believe in Jesus and those who do not yet
know Him

DAY 5 - The souls of separated brethren

DAY 6 - The meek and humble souls and the souls of children

DAY 7 - The souls who especially venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy

DAY 8 - The souls who are detained in purgatory; and

DAY 9 - The souls who have become lukewarm.

 

This is prayed along with the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

 

First Day
Today bring Me all mankind, especially all sinners.

 

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins, but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us
escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Second Day
Today Bring Me the Souls of Priests and Religious.

 

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in us, that we may perform worthy works of mercy, and that all who see us may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company
[of chosen souls] in Your vineyard - upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to
guide others in the way of salvation, and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

 

Third Day
Today Bring Me All Devout and Faithful Souls.

 

Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in the great abundance to each and all.

Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

Eternal Father, turn Your Merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lost the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

 

Fourth Day
Today Bring Me Those Who Do Not Believe In Me and Those Who Do Not Know Me

 

Most Compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who has yet do not believe in You or do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your  wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which  is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father, turn Your  merciful gave upon the souls of those who do not believe in Your Son, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart  of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not  know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

 

Fifth Day
Today Bring to Me the Souls of the Separated Brethren

 

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of our separated brethren. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

 

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of our separated brethren, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your Own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

 

Sixth Day
Today Bring Me The Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children

 

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy, and they are the heavenly Father's favorites.

They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek and humble souls, and upon the souls of little children, who are enfolded in the abode of the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight you take in them: bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

 

Seventh Day
Today Bring Me The Souls Who Especially Venerate and Glorify My Mercy

 

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your Mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident in Your Mercy.

These souls are united to Jesus and carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of
deeds of mercy and their spirit, overflowing with joy, sings a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who
said to them, "I Myself will defend as My own glory, during their lifetime, and especially at the hour of their death, those souls who will venerate My fathomless mercy."

 

Eighth Day
Today Bring Me The Souls Who Are In the Prison of Purgatory

 

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of purifying fire, that in that place, too, the power of Your mercy may be praised.

Eternal Father, turn Your most merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion
of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded, manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way than through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.

 

Ninth Day
Today Bring Me The Souls Who Have Become Lukewarm

 

Most Compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love let these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love; and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three- hour agony on the Cross: let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen

 

Divine Mercy Novena | EWTN