FT Chapter 14 (Keep Trying)
Sr. Lucia with Pope Paul VI
There were two parts to what Our Lady asked for: We covered the first with the Five First Saturdays Devotion. But Our Lady asked for something else. She asked that the Holy Father Consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart in union with the Bishops of the world (Fatima for Today, 144). Sr. Lucia set about this task.
There is a phrase that comes to mind while reading this chapter. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Sr. Lucia was encouraged by the Lord, Our Lady and others to continue to ask the Holy Fathers to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart. Some made attempts, but as we have seen in this chapter none of the Holy Fathers while making the consecration did it in union with the bishops of the world. So at least in this chapter, the consecration was not made. Still, Sr. Lucia persisted in asking for this to be done. Pope Pius XII was the one that came closest to consecrating Russia (the world) to the Immaculate Heart, but he did not do it in union with the Bishops of the world (Fatima for Today, 154).
In the next chapter we will see that the consecration was made by Pope John Paul II.