Chapter Twenty Two
FOUR DIVISIONS
This holy "Bishop of the Queen of the World" is saying that all-every single person including even small children!-are being asked by Our Lady to offer themselves to the Heart of Jesus, through Her Immaculate Heart, to draw men from the reign of Satan and to destroy that reign.
It is interesting that MOST of the lay apostles we have encountered had their beginning, or were at least a part of, the Blue Army-that army of which the first Cardinal of the Church under three Popes (Cardinal Tisserant) said:
"Does not the Queen need Her army to win the battle against Satan?"
It is a massive battle. It is apocalyptic. It calls for a universal response. And we will all be held responsible if we do not respond.
Our Lady said at Akita that if we do not act, and a chastisement "worse than the deluge" must come, "the GOOD will be destroyed with the bad."
The good people (Pius XI described them as "more or less faithful") will deserve it because they are the ones who did not prevent it. The Pope (as quoted above by Our Lady's Bishop) said: "The Catholic who does not live really and sincerely according to the Faith he professes will not long be master of himself in these days when the winds of strife and persecution blow so fiercely, and will be swept away defenseless in this new deluge which threatens the world." (From the encyclical on Atheistic Communism.)
A Diversified Army of Response
Since Pope Pius XI said this solemnly in an encyclical to all the bishops and faithful of the world, the better part of a century has passed, including eighty years of widespread lack of adequate response to the Fatima message.
In the short time we may have left for an adequate response, is there much hope that we will touch the hearts of most Catholics?
If we answer realistically that there is not much hope, then what else can we do? The Sacred Hearts have told us. We can persuade those who know to form an elite corps to make up in quality (spiritual fighting skill) what may be lacking in quantity.
As a well-diversified army, we can attack the enemy on different levels. We can back up the first division of those thousands who are willing to take the first step of consecration to the Sacred Hearts with three other divisions, one stronger than the other!
The First Division
The first and biggest division is put in the field simply by an act of consecration. We recruit them just by asking: "Would you like to put your name in Our Lady's Heart?" And get them to sign their name for that purpose.
The next stronger force is made of those who pledge to wear the Scapular as a sign of that consecration, with the Morning Offering enforced by daily recitation of the Rosary. This division alone, if in sufficient number, would gain the field. They have already, in fulfillment of the prophecy of Bl. Padre Pio, obtained the "miraculous" change in Russia and brought us into the third day.
"Sufficient Number"
We have been encouraged to believe in a "sufficient number" by the prophecy of Bl. Padre Pio, who said: "Russia will be converted when there is a Blue Army member for every Communist." Some twenty-five million have made the Blue Army pledge, and another million were added in the Philippines the very year before the collegial consecration.
The Communists (who personified the forces of militant atheism) had been diminishing while Our Lady's Army was moving, however slowly, ahead. In 1984, the collegial consecration was made and the cold war ended.
We asked Sister Lucia if this meant that the world would now avoid the "annihilation of nations" of which Our Lady spoke at Fatima. She said the consecration would have its effect, "but the Blue Army will have much to do." She revealed that due to the consecration, atomic war was avoided in 1985.
That is also when she said: "The Fatima week has just begun...we are in the third day."
The Third Division
Now is the time when Our Lady's spiritual army has "much" to do. And it is necessary to call up that special third division of Communions of Reparation.
Many Catholics have already made Communions of Reparation on nine consecutive First Fridays. Now they are asked to make them on First Saturdays. Already in a previous chapter, we have explained the importance and urgency of the First Saturdays. If Bl. Padre Pio could predict the change in Russia when a sufficient number were fulfilling the Fatima (Blue Army) pledge, can we not say now that the tidal wave of evil will be turned back when there are sufficient First Saturday Communions of Reparation?
Unfortunately, after more than half a century, despite the example set by the Pope and despite all other efforts, few are making the First Saturdays. Many (often even priests) seem not even to know about them.
Elizabeth Szanto, to whom Our Lady revealed the message of Her Flame of Love, asked: "Why don't you perform miracles so people believe you, as you did at Fatima?" Our Lady answered sadly:
"My daughter, even if I were to perform great miracles, people would not believe. I asked for the First Saturdays and who paid any attention to My requests?"
And Our Lady was shedding tears.
It is time to add the fourth division, the elite corps!
The Elite Corps
The ultimate fighting division, as we have said, is made up of those who make the Vigils of the Two Hearts, beginning with Mass of the Sacred Heart on the evening of the First Friday and spending several hours with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus in the exposed Blessed Sacrament, concluding with Mass of the Immaculate Heart and the second Communion of Reparation on First Saturday morning.
This fourth division of Our Lady's spiritual army (adding First Friday/Saturday vigils to basic pledge) can quickly obtain the victory if pursued vigorously even by the few who may read this book.
We have already spoken at some length of the First Saturdays with a mention of the vigils. Let us add a few more words about the vigilers.
On the Calvary of Lourdes
After coming upon an English all-night vigil group in Fatima in 1956, and then three years later running into them at 2:00 in the morning with their arms outstretched before the grotto of Lourdes, I was convinced that HERE was the final heroic practice of the prayer and sacrifice which could change the course of history. Here was what might ultimately balance the scales of Divine Justice. Here was the ultimate response to the requests of the Sacred Hearts.
Ten years later, after having myself made many vigils, it was in the chapel at Paray-le-Monial (where Our Lord revealed His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary) that I felt inspired to write a book about it.
That book, Night of Love, became so much in demand that when the last printing was exhausted, many people made photocopies. Others repaired their copies with tape and used them almost to the point of disintegration. Over and over, I received appeals for a new printing. But I felt there was more of this message to come.
Then, in 1992, I received a letter from the housekeeper of a 91 year old priest who wrote:
"Dear Mr. Haffert: You do not know me but I feel I know you. For 58 years, I have been keeping house for Fr. Herman Dietz. Many years ago we ordered two copies of Night of Love which we have been using for Holy Hours ever since.
"Making it Daily"
"Last month, I forgot to bring the books home with me from church. Early next morning I went over before anyone came, but the books were gone. So I am writing for a special favor. Could you send us two more?"
To my surprise, a few days later a letter came from the 91 year old priest himself. In shaky hand, he wrote: "I have used this wonderful book for many years. Recently, after making a First Saturday Holy Hour, I left it in the church. Someone took it. It is so good. I suppose whoever took it liked it and kept it. I am 91 and too old to make an allnight vigil, so I make only a Holy Hour and make it daily."
When we finally published a new edition I quoted these two letters and marveled at all the power of the prayer of that holy old priest and his housekeeper who, no longer able to make vigils, were making up the time with holy hours and Communions of Reparation every day.
Finally, in 1997, we produced an improved edition in witness to the growth of the First Friday-Saturday Communions of Reparation around the world-adding the beautiful revelations of God the Father made known only in recent years.
We could see the unfolding of the devotion of the Two Hearts glowing on the horizon. We could rejoice in hope with Sister Lucia: "The triumph is an ongoing process."
Were not the increasing number of First Friday/Saturday vigils a sign of the ultimate success of God's effort to wrest mankind from the reign of Satan through the flaming love of the Sacred Hearts?
This and other books by John M. Haffert
God's
Final Effort | Too Late? | The Day I Didn't Die