I believe in Fatima, but you have Visions of Hell,Wars and Secrets about the End of the World, plus the Sun itself moving in the sky, I think to some people its a bit too much for them to handle.
Of course it is. If you can’t ‘beat’ it, ignore it, according to some. It’s uncomfortable, it’s shaming, it’s difficult. Hell SHOULD be! The (self!!) destruction of the world should be too much for us to handle…so much that we do everything we can to avoid it happening.
No,your not the only one.
While I believe something spiritual likely did happen and I don’t believe the children were lying and I acknowledge/respect people’s devotion to this, at the same time I have concerns,including:
1.The apparition suggesting God would use Russia to punish people for sin.Does God do this?How does this then seperate Catholics from people such as that you mentioned(Westboro Baptist)?
2.Mother Mary(?) showing impressionable,credulous,easily frightening children a “vision of hell” that included burning people,gruesome animal demons etc…
Even if people say she told the children they themselves wern’t going there,it doesn’t lessen the concern.
Mother Mary-who we uphold as most high model of motherhood & great virtue-terrifying little kids instead of protecting them-doesn’t sit right.
3.The similarity between the “visions of hell” shown at Fatima & non approved apparitions or Claimed NDE experiences “visions of hell”.The whole “terrify people to believe in God” atmosphere I see in Fatima messages too along with non approved ones.
4.Being told to console Jesus for the sins of the world.Are the children or we meant to do that?
If using ‘truth’ to convince others into doing the right thing, for THEMSELVES, isn’t right, I don’t know what is. Don’t we all want truth? I believe God guards us from the truths that are too difficult for us to handle or know, but if this has been revealed as truth, then we are to know it.
As for Mary showing children things that would haunt them for life, beyond their capabilities…I don’t believe it. They were given special Graces from God (through Mary) to handle these things. Let’s not forget…God already knows how this story ends. Mary and God didn’t torture or terrify the children.
Exactly.
I only yell that because for every one of me, there seem to be 100 yelling “YOU SHOULD BELIEVE THIS OR YOU’RE NOT REALLY CATHOLIC ENOUGH.” This thread is a refreshing exception, but I think it’s partly because others and I didn’t give up on holding to the Actual Truth as opposed to somebody’s Wishful Thinking are TRVTH.
That is, I’m only yelling the truth to try to balance out others who promote lies and manipulation and actually risk driving people to error and fear, by refusing to make it clear to anybody that it is optional.
And if it’s true, Techno, why are you concerned about its being repeated? Do you consider it an “inconvenient” truth?
A lot of time seems to be spent (not just by Catholics, or even Christians) judging who is ‘anything’ enough. Races/religions/economic standing/beautiful/skinny/smart…we’re all told daily that we aren’t ‘something’ enough. Why? Because for many people, they can’t feel important (or build themselves up) without standing on others. That is true in every walk of life, sadly. It’s not true of everyone, but it’s true of enough people that even when people are just sharing their own experiences, their love for something may come across as bragging or judging.
What do you think, MS, about researching more on why someone would be resistant so much to Fatima? Sometimes, the more drawn I am to a truth or action on the inside, the harsher the draw away from it on the outside. Thankfully, the inside matters more; I don’t always win that battle though (well, if I let Him, God wins it for me). Just 2 days ago, I felt every reason and feeling to avoid doing things that evening that I knew would be good for me (and perhaps others) spiritually. I even began to feel ‘sick’ in a weird way. That evening at the special Mass I attended, I received such gifts and graces!! I did it, in part, because I just gave it to God. I let Him handle it for me. What a great Father we have!
Perhaps, believe in Fatima for a few weeks. Maybe for Lent. Or if that is too much, just hand it off to Mary, and ask her to take care of your belief. Then drop it. Make an appointment with yourself in 6 weeks (and not sooner) to revisit the issue at hand. Perhaps ask our sweet blessed Mother to show you your belief or disbelief in Fatima, or where your energies should be focused. Don’t dwell on it; just hand it over. Or do the opposite, and read every legit thing that you can. For some, information overload is a good thing.
But keep your heart open no matter what you decide. You don’t have to decide today, tomorrow or any time. It will happen in time, when/if it’s supposed to happen. I have had some amazing personal private revelations in my life, that I know when I shared with others, they didn’t believe me, or doubted me. That’s fine. I know it happened, and it was intended for me (and for others, when I was pushed to share it).
Peace and joy,
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To anyone comparing those who might read such verses as being the go-to bogeyman, Westboro Baptist.
