On occasions such as now, with Russia once more on the world stage — in a most threatening fashion — the argument resurrects: whether that nation, now nearly universally condemned, was ever properly consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as requested, in 1917, at Fatima — where if it was, said the Virgin Mary, a period of peace would be granted to the world.

If not, Communists would spread its errors.

It is too lengthy a debate to keep revisiting (we’ve had many articles about this). We report and you decipher. Last week, Latin Rite Ukrainian Catholics (about one percent of the population there) asked the Holy Father to consecrate both Russia and Ukraine “as requested by the Virgin Mary at Fatima” — implying, in mentioning Russia, that this had not yet been done.

But wasn’t it? You can find a timeline of papal actions concerning the Soviet Union, devised by the Catholic network EWTN, HERE or at bottom. More to the point, you can find what seer Sister Lucia said about it HERE. And you can see what an ambassador to the Vatican quoted her as saying HERE. We’ll not indulge in the polemic. Sister Lucia said in videotaped interviews [link above] the consecration by Saint John Paul II in 1984 not only brought down the Iron Curtain and Soviet Union (which Putin now is allegedly trying to reconstitute) but prevented an “atomic” war” (in her words HERE) “in 1985.” That’s on videotape. Could she have been mistaken?

You antithesize it.

It is relevant to add that at Fatima, contrary to mistranslations, Mary had promised a “period” of peace for the world if the consecration was done; she did not say “era.” This is according to Sister Lucia, and a period is defined as a length or portion of time, as the three decades since the fall of Communism could be described as being a portion of time, as opposed to a much longer “era.”

Has the period ended?

This is perhaps the question. So many neglect to mention the other key request: “the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart and the communion of reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are accepted, Russia will repent and there will be peace; otherwise, it will spread its errors throughout the world and cause wars…”

Meanwhile, the concern over a nuclear crisis, not only in light of Putin’s recent threats, and the attack on a nuclear reactor near Kyiv, but upon consideration of the Russian confiscation last week of the reactors at Chernobyl, is interesting because, as previously mentioned, “Chernobyl means “wormwood.” In Revelation, wormwood contaminates the earth’s waters, as radiation from a nuclear exchange or massive accident would. Moreover, a major apparition occurred not far from Lviv in Ukraine in Hrushiw on April 26, 1987 — precisely the first anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. (Mary appeared dressed in black.)

Was Russia consecrated? Again, you decide. Does it hurt to repeat consecration prayers? We would think: not at all. It also would not hurt to promote the Firth Saturday devotion as much as any consecration.

And here is one [rough translation], with the timeline of papal consecrations below it:

Beloved Queen and Our Mother, Queen of the Holy Rosary, Help of Christians, Salvation of the human race, Victorious Virgin, here we humbly fall before you, that you may bring our sincere prayers to Almighty God in the Trinity.

We come in full confidence that we beg for mercy and protection for our Motherland in this dramatic time of war. Mother of Mercy, we ask this not for our merits, which we do not count on, but in view of the infinite goodness of Your Heart and the saving Blood of Christ, Your Son.

May the suffering and cries for help of so many people touch you. Have mercy on the wounded and victims of the shelling, orphans and widows, all those who were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in safer places. Ask for mercy for those who gave their lives defending their neighbors and our Motherland.

O Immaculate Mother, ask God for the grace of conversion, and we especially ask for the conversion of Russia and all those who are blinded by hatred or thirst for power. Pray for us first of all those graces which can change human hearts in an instant, and which will prepare and bring such a coveted peace! Above all, bring us the gift of spiritual peace so that the Kingdom of God may grow in peace and harmony.

Queen of Peace, ask us for the grace of true reconciliation with God and with each other, so that we can give each other a hand of help and support.

The throne of wisdom, inspire all rulers to make wise decisions and strengthen the efforts of those who contribute to the end of war and peace.

Queen of the Apostles, ask for our pastors the gift of strong faith and zeal in the completion of the Sacraments, so that at this time we may all be united at the Eucharistic table and in zealous prayer.

Heal the sick, strengthen all medical staff and volunteers who care for the sick and wounded, ask for their spiritual and physical strength. Be healing for the sick, strengthening for the dying and for their loved ones.

Just as the Church and all mankind were consecrated to the Heart of Your Divine Son, and in Him we hope to become an inexhaustible source of victory and salvation for all, so we dedicate ourselves forever to You and to Your Immaculate Heart, our Mother and Queen, that your love and care may ensure the victory of the Kingdom of God, and that our Ukraine and all nations reconciled among themselves and with God may bless and glorify You. Amen!

[resources: Witness: To Apparitions and Persecution in the Soviet Union]

[Footnote: EWTN timeline of consecrations:

July 13, 1917	Our Lady promises to “come and ask the consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart”
June 13, 1929	Our Lady fulfills her promise, asking “for the consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart, promising its conversion through this means and the hindering of the propagation of its errors.”
1937	Pius XI (1922-1939) informed of this request by the Bishop of Leiria, Dom José Alves Correia da Silva
1938	Portuguese Bishops ask Pius XI for the Consecration of the World to the Immaculate Heart. It is said they were influenced to do this by the spiritual director of Bl. Alexandrina da Costa (1904-1955).
June 1940	Request made to Pius XII through the Bishop of Macau, and a little later through Father Gonzaga de Fonseca. Mention is made of Our Lady asking the Consecrating of  Russia to the Immaculate Heart.
December 1940	Sr. Lucia writes letter to Pius XII, saying that Our Lord Himself requests the Pope to “consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, with a special mention for Russia, and order that all the Bishops of the world do the same in union with Your Holiness.”
October 31, 1942	Pope Pius XII consecrates the world to the Immaculate Heart.
July 7, 1952	Pope Pius XII consecrates the Russian people to the Immaculate Heart
November 21, 1964	Pope Paul VI renews, in the presence of the Fathers of the Vatican Council but without their participation, the consecration of  Russia to the Immaculate Heart.
May 13, 1982	Pope John Paul II invites the bishops of the world to join him in consecrating the world and with it Russia to the Immaculate Heart. Many do not receive the invitation in time for the Pope’s trip to Fatima, where he accomplishes the consecration. Sr. Lucia later says it did not fulfill the conditions.
October 1983	Pope John Paul II, at the Synod of Bishops, renews the 1982 Consecration
March 25, 1984	Consecration of the World and with it Russia, Pope John Paul II. “. . . united with all the pastors of the Church in a particular bond whereby we constitute a body and a college,” consecrates “the whole world, especially the peoples for which by reason of their situation you have particular love and solicitude.” Both the Pope and Sr. Lucia initially seemed uncertain that the consecration has been fulfilled, but shortly thereafter Sr. Lucia tells the papal nuncio to Portugal that the Consecration is fulfilled.
May 13, 1984	One of the largest crowds in Fatima history gathers at the shrine to pray the Rosary for peace.
May 13, 1984	An explosion at the Soviets’ Severomorsk Naval Base destroys two-thirds of all the missiles stockpiled for the Soviets’ Northern Fleet. The blast also destroys workshops needed to maintain the missiles as well as hundreds of scientists and technicians. Western military experts called it the worst naval disaster the Soviet Navy has suffered since WWII.
December 1984	Soviet Defense Minister, mastermind of the invasion plans for Western Europe, suddenly and mysteriously dies.
March 10, 1985	Soviet Chairman Konstantin Chernenko dies
March 11, 1985	Soviet Chairman Mikhail Gorbachev elected
April 26, 1986	Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident
May 12, 1988	An explosion wrecked the only factory that made the rocket motors for the Soviets’ deadly SS 24 long-range missiles, which carry ten nuclear bombs each.
August 29, 1989	Sr. Lucia affirms in correspondence that the consecration “has been accomplished” and that “God will keep His word.”
November 9, 1989	Fall of the Berlin Wall
Nov-Dec 1989	Peaceful revolutions in Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania
1990	East and West Germany are unified
December 25, 1991	Dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

1940, December 2nd. Letter of Sr. Lucia to Pope Pius XII requesting the Consecration of the World and Russia to the Immaculate Heart

Most Holy Father,

Humbly prostrated at your feet, I come as the last sheep of the fold entrusted to you to open my heart, by order of my spiritual director.

I am the only survivor of the children to whom our Lady appeared in Fátima (Portugal) from the 13th of May to the 13th of October 1917. The Blessed Virgin has granted me many graces, the greatest of all being my admission to the Institute of Saint Dorothy. (To here this is copy of the sketch the Bishop sent me.)

I come, Most Holy Father, to renew a request that has already been brought to you several times. The request, Most Holy Father, is from our Lord and our good Mother in Heaven.

In 1917, in the portion of the apparitions that we have designated “the secret,” the Blessed Virgin revealed the end of the war that was then afflicting Europe, and predicted another forthcoming, saying that to prevent it She would come and ask the consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart as well as the Communion of reparation on the first Saturday. She promised peace and the conversion of that nation if Her request was attended to. She announced that otherwise this nation would spread her errors throughout the world, and there would be wars, persecutions of the Holy Church, martyrdom of many Christians, several persecutions and sufferings reserved for Your Holiness, and the annihilation of several nations.

Most Holy Father, this remained a secret until 1926 according to the express will of our Lady. Then, in a revelation She asked that the Communion of reparation on the first Saturdays of five consecutive months be propagated throughout the world, with its conditions of doing the following with the same purpose; going to confession, meditating for a quarter of an hour on the mysteries of the Rosary and saying the Rosary with the aim of making reparation for the insults, sacrileges and indifferences committed against Her Immaculate Heart. Our good Heavenly Mother promises to assist the persons who practise this devotion, in the hour of their death, with all the necessary graces for their salvation. I exposed the request of our Lady to my confessor, who tried to have it fulfilled, but only on the 13th of September 1939 did His Excellency the Bishop of Leiria make public in Fatima this request of our Lady.

I take this opportunity, Most Holy Father, to ask you to bless and extend this devotion to the whole world. In 1929, through another apparition, our Lady asked for the consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart, promising its conversion through this means and the hindering of the propagation of its errors.

Sometime afterwards I told my confessor of the request of our Lady. He tried to fulfill it by making it known to Pius XI.

In several intimate communications our Lord has not stopped insisting on this request, promising lately, to shorten the days of tribulation which He has determined to punish the nations for their crimes, through war, famine and several persecutions of the Holy Church and Your Holiness, if you will consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, with a special mention for Russia, and order that all the Bishops of the world do the same in union with Your Holiness. I truly feel your sufferings, Most Holy Father! And, at much as I can through my humble prayers and sacrifices, I try to lessen them, close to our Lord and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Most Holy Father, if in the union of my soul with God I have not been deceived, our Lord promises a special protection to our country in this war, due to the consecration of the nation by the Portuguese Prelates, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary; as proof of the graces that would have been granted to other nations, had they also consecrated themselves to Her.

Now, Most Holy Father, allow me to make one more request, which is but an ardent wish of my humble heart; that the feast in honour of the Immaculate Heart of Mary be extended throughout the whole world as one of the main feasts of the Holy Church.

With the deepest respect and reverence I ask for the Apostolic Blessing. May God protect Your Holiness.

Tuy, Spain, 2nd of December of 1940.
Maria Lucia de Jesus

Texts from Novos Documentos de Fátima, Fr. Anthony Mario Martins, SJ (Oporto: 1984). English edition:  Documents on Fatima & Memoirs of Sr. Lucia.  (Alexandria, SD: Fatima Family Apostolate, 1992).