The Link Between Genesis And Fatima: That Flaming Sword

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On this special feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the Annunciation), one might reflect back on the Third Secret of Fátima and its potentially fascinating connection with the Garden of Eden in Genesis.

To recount: In 1943, visionary Sister Lúcia dos Santos, “under obedience to God, the bishop of Leiria, and the Blessed Mother,” wrote the following description of the third part of the secret revealed to her and her two cousins on July 13, 1917.

“After the two parts [of the secret] which I have already explained, at the left of Our Lady and a little above, we saw an angel with a flaming sword in his left hand; flashing, it gave out flames that looked as though they would set the world on fire; but they died out in contact with the splendor that Our Lady radiated toward him from her right hand: pointing to the earth with his right hand, the angel cried out in a loud voice: ‘Penance, Penance, Penance!‘”

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Compare the angel and that sword (“flashing, it gave out flames”) with Genesis 3:24. For it is there that God places cherubim and a flaming sword that “turned every way” (or whirled) at the east of Eden. As the New International Edition translation says, “After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flashing sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”

That adverb “flashing” in both the Fátima secret and Genesis is fascinating.

In the Garden the Divine guard was established after the Fall of Man to protect the Tree of Life, preventing humanity from entering and eating from it to live forever in a sinful state.Cherubim act as guardians of the Divine Presence, similar to their representation on the Ark of the Covenant. In Catholic theology, cherubim are exalted, intellectual spirits and the second-highest choir of angels, ranking immediately below the seraphim.

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They are not cute and chubby babies but mighty beings associated with wisdom, knowledge, and the protection of holy places—throne-bearers to God.

Was it thus a cherub the kids at Fatima saw?

Mull over too how the images symbolize God’s judgment and the barrier between a holy God and sinful humanity.
Cherubim in the context of Genesis—and perhaps Fátima—act as guardians of God’s holiness, separating sinful humans from the Divine and enforcing the judgment of God while highlighting His Power and goodness.

(Penance, penance, penance:

A lesson for deepest Lent.)

[resources: books on Fátima]