Taking Action for Family Values and a Christian Civilization

“Russia will spread her errors throughout the world, creating wars and…”

These were the direct words of Our Lady to the three shepherd children at Fatima in July 1917, where the Blessed Virgin spelled out the trajectory of the 20th Century should mankind not turn away from sinful lifestyles. Central to her admonitions, was the call to prayer and conversion and specifically to the Five First Saturdays devotion. However, a fundamental prerequisite for peace hung on the Blessed Mother’s appeal that the Pope, in union with the Bishops of the world, consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary! In the inscrutable designs of God Almighty, this simple act of obedience would have stymied the spread of the Russian communist revolution throughout the world, with all its consequent tragedy, upheavals, destruction and the loss of almost 100 million souls…

Brute force

The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian military is totally unprovoked – an act of aggression, injustice and brute force, a violation of International Law. Despite all the hackneyed justifications for this violation of an independent state, nothing holds water. In fact, the whole assault appears so contrived and “forced” and so “out of the blue,” that one may well ask, “what is the game here”? One only needs to have studied history to know that Russia is a master of deceit, lies, manipulation, fake news, etc. All these things have come into play in the current unfolding of events, as Russia seeks to re-establish the hegemony and power of the old USSR (the demise of which Putin considers the greatest geo-political catastrophe of the century) and in the process perhaps test the resolve of NATO? The situation is surreal – a country living in peace, its citizens pursuing the lives that people lead – in one instant thrown into turmoil. Cities shelled, buildings destroyed, neighbours killed, and general devastation. Cities are under siege with large numbers in danger of being starved into submission or death. At the same time there is the dantesque spectacle of almost  three million refugees fleeing for safety. People like us – mothers, fathers, children… It makes absolutely no sense! What can Russia/Putin possibly gain from this? Due to the severe sanctions levelled against it, the country is already reeling. What is being prepared? Where is all this headed? What can we expect? Are we on the verge of events prophesied by Our Lady at Fatima – a consequence of sin and disobedience?

Russia-China alliance

Throw China into this mix and with the deepening alliance between these two nations, the stage is set for the greatest threat ever to Europe, the USA and indeed the whole world! The last few years have seen a growing multifaceted rapprochement between these two bully-states, with the respective leaders meeting at the opening of the Olympics and pledging stronger ties and mutual support in all spheres. Indeed, Xi purportedly asked Putin to “delay” his Ukrainian venture till after the Games! Taiwan is facing a similar threat as Ukraine. China has for years coveted this de facto independent nation, regularly menacing it, violating its airspace and threatening “annexation.” It is only a matter of time before Xi attempts this. Massive international sanctions and vociferous condemnation of Russia, along with strong military and other support for Ukraine, will be the best deterrent to China’s expansionist ambitions. Better they understand right now what lies in store for them, should they attempt to seize Taiwan!

Nuclear threat

 Everything is compounded and aggravated by the spectre of a nuclear hecatomb which comes more and more into the debate. Already in the eighties, the pacifist movement’s “better red than dead” slogan enticed millions to prefer a “Pax Sovietica” to any potential war with the USSR which might involve nuclear fallout…  The Soviet Union, playing on the weakness of an immoral, soft and pampered Europe took full advantage of this state of soul to pursue its cold war strategies. Putin has been quick to play the “nuclear” card, leaving little doubt that he has his finger close to the “button!” How will nations, intimidated and threatened with “unimaginable consequences” by Russia, react? How will the various militaries of Europe react to a sudden crisis? The “woke” culture has so deeply penetrated the entire fabric of European nations that their soldiers may be better versed in “inclusivity and diversity” drills than taking up arms!  

Outraged nations rally while South Africa adopts “neutrality…”

Unsurprisingly, most of the world’s nations and peoples have come out strongly against the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and the unjust transgressing of its borders. However, as has become the norm in such instances where autocratic and Marxist-oriented regimes are implicated, our own dear country sees fit to prevaricate, fence-sit and seek any other possible route rather than taking a righteous stand against unprovoked aggression! There is no room for hesitation or hair-splitting as to “where we stand.” The issue is clear cut!

Thus, we have witnessed various relativist statements, including a bland, innocuous one from our UN Ambassador Mathu Joyini – as if somehow, one party was not objectively guilty of malice and evil intent! Indeed, even as the South African Ambassador was fleeing Ukraine, the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, 2 March approved a resolution demanding that Russia stop the war in Ukraine and withdraw all troops, which garnered 141 votes. Hardly a stinging rebuke, yet our country joined 35 nations sitting on the fence, and abstained from voting. It is simply absurd, outrageous and a miscarriage of justice! Justice Malala, writing for BusinessLive, succinctly defined South Africa’s inexplicable position: “We are on the wrong side of History.” Many nations queried our supposed commitment to a culture of “human rights,” while hypocritically refusing to condemn the invader. 

Consecrations in History

An interesting historical anecdote comes to mind on the question of consecrations and the consequences of failing to act. On 17 June 1689, the Sacred Heart of Jesus manifested to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, the great apostle of the Sacred Heart, His command to the King of France (Louis XIV) that the King consecrate France to the Sacred Heart. For 100 years to the day, this seemingly “unimportant” command was ignored. Thus in 1789 did France erupt in a frenzy of bloodshed, a diabolical assault on the Altar and Throne and the ensuing complete disruption of life in France and Europe.

In 1917, Our Lady at Fatima delivered to the world a peace plan. This plan has however in large part been ignored, or shunted sideways. This, despite dire warnings about the threats hanging over humanity for non-compliance, including the prophesied eruption of World War II and the prospect of “annihilation of many nations.” No amount of petitions, reason, appeals or prayers has motivated the last seven popes to honour this request, at least in its fullness. One is reminded of Our Lord’s words when He appeared to Sister Lucy, one of the Fatima seers, regarding the preceding: “Make it known to My ministers given that they follow the example of the King of France in delaying the execution of my command, like him they will follow him into misfortune.” Successive French Kings failed to obey Our Lord and the reader will recall that during the Terror of the French Revolution, Louis XVI was guillotined on 21 January 1793. In prison, and finally realising the enormity of his predicament and that of his glorious country, he promised to formally consecrate France in a promissory note he wrote in prison, if Our Lord should restore his freedom. It was however too late…

Glorious history

Ukraine has a glorious religious history with many distinguished figures gracing its past, and lays claim to a number of saints. It also has a sizeable Catholic population which includes a significant number who returned to the Catholic fold from Orthodoxy, due in good part to the tireless and courageous action of St Josaphat. One prominent figure of the 20th century worth mentioning was the great Cardinal Slipyj, who spent 18 suffering years in the prisons and camps of the Soviet Gulag. In a recent article on the crisis of Ukraine, Italian historian, Professor Roberto de Mattei, noted that “there are men who embody the deepest virtues and values of a people. Such was Cardinal Josyf Slipyj, Major Archbishop of Halych and Lviv of the Ukrainians, the 130th anniversary of whose birth is being celebrated just as his homeland is experiencing an enormous new tragedy.”

Cardinal Slipyj

In the 1930’s Ukraine suffered unimaginable hardship when millions were literally starved to death in the attempt by Stalin to collectivise the country’s agricultural structure. Having only regained its independence in 1991, it finds itself once more fighting to prevent being sucked into the Russian orbit! Cardinal Slipyj was arrested in 1945 and began his first sentence of eight years forced labour in the concentration camps. At the same time “an illegal synod was staged to proclaim the “reunification” of the Ukrainian Catholic Church with the Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow, dominated by the Soviet regime. The churches of the Greek-Catholics, around 3,000, were given to the Orthodox and almost all the bishops and priests were killed or imprisoned.”

Cardinal Slipyj was seemingly a great devotee of the message of Fatima. He laboured tirelessly to have Russia consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Even this last week the Bishops of Ukraine have reportedly petitioned the Pope to undertake this Consecration as Our Lady requested.

Our Lady of Zarvanytsia 

We need to redouble our prayers and pray especially the daily rosary for true peace in the world and for the alleviation of the plight of the Ukrainian people. Much incredible courage has been evident in Ukraine with countless ordinary people mobilising to resist the unwarranted and brutal attempt to snuff out the country’s independent existence! The general outlook does appear somewhat grim, but we must not lose hope and above all, be calm, have courage, and confidence! Many faithful souls are appealing to Our Lady of Zarvanytsia, whose icon is venerated in the town that bears this name, also known as the “Lourdes of Ukraine.” It is a place of major pilgrimage where a beautiful icon of Our Lady is venerated. The image is of supernatural origin with many miracles associated to this devotion.

De Mattei quotes an excerpt taken from the great Cardinal Slipyj’s testament, which we make our own at this ominous and tragic moment for Ukraine: “Seated on the sled and making my way to eternity… I recite a prayer to our protector and Queen of Heaven, the ever Virgin Mother of God. Take our Ukrainian Church and our Ukrainian people under your sure protection!”

Our Lady of Zarvanytsia, pray for us! 

Written by Bernard Tuffin

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