One of the most striking and often misunderstood moments of the Fatima apparitions is the vision of hell shown to the three shepherd children Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta on 13 July 1917. Our Lady allowed them to glimpse this terrifying reality not to instil fear, but to awaken consciences to the gravity of sin and the urgent need for conversion. Immediately after the vision, Mary offered hope, pointing to prayer, penance, and reparation as the path to salvation.
The Church has consistently taught that the reality of hell highlights the dignity of human freedom and the seriousness of our moral choices. St. Augustine expresses this clearly: “God created us without us, but He did not will to save us without us.” The Fatima message echoes this truth by reminding us that while God’s mercy is infinite, it must be freely accepted through repentance and a transformed life.
Our Lady’s call to reparation is profoundly maternal. She invites us to unite ourselves to the redemptive suffering of Christ for the salvation of souls. Pope St. John Paul II emphasised this when he said, “The message of Fatima is a call to conversion and repentance, like the Gospel itself.” Reparation—offered through prayer, fasting, sacrifices, and the faithful acceptance of daily trials—becomes an act of love that consoles the Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Pope Benedict XVI further reminded the Church, “A humanity that excludes God from its horizons ends up destroying itself.” The vision of hell, therefore, is a merciful warning, calling the world back to God before hearts grow cold and faith is lost. It urges believers not to remain passive, but to become active participants in Christ’s saving mission.
It is my great joy to be involved in the activities of the World Apostolate of Fatima. I deeply appreciate your devotion to Our Lady of Fatima and your generous commitment to living and spreading her message. I pray that all your work may come to full realisation for the greater glory of Our Lord and for a deeper, more fervent veneration of our Blessed Mother, who tirelessly leads souls to her Son and invites the world to peace through conversion. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all! “Ad Majorem Resurgentis Gloriam”- “Ave Maria”
