Beginning on May 13, 1917, the Blessed Mother began appearing to three children in the Portuguese village of Fatima. She appeared to them six times; the final apparition being on October 13. At each visit she shared information with the children about the events of the time (World War I and the Bolshevik revolution), prophecies concerning the future (World War II and the spread of Communism), and three secrets that would not be understood for some time (the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II).
    
Mary’s great promise was, “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will be victorious.” That was certainly true in her saving of Pope John Paul’s life and the fall of the Iron Curtain. I believe that the same promise applies to the darkness of our own age, with the threats of both nuclear and natural war. She repeated at every apparition, “Pray the rosary.” That is my message to you today. Pray the rosary every day.