I finished "The Secret" Sunday afternoon, 13 September, the 92nd anniversary of the 5th apparition at Fatima.
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I have never worked so long and hard on a painting and come away so disappointed with it. I did some detail work and glazes today, and signed it, but I have to let it go for awhile. I don't know what to do with it. I decided it should be titled "Fatima, The Secret" - otherwise people may not get it. I'm too embarrassed to show it right now - maybe later...
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It was beyond my ability - that is all I can say about it.
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For the past few months I have been immersed in the message and accounts of the apparitions at Fatima. I have read and reread every detail it seems to me. I have prayed many rosaries, and will continue to do so. Did you know Our Lady asked for more than prayer for the conversion of sinners? She asked for sacrifices - sacrifices. Imagine. Our Lord explained penance as the fulfillment of the duties of one's state in life. Imagine.
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Did you know Our Lady predicted WWII but never said anything about concentration camps and the holocaust? Of all the horrors of the 20th century, the war and immorality, Our Lady chose to remind us of the existence of God, that he is gravely offended by sin, and that the souls of sinners end up in hell, "because there is no one to pray and make sacrifices for them."
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Stunningly, after the 3rd part of the secret was revealed, people were disappointed - they claimed it was not revealed in it's entirety because nothing apocalyptic had been revealed, errant bishops weren't condemned, the Vatican Council wasn't anathematized, and so on.
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The Blessed Virgin did not come to tell fortunes - she came to urge the faithful to return to God, to be converted, to pray and make sacrifices for sinners. She came to make us understand that God exists - that hell is real, that Satan exists, and the souls of unrepentant sinners go to hell. She came to announce that her Immaculate Heart would be the way that leads us to God - that the peace of the world was in her hands.
.
The secret and the October miracle at Fatima were of such significance for our times, not unlike the great prodigies of the Bible, that to be ignored and shuffled off to the archives of history must be a great offence to God. To say that "Fatima is over! It is this or that revelation or apparition that is important now" must be a great insult to Divine Providence and the most sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary.
.
If nothing else, working on the painting caused me to understand anew that the message of Fatima is more relevant today than ever.
.
I have never worked so long and hard on a painting and come away so disappointed with it. I did some detail work and glazes today, and signed it, but I have to let it go for awhile. I don't know what to do with it. I decided it should be titled "Fatima, The Secret" - otherwise people may not get it. I'm too embarrassed to show it right now - maybe later...
.
It was beyond my ability - that is all I can say about it.
.
For the past few months I have been immersed in the message and accounts of the apparitions at Fatima. I have read and reread every detail it seems to me. I have prayed many rosaries, and will continue to do so. Did you know Our Lady asked for more than prayer for the conversion of sinners? She asked for sacrifices - sacrifices. Imagine. Our Lord explained penance as the fulfillment of the duties of one's state in life. Imagine.
.
Did you know Our Lady predicted WWII but never said anything about concentration camps and the holocaust? Of all the horrors of the 20th century, the war and immorality, Our Lady chose to remind us of the existence of God, that he is gravely offended by sin, and that the souls of sinners end up in hell, "because there is no one to pray and make sacrifices for them."
.
Stunningly, after the 3rd part of the secret was revealed, people were disappointed - they claimed it was not revealed in it's entirety because nothing apocalyptic had been revealed, errant bishops weren't condemned, the Vatican Council wasn't anathematized, and so on.
.
The Blessed Virgin did not come to tell fortunes - she came to urge the faithful to return to God, to be converted, to pray and make sacrifices for sinners. She came to make us understand that God exists - that hell is real, that Satan exists, and the souls of unrepentant sinners go to hell. She came to announce that her Immaculate Heart would be the way that leads us to God - that the peace of the world was in her hands.
.
The secret and the October miracle at Fatima were of such significance for our times, not unlike the great prodigies of the Bible, that to be ignored and shuffled off to the archives of history must be a great offence to God. To say that "Fatima is over! It is this or that revelation or apparition that is important now" must be a great insult to Divine Providence and the most sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary.
.
If nothing else, working on the painting caused me to understand anew that the message of Fatima is more relevant today than ever.
hey, Master T, I appreciate the reflection ... welcome back ... I hope you decide to share the painting, too ...
ReplyDeleteps.... do title the painting ... don't want it confused with "The Secret" ... ya know....
ReplyDeleteI knew that you were intensely immersed in your work. And, of course, you finished it on the 13th. Nothing is left to chance.
ReplyDeleteI thought you meant you finished READING the book "The Secret."
ReplyDeleteObviously I need to spend more time praying MY rosary.
Terry, we (presumably all the fans of Abbey Road) would love to see your painting then we can see if we can "get it".
ReplyDeletePenny - The best sources on Fatima are the writings/memoirs of Sr. Lucia, the official statements of the Holy See, and Fr. Robert Fox's books. I think EWTN archives has some good stuff too. Stay away from conspiracy theorists who insist something is missing from the documents or Sr. Lucy was somehow misrepresented by the Holy See. Everything needed to know about Fatima was made public before the so-called 3rd secret.
ReplyDeleteAngela - you are a riot.
ReplyDeleteThe sad part is that I wasn't trying to be funny. *sigh*
ReplyDelete