Vox Populi: Consecrate Russia NOW

The Latin Rite Bishops of Ukraine have called upon Francis to fulfil the request of Our Lady of Fatima and Consecrate Russia to Her Immaculate Heart.

From Memorare

By J. Basil Dannebohm

Last week, the Holy Father decided to take a little outing to visit the Russian Embassy to the Vatican and express his concern over the conflict in the Ukraine.

Like most of the sanctions imposed on Russia, the visit by Pope Francis to the embassy was mere theatrics. He continued his charade by calling Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk to assure the Ukrainian prelate he would do everything he can to help end the Ukraine conflict.

Really?

Everything he can do, huh?

I mean there is that 800lb gorilla in the room he seems to be ignoring.

On July 13th, 1917, Our Lady warned the three seers at Fatima that if people did not stop offending God, He would punish the world “by means of war, hunger and persecution of the Church and of the Holy Father,” using Russia as His chosen instrument of chastisement. She told the children that “to prevent this, I shall come to ask for the Consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart” and promised that, by this single public act, Russia would be converted, and peace would be given to the world.

The Mother of God cautioned that if Her requests were not granted, “Russia will spread its errors throughout the world, raising up wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, and various nations will be annihilated.”

This ominous warning has all but been ignored for nearly a century.

I’m going out on a limb here, but perhaps it might be a good time for Pope Francis to do something completely out of character: a non-controversial act.

Perhaps … umm … the consecration of Russia, maybe?

The Ukrainian bishops seem to agree.

Today they sent a letter to the pope, noting they were writing “in these hours of immeasurable pain and terrible ordeal for our people” in response to many requests for the consecration.

“Responding to this prayer, we humbly ask Your Holiness to publicly perform the act of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Ukraine and Russia, as requested by the Blessed Virgin in Fatima,”

Some say this is not the first time Pope Francis has been approached on the subject.

Recently, a video has resurfaced of one Father Paul Kramer claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin himself asked for the consecration. According to Kramer, the Holy Father refused to discuss the matter. Worth noting, Kramer was a close collaborator with the world famous “Fatima Priest”, Fr. Nicholas Gruner. Whether or not his testimony is accurate is anybody’s guess, though my sources tell me they have heard similar accounts from trustworthy sources.

Given present circumstances, it's difficult to believe that Putin would have any interest in a Marian consecration for Russia. However, in earlier years of his presidency, he did show a remarkable devotion to the Kursk Root icon of the Theotokos. What’s happened since then is also anybody’s guess. Maybe he’s gone completely crackers, maybe he’s been this way the whole time and (much like Bergoglio), his just really good at theatrics.

Nevertheless, with all these requests for the Holy Father to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart, what’s stopping him?

If the pontificate of Pope Francis has taught us anything, it’s that the number one song on his playlist is “Everybody’s Talkin',” written by Fred Neil, and sung by Harry Nilsson. You know the words: “Everybody's talkin' at me, I don't hear a word they're sayin', Only the echoes of my mind.”

In other words, the pope is going to do whatever the pope is going to do -- and it’s probably going to create confusion.

The Holy Father seems to idolize his fellow Argentine, Eva Peron, in that (this cannot be said enough) he delights in theatrics that often leave people scratching their heads. He now finds himself with a golden opportunity placed in his lap to do something meaningful that might actually give some dignity to an otherwise dumpster fire of a pontificate. Will he do it? Who knows?

No matter your political opinion on the matter the situation in Ukraine, it is most certainly a call for prayer and fasting. So today, Ash Wednesday, we do just that. Not just because the Holy Father asked us to do it, but because it's the right thing to do.

This Lent, we have plenty of reasons, right here within the Church, for prayer and (that word the bishops despise) reparation. Between traditionis custodes and the “Synod on Synodality,” it seems the hierarchy are hell set (literally) on dismantling everything that is sacred and replacing it with the church of man.

Perhaps God is using the situation in Ukraine to send a message to the Holy Father and the clergy? Like so many things addressed in this article, we can't really be certain.

For the faithful, our task this Lent is simple: pray, fast, and give alms. Through these simple penitential acts, we make ourselves ready for Easter and the commemoration of Our Savior’s glorious resurrection, a sign of hope amid suffering.

As we begin our Lenten journey, let’s reflect on the words of our beloved Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre:

“May we, during this Lenten Season, hear the call of Jesus and Mary and engage ourselves to follow them in this crusade of prayer and penance! May our prayers, our supplications, and our sacrifices obtain from heaven the grace that those in places of responsibility in the Church return to Her true and holy Traditions which is the only solution to revive and reflourish the institutions of the Church again.”

Please pray for me this Lent and know of my prayers for you.

Pax.

--jbd