“Our Lady of Fatima”: Another Gospel?

Galatians 1:6-9: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

2 Corinthians 11:1-4: Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

The “Marian apparition” at Fatima is a subject that has been of interest to me ever since I read a book on “Our Lady of Fatima” some years ago. The book was with my Grandmother’s things, which my mother had brought home after my Grandmother passed away. My maternal Grandparents were Catholic all of their lives, and this book likely either belonged to them or perhaps to their oldest daughter, who was a nun for about 15 years.

Anyway, at the time I read the book, I actually had very few concerns. I remember thinking that this “Marian apparition” and the events surrounding it were strange, but I did not necessarily have any real objections to what I was reading. As I’ve continued to study and seek Biblical discernment, however, that has changed. So, here’s a bit of a summary/some concerns I now have regarding “Our Lady of Fatima.”

100 years ago, in 1917, “Our Lady” appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. She continued to appear on the 13th day of each month for six consecutive months. Here are some of the things “Mary” said to the children during her appearances:

Our Lady: “Yes, I will take Jacinta and Francisco soon. But you are to stay here some time longer. Jesus wishes to make use of you to make Me known and loved. He wants to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart. To whoever embraces this devotion I promise salvation; these souls shall be dear to God, as flowers placed by Me to adorn His throne.”

Our Lady: “No, My daughter. Do you suffer a great deal? Don’t lose heart. I will never forsake you. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.”

Our Lady: “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.”

Our Lady: “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 in order to believe.”

Our Lady: “Sacrifice yourselves for sinners, 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.”

Our Lady: “You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart.”

Our Lady: “To whomever embraces this devotion, I promise salvation.”

Throughout the years, Lucy, one of the three children to whom “Our Lady” appeared at Fatima in 1917, experienced several more such visitations. On December 10, 1925 “Our Lady” appeared with the “Child Jesus.” Here is what “Jesus” said:

The Child Jesus: “Have compassion on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother, covered with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce It at every moment, and there is no one to make an act of Reparation to remove them.”

And here is what “the Most Holy Virgin” said:

Our Lady: Look My daughter, at My Heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce Me at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You at least try to console Me and announce in My name that I promise to assist at the moment of death, with all the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep Me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making Reparation to Me.”

Since we are warned in Scripture, by Jesus Himself, of great last days deception, that could, if possible, deceive even the “elect”, it is very important that we “test” this apparition. Over the last 100 years countless people have been influenced by this appearance of “Our Lady”, and have made pilgrimages to Fatima in her honour. This event from 1917 has had no small impact on the lives of thousands, and so it is not something that can simply be dismissed.

Here are some specific concerns I have with regard to this “Marian apparition”:

“Mary” told the children: “Jesus wishes to make use of you to make Me known and loved. He wants to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart. To whoever embraces this devotion I promise salvation; these souls shall be dear to God, as flowers placed by Me to adorn His throne.”

So, according to “Mary”, “Jesus” wants to “establish in the world devotion” to Mary’s “Immaculate Heart”. The question immediately is, does Jesus (God) actually desire or request that devotion be made to anyone but Him? (All concerns regarding the truth of the “Immaculate Heart” concept aside). Does God ever desire or ask that we devote ourselves to anyone or anything other than Him, as the one true God? The Bible is very clear on this point, here are just some of the many examples from Scripture:

Exodus 20:1-6, Deuteronomy 4:35-39, Deuteronomy 5:6-10, Deuteronomy 6:4, Deuteronomy 32:39, 2 Samuel 7:22, 1 Kings 8:60, 2 Kings 5:15, 2 Kings 19:15, 1 Chronicles 17:20, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 18:31, Psalm 86:10, Isaiah 37:16, Isaiah 37:20, Isaiah 43:10-11, Isaiah 44:6-8, Isaiah 45:5, Isaiah 45:21, Isaiah 46:9, Hosea 13:4, Joel 2:27, Zechariah 14:9, Mark 12:29-34, Luke 4:8, John 17:3, Romans 3:30, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, Galatians 3:20, Ephesians 4:6, 1 Timothy 1:17, 1 Timothy 2:5

So, given the above verses, should we believe this “apparition” who claims that Jesus wants us to devote ourselves to her (Mary’s) “Immaculate Heart”?

Of even greater concern to me is the second part of the above statement made by “Mary.” She claims that she“promises salvation” to “whoever embraces this devotion” (to her “Immaculate Heart.”) The question is, can Mary actually promise salvation to anyone? Is salvation actually found in devoting oneself to Mary’s “Immaculate Heart”, or is salvation found in Christ alone, as the Bible repeatedly tells us?

John 1: 10-13, John 1:29, John 3:14-18, John 3:36, John 8:24, John 5:24, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Acts 16:31, Romans 1:16, Romans 5:1, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9, Romans 10:13, Ephesians 2:1-22, Galatians 2:16, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 1, 1 John 5:11-13, 1 Peter 1:18-19

“Mary” also tells the children that her “Immaculate Heart” will be their “refuge”, and that she will never forsake them, sound familiar?

Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Hebrews 13:5: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.'”

Nowhere in Scripture are such things ever said or such attributes ever given to anyone but God. I find it deeply concerning that “Mary” claims for herself characteristics that belong to God alone.

“Mary” likewise proclaims that “only she can help you” (This is utterly false and really needs no explanation as to why, in light of Scripture. Anyone with the slightest Biblical knowledge should reject this “Marian apparition” on that one claim alone).

“Mary” also tells the children to “sacrifice themselves for sinners.” (Again, this needs no explanation. The Bible is clear we are entirely unable to even save ourselves, let alone others. It is Christ’s all sufficient and one time sacrifice for sin, alone, that saves all who believe. This statement made by “Mary” is extremely concerning and contrary to Scripture)

Now, in regard to the apparent appearance of “Jesus” (as a child) with “Mary”, I will start with this warning, given by Jesus to His disciples:

Matthew 24:21-27: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

Jesus will indeed return, as He promised, but it will not be in secret. It will not be mysterious and covert. When Jesus returns, the entire world will witness Him coming back, and there will be absolutely no confusion surrounding this event. Every single person will know that it is Jesus returning.

In contrast, there is always much uncertainty and a lengthy verification/authorization process which must be gone through to officially declare apparitions, such as the one at Fatima, to be legitimate.

Regarding what “Jesus” said during “His” appearance to Lucy, “He” confirmed devotion/reparation to the “Immaculate Heart” of “Mary”, rather than proclaiming devotion to God alone, which the real Jesus would have done. (To say nothing of the unbiblical idea that Jesus is still a child. He is not.) Nor does Scripture ever present Him accompanying Mary (as a child) anywhere after His ascension to Heaven. What we know from Scripture is that Jesus is risen, ascended into Heaven, and seated at the right hand of the Father. (Acts 7:55-56, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Peter 3:22 etc.) When He returns, it will be an event visible, not mysterious, and His return will be seen and recognized by all.

There is a very real possibility that something powerful happened at Fatima, Portugal in 1917, but just because it was powerful, or even seemed “good” in certain ways, does not mean we should automatically believe that such an “apparition” was of God. This is why Scripture warns us to “test the spirits”.

It is also very possible that the apparition of “Our Lady” at Fatima was simply a story concocted by the children and perhaps others. We must remember that the children were Catholic, and they were already very aware of the Catholic view of Mary. They already knew the Rosary and would recite it often. So, we know that they were not unbiased in regard to the teachings and traditions of the Catholic church on the subject of  Mary. Regardless of whether “Our Lady of Fatima was an actual supernatural event, or an elaborate story, we must “test” what was said and done by this “apparition” with the word of God.”

1 John 4:1: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

2 Corinthians 11:14-15: “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

We know, from Scripture, that there are “lying signs and wonders” and that not all “miraculous” events are of God. We are in a spiritual battle. (Ephesians 6:12) We also know that the “coming of the Lawless one” will be with great “signs and wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2) There is a reason why so much of Scripture (in particular, the Epistles) are devoted to correcting and warning about error and deception. Here is another such warning written in Acts (Paul speaking):

Acts 20:26-31:“Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” 

Deception is very real, we must be on guard against it, especially as the time grows shorter and Jesus’ return draws nearer.

Scripture is also absolutely clear regarding anyone (even an angel from Heaven) who would preach “another Gospel”, as “Our Lady of Fatima” most certainly did.

I welcome everyone to share their thoughts on the “Marian Apparition” at Fatima, Portugal. I ask only that anyone who does respond, please take the time to carefully read and address what I have written (and, most importantly, refer to the Scriptures I’ve included), please do not simply dismiss it by writing something to the effect of “Fatima is truly from God because it was so powerful and miraculous”, or “Fatima has been authorized and verified by the Vatican, therefore it is truly of God.”

For example, please discuss how the words said by “Mary” during her appearances are in agreement/not in agreement with Scripture. How can we be sure, considering Scripture, that it was truly Mary that appeared to the children at Fatima? Do you believe that “Mary” claimed for herself attributes and authority that belongs to God alone? Why or why not?

Source: Welcome to the Fatima Network