The private revelations of Our Lady of Fatima to Sr. Lucia can be disturbing to some, as many believe parts of her messages have already come to pass, while others think the messages appear to predict another world war.
St. John Paul II addressed these concerns when he published the third part of the "secret" of Fatima in the year 2000. In this document the following description of the private revelation is recorded by Sr. Lucia.
How World War III can be prevented
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, future Pope Benedict XVI, wrote a commentary about the "flaming sword" and how Our Lady of Fatima appeared to predict a new world war. At the same time, this potential catastrophe could be stopped by Our Lady and her call to penance.
Ratzinger continues to explain how this pending war is not set in stone, but can be prevented.
The key, according to these private revelations at Fatima, is to follow Our Lady's words and to strive for personal and communal conversion, practicing penance for our sins and turning our hearts to God.
There is always hope. Cardinal Ratzinger ended his commentary with the following words of Jesus.
