How consecration to Mary stopped World War III

man forces at El Alamein in Egypt against the greatest Nazi general Erwin Rommel. Since then, the Allies won battle after battle until

History felt more saving hand.

In July 1952, three-and-a-half decades after Fatima, Pius XII consecrated Russia in an Apostolic Letter.

In October that year, Soviet leader Josef Stalin plotted an invasion to establish communism across Europe, thinking America would not intervene and risk nuclear war. The following March,

of Mary’s Stalin died of brain hemorrhage.

Pope Blessed Paul VI was next. As the Second Vatican Council closed on November 21, 1964, he consecrated the world.

That same day, the Chinese Communist Party’s “Red Flag” journal blasted Soviet leaders for continuing rapprochement with the West. That cemented the split between the communist behemoths, gravely weakening the global ideology till its final defeat in the pontificate of St. John Paul II, after his own three consecrations.

On May 13, 1981, the 64th

- parition, the saint survived an assassin’s bullets in St. Peter’s Square. He thanked Mary’s intervention, and likened himself to the “bishop in white” killed in the third Fatima secret.

The Holy Father then “entrusted” the world to the Immaculate Heart on December 8, 1981, the Solemnity of Mary’s Immaculate Conception, and again on May 13, 1982, one year after the attack, the 65th anniversary of Fatima.

Finally, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation on March 25, 1984, St. John Paul II consecrated the world. He omitted mention of Russia, but prayed that Our Lady “enlighten [and] bless those peoples for whom You Yourself are awaiting our act of consecration and entrusting.”

Weeks later, on the very feast of Fatima, May 13, 1984, an explosion at the Soviet arsenal in Severomorsk destroyed two-thirds

prevented the invasion Moscow had plotted when Washington looked set to gain nuclear superiority with the planned “Star Wars” anti-ballistic-missile system.

Three years later, on December 8, 1987, the Immaculate Conception feast, Soviet leader Konstantin Chernenko died. His successor Mikhail Gorbachev launched sweeping reforms, which led to the collapse of Soviet communism four years later.

On December 8, 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved into several democratic states, including Russia.

Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin has restored property seized by communists from the Russian Orthodox Church, which is most fervent in Marian devotion. And Russian state enterprises are funding the building of Orthodox churches.

As Mary promised, consecration averted war and converted Russia.

One more Fatima tale: On June 5, 2017, her international pilgrim image visited the Demilitarized Zone dividing Korea, amid fears of world war over the North’s nuclear missiles < https://youtu.be/ IwOFWEChyyI >. One year and one week later, on June 12, 2018, American and North Korean leaders, who had threatened war just months ago, will talk peace.

Pray daily the Act of Consecration to protect our nation and our world. Amen.