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From: christian@topaz.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.religion.christian
Subject: Re: The story of the sightings of mary, at Fatima(sp)
Message-ID: <9752@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU>
Date: Mon, 2-Mar-87 05:59:08 EST
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Posted: Mon Mar  2 05:59:08 1987
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	I'm somewhat reluctant to say very much about this
subject - the purported vision of Mary at Fatima by three
very young Spanish children (eldest 9 I believe), after
WW1 and shortly before the Bolshevik (Russian) Revolution
of 1917. But apparently this event is officially considered
by the Catholic Church to involve a miraculous revelation,
which has been taken seriously by some Popes, especially
after many years when some international political predictions
were fulfilled. 
	As I understand it, the ultimate message
conveyed by the children involves a startling warning about 
Russia, then a very religious country, advising the Pope
and Cardinals to consecrate Russia to the Virgin if disaster
is to be avoided and peace secured. As I said, I believe 
that some Popes have acted on this, although lately and 
somewhat equivocally.
	Many will consider this to be superstition, no doubt,
however, well-known Catholic writer and Vatican-observer
Malachi Martin suggests in his slightly veiled novel,
_Vatican_, the effect of the Fatima episode behind-the-scenes
of the Vatican.