Book Review: FATIMA--The Apparition That Changed The World by Jean Heimann

IT MAKES SENSE TO ME

By Larry Peterson

 There are hundreds of stories and books about Our Lady of Fatima that are available. Honestly, I have read only a few of the books and probably filled my need with scores of shorter stories and news events.  So when I was asked to review this book I never expected such a blessing to be coming my way. This book is absolutely sensational in its presentation,  stunning to look at and just plain, for lack of a better word, wonderful to read.

Author, Jean Heimann, has managed to somehow transport us into a centennial celebration of this remarkable story. I found myself having an actual uplifting experience as I mentally joined so many others who were at Fatima during the centennial celebration. I'm not kidding folks.

This book is a hardcover gem of 126 pages. It is only six inches wide by eight inches high and is perfect for a child's hands. This book drags you in and moves you along through stunning pictures (over 75 of them) and simple to read content. You do not even realize it but you go to Fatima.

When you flip open the book you are greeted by facing pages of the statue of the Pilgrim Virgin, standing on a mound of white roses with hundreds of lit candles spread in front of you, candles held aloft by thousands upon thousands of people. You are welcomed in for the journey.

The book begins with a timeline which takes us from 1916 (when the Angel of Peace visits the children)  across the century finishing on October 13, 2017, the 100th Anniversary of the final apparition and the Miracle of the Sun. Accessing this timeline as you go through the book is a wonderful and easy way to keep on top of significant reference points as you travel through the book and makes it much easier to explain to small children.

Short biographies and photos of the three seers take you with them into the Cova da Iria. We stand behind them during the apparitions brought into the scene by magnificent paintings and photographs. We suffer along with Francisco and Jacinta as influenza takes them to heaven while still children. We journey with Lucia as she enters the convent at the age of 18. In December,  Our Lady and the Child Jesus appeared to her. I will let you have the pleasure of reading what They said to her for yourself.

There is even a history of the Popes who were involved with Fatima starting with Pope Pius XI. It is interesting to note that Pius XI was not the pope at the time of the apparitions but the children knew of him. Pope Benedict XV was pope at the time. The children knew of Pius XI (who did not become pope until 1922) because our Lady had told them of him.

I am going to stop here. This book is too beautiful for me to keep giving away its context. But I will share one more tidbit that I personally fell in love with. On page 84 is a picture of Pope St. John Paul II. In the picture, he is standing in front of a statue of the Pilgrim Virgin. He is obviously praying. But he has his hand extended seemingly touching her on her right arm. His right hand is covering his heart. His head leans forward as if he is speaking to her. The statue's head is leaning forward as if Our Lady is intently listening to him. I love this picture. You might get a copy of the book just for that one page.

Well done Jean Heiman. You hit it "out of the park" with this. I'm sure Mother Mary is smiling at you from ear to ear.

Book: FATIMA: The Apparition That Changed The World
By Jean Heimann;    http://www.jeanmheimann.com              
Publisher: TAN Books   



                               copyright©Larry Peterson 2017

Although Pregnant, Imprisoned and Severely Abused, She Refused to Deny her Faith*

IT MAKES SENSE TO ME

By Larry Peterson

In 1936,  Civil War erupted in Spain after the Nationalists, led by General Francisco Franco, overthrew the government run by the left-leaning leaders of the Second Spanish Republic. What followed was a period in Spanish history that is known as the "Red Terror".

During the three year period of 1936 thru 1939, tens of thousands of people were murdered by those on the secularized "left" as  this faction enacted an anti-clerical reign of terror against religion and all things Catholic, especially the clergy, who they hated more than can be imagined. The violence was even directed to churches and monasteries and many were burned and pillaged.simply out of hatred.

 What follows is the story, not about a priest or a nun but, rather, about a gypsy girl whose name was Emilia Fernandez Rodriguez. On March 25 of this year, Emilia joined the ranks of those honored as martyrs from the Spanish Civil War. In addition, she will become the first gypsy woman ever beatified by the Catholic Church.

Blessed Emilia Fernandez Rodriguez:  infocatolica.com

Juan Jose Fernandez and his wife, Pilar Rodriguez, were gypsy people who lived in  a "grotto" (cave) in Tijola, Spain. On April 13, 1914, Pilar gave birth to a girl and she was named Emilia. Emilia, the second of three children,  was baptized on the same day of her birth in the Church of Santa Maria. As Emilia began to grow she was taught how to make wicker baskets. This was how the family earned their living.

Juan Fernandez and his wife were survivors. They had no political ideology and worked hard at their meager wicker basket business trying to live their lives as quietly as possible. So did most of the other gypsy people. When the Civil War of 1936 erupted there was no reason for the gypsies to feel in any way endangered. They just kept living their lives doing the best they could with what they had. But circumstances sometimes reach out and grab hold of the unsuspecting and pull them into a world they could never have imagined.

In 1938 Emilia entered into a marriage contract with Juan Cortes, who was her distant cousin and a year younger than Emilia. Emilia's new husband was apolitical and, like Emilia, did not care one bit about either side involved in the Civil War. But those on the "left" thought differently. They demanded that Juan Cortes join their ranks.

Juan had Emilia help him concoct a potion to rub in his eyes causing a temporary case of blindness.  His ruse worked and the powers to be considered him unfit for service. But his "blindness" began to clear up. When the soldiers came back and discovered that Juan could see again they were outraged. They knew Juan had tricked them.

 He and Emilia were immediately arrested and both sent off to prison to await trial.  The date was June 21, 1938.  A few weeks later, on July 9, 1938, Emilia was tried in "court" and sentenced to six years in prison. She was absolutely terrified. She was pregnant and feared for her baby's life.

Emilia felt completely alone in the dank, smelly confines of the prison. She tried to avoid the other inmates but her youth and vulnerability drew the sympathy of some of them. One girl, whose name was Lola and was about the same age as Emilia, was able to befriend her. Lola was a devout Catholic and began teaching Emilia about the faith she knew so little of.

Lola made sure that Emilia made the sign of the Cross properly and taught her the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be. Emilia was soon participating in praying the Rosary with some of the others. She even learned to say "ora pro nobis" in response to the litanies being said in Latin. Soon, the commander of the prison, Pilar Salmeron Martinez, found out that Emilia, the uneducated, ignorant gypsy girl, could pray the Rosary. He was determined to find out who had the audacity to teach her.

Martinez called her into his office and demanded she tell him who taught her to pray. He even told Emilia that he would not only get her released from prison but would also get Juan out of his prison. He told her to think of her "poor baby" and how living in a prison cell was no place for a child. Martinez considered Emilia weak and was sure she would agree. He was wrong.

Emilia's faith was beginning to sprout strong and true. She was only 24 years old, was afraid and pregnant yet she would not reveal the name of Lola. Furious at this "gypsy girl", Martinez ordered her into solitary confinement. He also ordered Lola to be thrown into solitary also. He knew she was the "troublemaker" who was teaching prayers to the inmates. The conditions in solitary were horrendous.

Winter came and the evil Martinez, still trying to 'break" Emilia, cut her already meager food rations. The young woman was getting weaker and sicker by the day and her baby was soon to be full term. At two o'clock in the morning of January 13, Emilia gave birth to a girl on the  floor of her filthy cell. That same afternoon Lola baptized the baby. Emilia and her baby were taken to the hospital. Four days later they were returned to the prison.

Emilia became so ill that they had to return her to the hospital. She died on January 25th, never having turned on the one who had taught her to pray the Rosary. They dumped her body into a common, unmarked grave. No one ever knew what happened to the child. It is assumed she was put up for adoption.

The Catholic Church leaves no doubt that those who die from inhumanity inflicted upon them because of the 'hatred" of their faith are considered martyrs and attain beatification immediately. Many Catholics have died because of "hatred', especially in Nazi and communist internment camps. This is known as "in odium fidei" which means "in hatred of the faith".

Blessed Emilia Fernandez Rodriguez, please pray for us.

*This also appeared in Aleteia on April 11, 2017

                                  ©Copyright larry Peterson 2017 All Rights Reserved