Consecration of Russia - History and Background

History and Background

The consecration of Russia was reportedly requested by the Virgin Mary, in a series of Marian apparitions known as Our Lady of Fátima, to three visionaries in 1917. It was also reported in further apparitions in 1925 in Pontevedra, Spain to a single remaining Fatima visionary. The Fátima visionaries stated that the Virgin Mary promised:

"But in the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father (and the remaining bishops) will consecrate Russia to Me. Russia will be converted and a period of peace will be given to mankind."

In 1925 the Fátima visionary Lúcia Santos reported further Marian apparitions (known as the Pontevedra apparitions) and stated that the Virgin Mary of Fátima appeared to her again:

"... It was Our Lady of Fátima... with a crown of thorns... and said to me: "The moment has come in which God asks the Holy Father in union with all the Bishops of the world to consecrate Russia to My Immaculate Heart, promising to save it by this means.""

Lúcia Santos stated that at Pontevedra the Virgin Mary revealed to her Mary's Peace Plan consisting of three elements:

• Praying the Rosary and wearing the Brown Scapular, the Rosary and the Scapular being inseparable.
• Acts of Reparation for sins against God and the Immaculate Heart of Mary through First Saturdays devotion.
• A public ceremony in which the Pope and the Catholic bishops consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Towards the end of December 1940, Lúcia Santos sent a letter to Pope Pius XII, disclosing for the first time part of the secret about Russia and urging him to consecrate Russia.