One day within your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. Ps. 84

Icon I did of the Apparition of the Mother of God at Fatima 

for Fr. Frederick Miller who had been the Director of the Blue Army 

in New Jersey at the time (1991).  The icon was copied and claimed to

be an original by the painter, and presented in Russia.

The World Apostolate of Fatima claims

no knowledge of the original I painted,

despite it was used as a cover for Soul Magazine.

Sadly, even Fatima apostolates can have

credibility issues.  A fact which causes many 

to dismiss the apparition and message as 

a thing of the past.

Living by faith.

Today many are once again interpreting private revelations, at times placing greater stock in mystical visions and locutions than what the Popes have taught since Vatican II.  As many Catholics know, visionaries and locutionists are followed unquestioned, their prophecies collected into a narrative to discredit Vatican II, the Novus Ordo, and even papal elections.  I'm not sure how many of these people will ever have confidence in papal authority again, much less trust any new conclave to elect a pope.  It is important to look to the Church to interpret private revelations and prophecy, which was done with the Fatima message, albeit, not a few Catholics believe is incomplete.  

It's time to repeat precautions by the great Carmelite Doctor of the Church, St. John of the Cross.

Visions and locutions, even though from God, can mislead us. 
.
St. John of the Cross in Chapter 19 of the Ascent lays out proof from Scripture on how this can be, for the sake of brevity, I will only high light a few passages to help explain the dangers and misunderstandings locutions can and do generate.
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"We mentioned the two reason why, although God's visions and locutions are true and certain in themselves, they are not always so for us.  The first reason is because of our defective manner of understanding them, and the second because their basic causes are sometimes variable.
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Clearly in regard to the first, not all revelations turn out according to the literal meaning.  The cause is that, since God is immense and profound, he usually embodies in his prophecies, locutions, and revelations other ways, concepts, and ideas remarkably different from the meaning we generally find in them.  And the surer and more truthful they are, the less they seem so to us.
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We behold this frequently in Scripture.  With a number of the ancients, many of God's prophecies and locutions did not turn out as they had expected, because they interpreted them with their own different and extremely literal method."
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The letter kills, the spirit gives life.
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John goes on to cite several passages from Scripture, explaining why and how the recipients got it wrong and events turned out not as human nature expected.  John then explains:
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"[...] Souls are misled by imparting to God's locutions and revelations a literal interpretation, and interpretation according to the outer rind.  As has been explained, God's chief objective in conferring these revelations is to express and impart the elusive, spiritual meaning contained in the words.  This spiritual meaning is richer and more plentiful than the literal meaning and transcends those limits."
.
[...] "Anyone bound to the letter, locution, form, or apprehensible figure cannot avoid serious error and will later become confused for having been led by the literal sense and not having allowed for the spiritual meaning which is divested of the literal sense.  ('The letter kills, the spirit gives life' - 2 Cor. 3:6)"

+ + + + +

"It is impossible for someone unspiritual to judge and understand the things of God correctly; and one is not spiritual if one judges them literally." - All quotes from St. John taken from The Ascent, Bk II, Chapter 19

Fatima Studies ...

-source-

For online conspiracy theorists Fatima really is about the sensational.


Even Monsignor Pope expected some sort of great sign.  Steve Skojec sums up the disappointment so many experienced after October 13, 2017:

Many Fatima devotees were, I think it’s fair to say, disappointed when the centenaries of each of the original apparitions in 1917 came and went with no discernible event taking place to mark the occasion. For my part, I have always believed that God prefers to be less predictable than this, though there is certainly precedent for divinely-ordered things happening on important dates and anniversaries. - 1P5

Just like the disappointment after the Third Secret was revealed - 'is that it?'  It was not enough for those who claimed to know more than the Church.  It's still never enough.

Catholic World Report published a decent interview with Kevin Symonds on the 'hermeneutic of conspiracy' which surrounds the Third Secret.  The interview is getting a lot of press since Symonds discusses a formerly unknown letter from S. Lucia to Pope Paul VI concerning the trials the Church was entering.  Most people who pray knew this at the time, therefore it appears Sr. Lucia was writing to assure the Holy Father of her support and prayers, rather than making some sort revelation of what was happening.  Paul VI surely was well aware, as can be known in and through several allocutions made by him.  Most notably, 'through some fissure, the smoke of Satan has entered the Church.'

Conspiracy theorists and false interpreters of all things mystical have incorporated these saying into their 'hermeneutic of conspiracy' to not only discredit Vatican II and the liturgical reforms, but to 'stir up' contention regarding the papacy and teaching authority of the Magisterium.  Today, not a few are even turning on Cardinal Mueller and Cardinal Burke - because they support the Pope.

I would recommend reading Symond's interview, as well as his book, the cover of which may or may not have been inspired by one small detail of my painting on the Third Secret.  (I wonder if anyone will see that?)  Anyway, it's a very good read, very well written, and covers all the crazy interpretations right down to the sources promulgating the propaganda. 

I have my own theory concerning the false and/or embellished secrets of Fatima - so popular among Fatimists.  It is actually related to Our Lady's prophecy that 'Russia will spread her errors.'  Today we have proof of how that is accomplished - those who admire Putin for it should be ashamed of themselves - but apparently they are blinded by their traditionalist ideologies.  Likewise, false apparitions and messages from Necedah, Bayside, and San Damiano in the 1970's have seeped into the mythology of the trad cult, and are widely accepted as fact.  Today, everything spread by these sources - 'Michael fighting' types who contaminated the Fatima message - is now propagated as the missing elements to the authentic Fatima message.  Hence all the screwed up interpretations and expectations we've witnessed this past year.  These false threads, once authoritatively refuted, have been woven together to discredit the Magisterium even further.  Somehow I think God must be gravely offended by those false prophets who do this.

In closing I will share this from the CWR interview with Symonds, discussing authentic sources as opposed to the sometimes politically motivated sources from France and North America.

Kevin J. Symonds: I have the distinct impression that the bulk of the scholarship on Fatima is performed in Europe. Not all of it is available in English, which is most unfortunate for the Anglophone world, as we are bereft of some excellent scholarship. That said, there is the critical documentation published by the Sanctuary of Fatima, which is available in Portuguese up to 1930 and extends to 15 or so volumes. There is hope of adding to this collection the post-1930 documents. Additionally, Dr. Cristina Sobral has presented the official critical edition of Sr. Lucia’s Memoirs. The Sanctuary of Fatima is also taking some steps to make solid scholarship available in English. 

My own contribution on Fatima came out of a desire to engage an influential body of literature that has largely emanated from France and North America. In the latter, there is the work of Father Nicholas Gruner and his Fatima Center, while in France there is the work of the Abbé Georges de Nantes and his Contre-Reforme Catholique. These two groups do not always agree with each other, but there was some collaboration between them in the 1980s into the 1990s. Later, in 2006, the Italian journalist Antonio Socci joined the discussions. There has not been much (if any) critical work addressing the body of literature published by Gruner and the Abbé, though there has been some response to Antonio Socci. My book is an attempt at providing a critical assessment of some contentious points that are generally common to all three. - CWR

As I always point out regarding this subject:  In Chapter 21 of Book II of the Ascent, St. John writes that God is displeased by the request for revelations and locutions, despite the fact that some believe their curiosity to know these things is good because God has revealed himself in this manner in the past. St. John asserts that God is not pleased, saying not only is he displeased, he is 'frequently angered and deeply offended.' Explaining:

The reason lies in the illicitness of transcending the natural boundaries God has established for the governing of creatures. He has fixed natural and rational limits by which man is to be ruled. A desire to transcend them, hence, is unlawful... consequently, God who is offended ... is displeased.

St. John goes on to cite several examples of God's displeasure from scripture. Now of course St. John is speaking of the illicitness of seeking knowledge of God through revelations and locutions, and in the cases he cites, these requests run contrary to God's will and are therefore sinful. As St. John explains why it was lawful to request signs and wonders in the Old Covenant, and why it is not expedient to do so in the New. 

We must be guided humanly and visibly in all by the law of Christ the man and that of his Church and of his ministers. This is the method of remedying our spiritual ignorances and weakness; here we shall find abundant medicine for them all. Any departure from this road is ... extraordinary boldness ... one must ever adhere to Christ's teaching. - John of the Cross

 There is nothing wrong with authentic scholarship and study to clarify the Fatima Message - just be careful of your sources. 

It was revealed recently that 

Pope Benedict used to get miraculous 

hang-up calls from Bayside.

What?  I'm kidding.

The Fatimystics and their urban legends.

The holy maid is mad.

When Pope John XXIII cried.

Not.  I grew up with these stories, circulated by the very, very devout spreading tales about the as yet undisclosed 'Third Secret'.  The first stupid story had it that John XXIII wept when he read the secret.  In fact, he read it, said it didn't apply to his papacy, but to the future, and filed it away.  It was sent to the Vatican in the first place for the pope to read and it was left up to his discretion as to what to do with it.  Since he did not reveal the secret in 1960, many disappointed Fatimists were deeply disappointed.  Then speculation broke out, prophecies from other dubious apparitions and private revelations-locutions, spread far and wide.  Often endorsed by this mystic, that bishop and priest, and even entire communities of contemplative nuns - as well as members of the Blue Army and friends of Padre Pio.  The worst are the Grunerites of course.

I was up too late last night and commented on a couple of websites which posted on the subject of the Fatima secret, and one site posted what I call stupid conspiratorial theories regarding Fatima and the popes, including the absolutely absurd idea that Sr. Lucia had been replaced by an impostor nun.  The theory involves the Vatican in an effort to cover up the true nature of the secrets.  The conspiracy, to be true would involve the Carmelite nuns of Lucia's monastery, her family and those who knew her before entering, and even the bishops of Fatima.  The claim is substantiated based upon photos taken of Lucia as a child, as a Dorothean sister, and those photos of her in Carmel.

These sad people believe the photos of Sr. Lucia prove that she was replaced by an impostor, a theory promoted by sedevacantists and radical traditionalists.  They simply do not take into account changes to a person's face as they mature and age.  I'm not privy to any secret files as these people claim to be, but common sense would dictate that if there was any change in her appearance, in all probability Sr. Lucia probably had denture work done, since she had very crooked teeth.  It could well have affected her 'bite' or alignment, interfering with eating and so on.  Any denture work, including false teeth can alter the chin structure at times - in her case for the good.  It is possible Lucia may have had minor dental surgery to correct alignment.  I have a friend who had such surgery.  I'm convinced one could easily verify these theories by contacting the Carmel, as well as obtaining the testimony of Lucia's living relatives in Portugal.  Otherwise, people who spread these stories are guilty of presumption and even calumny.  It's scandalous to suggest there is a cover-up, that the popes, and the Carmelites are liars.  These writers are completely off the rails with these fantasies.

I noted one person commenting on the thread at 1P5 stated that it was like Bayside revisited.  Indeed it is a synthesis of those false apparitions which has gained a foothold today - included in the category are the alleged visions of Neceedah and San Damiano in Italy - all have been condemned by the Church - yet their claims circulate and become legend.  It fuels a sort of medieval superstitious mentality that doesn't fit in with Catholic teaching or belief.  Just today one site speculates that President Trump's political woes can be attributed to a curse.  Notwithstanding the fact a group of witches cast a curse, or spell to destroy Trump, I think he's doing that just fine all by himself.

That said, I continue to believe what we need to know about Fatima has always been there for us to know: the call to cease offending God, to repentance, prayer, penance and true devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  I remember as a child when the secret was not revealed in 1960 many Fatima devotees were not just disappointed, but angry. It was then that a series of private revelations began to be pieced together to become the secret many expected. Even after JPII had the secret read, many were greatly disappointed that more terrible chastisements were not revealed, that Vatican II wasn't condemned, and the existing conspiracy theories gained more strength - once again based upon other private revelations, as well as annotated secrets from earlier apparition sites.

Today we have Medjugorje and Garabandal competing for verification and ratification of great chastisements and social upheaval, fire from the sky, and so on.

All we have is the present moment folks.  Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.  God is present, he is in the present moment.  St. John of the Cross also wrote about how greatly displeased and offended God is by our seeking out private revelations and messages:  "The reason lies in the illicitness of transcending the natural boundaries God has established for the governing of creatures. He has fixed natural and rational limits by which man is to be ruled. A desire to transcend them, hence, is unlawful... consequently, God who is offended ... is displeased."  [...]  "Although God's visions and locutions are true and certain in themselves, they are not always so for us. The first reason is because of our defective manner of understanding them, and the second because their basic causes are sometimes variable."

Everything necessary for salvation has been revealed and can be found in the Church.  Study your catechism.

Talk amongst yourselves.

Sr. Lucia entered Carmel in 1948 

where she lived for 57 years.

The Fatimists want us to believe the entire community 

and the bishop(s) harbored an

impostor Sr. Lucia.

Fatima Forecasters: 2017 will be no ordinary year.

Fatima Centenary.

I have followed Fatima since I was a child, but my focus was devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and total consecration when I became an adult. Everything I have is hers and she can do with me as she wills. I've never viewed Fatima in a negative light.

Perhaps the only exception was in grade school, before 1960.  Some of the school sisters who taught us, and early Blue Army devotes thought the final part of the secret would be revealed by the Pope in 1960 - so everyone expected WWIII at the very least.  When the secret wasn't revealed, they said the Pope cried all day, and the fears increased and got even worse.  John XXIII didn't weep, and simply had the secret stored away.  The upshot is as everyone who follows sensationalized prophecy know, the secret was elaborated and speculated upon by mystics, locutionists, and purported 'follow up' apparitions around the world.  And Fr. Gruner and his Fatima conspiracy show, which pretty much discredited all the Popes since John XXIII, accusing them of disobeying Our Lady and even conspiring to not reveal the secret.

That said, I always kept my distance from the fanatical element, always trying to understand the message from the perspective of a child, because all that is necessary for the faithful to know was revealed, and so simply revealed that even 3 little children could understand.

I've often pondered the meaning of the messages as well as the visions and the revelations concerning the consequences of sin, but I no longer can understand the 'end of the world' fears so many Catholics attribute to Our Lady's catechesis. The words of Sr. Lucia recognize the apocalyptic battle between the devil and the Immaculata, but Our Lady's sense of urgency is for repentance and conversion and spreading devotion - not the threats as so many seem to attribute to the message. I look forward to the Centenary as well as our Holy Father's visit to Fatima with great peace and joy. Our Lady has revealed the consequences for unrepentant sin, as well as the way to reconciliation. Her Immaculate Heart is our refuge and the way that will lead us to God.

The sensationalist, conspiracy-theorizing fear mongers cash in on the warning and chastisement stuff, frequently lifted from 'other' sources, then overlaying and connecting them to Fatima, or worse, placing these words on Our Lady's lips.

The worst chastisement...

It seems to me the very worst chastisement is how the devil has distorted and imitated the message of Our Lady, adding to it, suggesting the Popes were/are in error, and so on.  As we see chaos and division spreading around the globe, conspiracy theories and 'fake news' abounds.  Trust is diminished, even extinguished, especially among Catholics who have distorted the Blessed Virgin's message.

Just read the headlines on sites like Canon 212 or Pewsitter.  Filled with dissimulation and arousing morbid curiosity.  How is a blog post or news story which attracts readers by suggestive questions implying the Pope is a heretic anything less than detraction?  When you publish stories suggesting the Pope is fomenting a climate of fear in the Vatican, based upon hear-say from anonymous sources, how is that not gossip?  Vox Nova headlines Canon 212 with a post about Ganswein - questioning his fidelity and loyalty.  How are these conspiracy stories even Christian?  

How did these people get like this?  

Even the 'elect'?  I'm thinking of Monsignor Pope, one of the very best Catholic priests online, just came out with a speculative essay concerning the Fatima Centenary, wondering what might happen.  Monsignor associates it with the Leonine prophecy of 1884.  The prophecy has never been verified, if you don't know about it, you can look it up on your own.  It's about the devil supposedly having 100 years to test the Church.  In 1984 interested Fatimists suggested the Leo XIII vision reached it's conclusion with JPII's consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which Sr. Lucia assured everyone was accepted by heaven and satisfied Our Lady's request.  Apparently, that wasn't good enough, so good people are thinking maybe the Fatima Centenary is the conclusion of the 100 years.  Maybe it is, I don't know.

The point of the Fatima message necessary for Christians to know was already known for decades - Sr. Lucy always said that - the essence of the message, that is, what Our Lady requested is: conversion, prayer, penance and the First Saturday devotion.  That is the call of Fatima which apparently hasn't been heeded.  That is the part of the message necessary to promulgate.  Neither Our Lady or Our Lord ever indicated the centenary would be significant in a prophetic respect - it is pretty much conjecture on the part devout faithful who are troubled by our times and speculate on what could happen in the light of other revelations. I wonder if God follows a timetable like that?

Misinformation, sensationalism, and factions within the Marian movement have corrupted the message.

If anything, the Centenary or Jubilee Year, which has been enriched with a Plenary Indulgence, needs to draw our attention to the call of Our Lady, the essential part needed to know is as follows:  As I mentioned, Sr Lucia stated more than once that the essential part of the message for the faithful to know had been very revealed early on.  Stating that the essential part of the secret, which has not been observed entails, penance, prayer, and true devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

As Our Lady insisted at Fatima: "Men must amend their lives, and ask pardon for their sins. . . . They must no longer offend Our Lord, Who is already so much offended." The Fatima message is a call for men to give up sinful practises which grieve God and draw down His chastisements on the world, and to make reparation for them. - More here.

There are credible sources on Fatima.  I'll list a couple:

Vatican Archives: The Message of Fatima

Fatima For Today, Andrew Apostoli, CFR

I personally found Fr. Robert Fox to have been a faithful chronicler of Fatima.  He also got sidetracked by at least one false mystic, which serves as a good warning not be taken in by every locutionist claiming stigmata who comes down the pike.

Our greatest mystical experience is the reception of Jesus in Holy Communion.  We can see him face to face in the Blessed Sacrament.  Don't go running here and there looking for signs.

The Fatima cult seems to have evolved beyond true devotion.

The world is suffering under a 'diabolical disorientation'.

Misinformation and sensationalism has corrupted the message ...

Sr Lucia stated more than once that the essential part of the message for the faithful to know had been revealed early on.

Today the clamor over the so called Third Secret has taken on the occult dimensions of Bayside-Necedah followers.  Outrageous claims and conspiracy theories discrediting the Pope and Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

The essential part of the secret, which has not been observed entails, penance, prayer, and true devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

As Our Lady insisted at Fatima: "Men must amend their lives, and ask pardon for their sins. . . . They must no longer offend Our Lord, Who is already so much offended." The Fatima message is a call for men to give up sinful practices which grieve God and draw down His chastisements on the world, and to make reparation for them.

Has THAT happened?

When Our Lady asked for the devotion of the First Saturdays, one translation reads that Our Lady said to Sr. Lucia, "You at least try to make reparation ..."  "Try?"  Sr. Lucia's entire life - her vocation was to do that, as well as to spread devotion to the Immaculate Heart.  That was her purpose in remaining on earth.  And Our Lady simply said, 'you at least try'.

Have you tried?  Have you kept trying?  You who cause the Holy Father to suffer by your false accusations, rumors and gossip mongering?

Commenting on Our Lady's request for penance, Sr. Lucia wrote: "The part of the last apparition which has remained most deeply imprinted on my heart is the prayer of our heavenly Mother begging us not to offend any more Almighty God, Who is already so much offended."

Our Lord explained to her: "The sacrifice required of every person is the fulfillment of his duties in life and the observance of My law. This is the penance that I now seek and require."

Is it your duty in life to spread doubt and error regarding the messages of Our Lady, to accuse the Pope and bishops of lying and cover up?  Is that why priests abandon ministry, religious leave religious life?  Is that why the 'devout' hanker after false teachings, locutions, revelations and apparitions and traditionalist conspiracy theorists which repeat the script formalized by the Fatima Crusader cult?  I'm talking about many of the followers of the late Fr. Gruner:

In addition to Fátima Crusader, Fr. Gruner owns and publishes the Catholic Family News, which he acquired several years ago. Like the Remnant and several other small Catholic papers, Catholic Family News takes a critical view of the post-conciliar changes in the Church, especially in matters of the liturgy. With respect to the Tridentine Mass, it is not only preferred but the current Rite, while acknowledged as valid, is considered a complete innovation, departure from tradition and a disaster for the Church. - source

The amendment of life, prayer, and penance - as well as devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Eucharist is the essential aspect of the message of Fatima.  It is 'our' response - it is what Our Lady asks of us even today.

Besides a call to penance Fatima is in a special way a call for the Rosary. So central is the Rosary to the Fatima message that Our Lady chose to identify herself as "The Lady of the Rosary." In each of the six apparitions she asked for the daily Rosary, and especially as an instrument of world peace. As she revealed in the third apparition: "You must recite the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war for only she can obtain this."

The most important part of Our Lady's message, the most important part of the secret for all to know is perhaps this:

"Sacrifice yourselves for sinners; and say often when you make some sacrifice, 'My Jesus, it is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.'"

After showing the children a vision of hell, Our Lady said to them: "You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish throughout the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If people do as I shall ask many souls will be saved, and there will be peace.... But if people do not cease offending God... another and more terrible war will begin. When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign that God gives that the chastisement of the world for its many transgressions is at hand through war, famine, persecution of the Church and of the Holy Father."

"To prevent this, I shall come to ask the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and Communions of reparation on the first Saturdays. If my requests are heard, Russia will be converted and there will be peace. If not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, fomenting wars and persecution of the Church. The good will suffer martyrdom; the Holy Father will suffer much; different nations will be annihilated. But in the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, which will be converted, and some time of peace will be granted to humanity. 

"NOTE: From the above, we must not think of the Five First Saturdays merely in terms of personal salvation, of receiving "at the hour of death the graces necessary for salvation;" but also in terms of world peace, of avoiding the terrible social consequences mentioned above by Our Lady. - source

 What Sr. Lucia stated very clearly:

The third part of the secret is a symbolic revelation, referring to this part of the Message, conditioned by whether we accept or not what the Message itself asks of us: ‘If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, etc.'.

Since we did not heed this appeal of the Message, we see that it has been fulfilled, Russia has invaded the world with her errors. And if we have not yet seen the complete fulfilment of the final part of this prophecy, we are going towards it little by little with great strides. If we do not reject the path of sin, hatred, revenge, injustice, violations of the rights of the human person, immorality and violence, etc.

And let us not say that it is God who is punishing us in this way; on the contrary it is people themselves who are preparing their own punishment. In his kindness God warns us and calls us to the right path, while respecting the freedom he has given us; hence people are responsible”. - Message of Fatima

As for the request made by Our Lady for the consecration of Russia, Sr. Lucia stated that is was finally fulfilled by Pope John Paul II in union with the bishops of the world in 1984.  (Albeit late, as Our Lord foretold to Sr. Lucia.)

I come to answer your question, "If the consecration made by Pope John Paul II on March 25, 1984 in union with all the bishops of the world, accomplished the conditions for the consecration of Russia according to the request of Our Lady in Tuy on June 13 of 1929?" Yes, it was accomplished, and since then I have said that it was made. - Sr. Lucia

Everything else is speculation and invention - conspiracy theories feeding off of sensationalized interpretations of so-called secrets (occult) given to visionaries since the La Salette apparitions, so many variations of which make it difficult to ascertain credibility.  A perfect seed bed for conspiracy theories to grow, as well as to influence dubious visionaries and locutionists, not to mention the crack-pot Anna Katherine Emmerich prophecy hunters... whenever you read, 'bad council, bad Mass' - you know where they got that one from.  Another excellent sign that these critics are misled is their lack of docility, meekness and humility - and most especially, charity.  It is easily recognized in the com boxes of their websites.  Even when the author offers placating caveats such as 'with all due respect', 'with filial respect and love for the Pope', and so on.

Always, always keep the following in mind when promoting private revelations and apparitions, from St. Annibale Maria de Francia:

“Being taught by the teachings of several mystics, I have always deemed that the teachings and locutions of even holy persons, especially women may contain deceptions. Poulain attributes errors even to saints the Church venerates on the altars. How many contradictions we see between Saint Brigid, D’Agreda, Emmerich, etc. We cannot consider the revelations and the Locutions as words of Scripture. Some of them must be omitted, and others explained in a right, prudent meaning.” - Source

 It is the Church, the Pope and the Magisterium who is responsible for teaching and interpreting these things. As the Catechism clearly teaches:

85 "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ."47 This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome. 

86 "Yet this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed is drawn from this single deposit of faith."48 

87 Mindful of Christ's words to his apostles: "He who hears you, hears me",49 the faithful receive with docility the teachings and directives that their pastors give them in different forms. - CCC

These are things priests and Catholic apologists online and off should be teaching the faithful - not novelties and conspiracy theories adapted from private revelations which Catholics are not even required  to believe.  Our Lady came to Fatima as catechist, reaffirming the Gospel message, 'reform your lives, believe in the Gospel, turn to God, pray and do penance.'

She is being ignored and her message sensationalized by so-called good Catholics - in some cases, for profit.