"The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, and various nations will be destroyed...But in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph...and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world. Do you want to learn a prayer?" the vision asked, "Yes we do!" the children responded. "When you recite the Rosary, say at the end of each decade: 'Oh My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Your Mercy'" (Third Apparition of Our Lady at Fatima).

Study Audio

 

LOVE the Word(TM) is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice. This week's LOVE the Word(TM) exercise is based on a Franciscan* personality approach. Go on! Try it!

Listen (Receive the Word)

"And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matt 24:10-14).

Compare this description of the falling away from the faith, and the reversal following it from Jesus' eschatological discourse, with the quote from the visionary in Fatima, above.

Observe (Connect the passage to recent events.)

This year is the hundredth anniversary of the apparitions and prophecies experienced by three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. For this exercise, make a mini- "pilgrimage" to Fatima. Do some research and/or review of the occurrences there. If you have access to an Our Lady of Fatima statue in your parish, bring it home and participate in the observances connected to that.

Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

What feelings and thoughts arose in your heart and mind as you pondered all you discovered or re-examined? What do you want to tell Him about that?

Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

Lord, may our trust in you equal, and even exceed, that of these three special children you, with your mother, set apart for our times. As they asked us to do, let us pray: "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen" (Luke 1).
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*LOVE the Word(TM) exercises, vary weekly according to the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Ignatian, Augustinian, Franciscan, and Thomistic.
Eschatological Qualification
Catholic eschatology is what's called "speculative theology." This designation means little has been defined by the Magisterium concerning the end times, so the subject is open for speculation and development by Catholics seeking truth via Sacred Tradition (history) and Sacred Scripture. I attempt throughout the series to make clear what is public revelation and therefore part of the Deposit of Faith, and what is private revelation and not a matter of adherence. I do not present unapproved private revelation in this series.
Scripture References for the Show
2 Thessalonians 2:15, Hold fast to the traditions, both oral and written, because there will be a deception in the end times.

Daniel 12:10, In the end, none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand.
Episode Resources
'In things of faith and morals, the true sense of Holy Scripture is held by the Church, whose place it is to judge the interpretation of the Scriptures (1 Tim 3:15); and it is permitted to no one to interpret Holy Scripture against suc...