Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 88 No. 2, 2018.
Review article
Christian Eschatology, Private Revelations, and Eschatological Contents of the Fatima Messages (Apparitions)
Ivan Karlić
orcid.org/0000-0002-7550-0857
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
In the extensive introductory and first part of the article, the author presents, in a concise manner, contemporary Catholic teaching on »last things«, i.e. on eschatology and private and public revelations, so that the Fatima events and messages might be better understood in the contemporary context of today’s world. The author believes that private revelations (those recognised by the Church) can be of great help in faith. In that context one ought to understand the Fatima visions and messages, circumstances, facts, and contents that are intermingled with the history of the 20th century. In the central part the author discusses the Fatima events themselves that started to happen in 1917 and consisted of unusual visions of three children that saw »the Lady in white«. Since the event of Fatima apparitions to children Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta on May 13, 1917 is fairly well known, this part only reminds the reader of that event in a concise manner. During six conversations with the Lady, three »secrets« (visions) were revealed to the little children that witnessed apparitions, of which the third one roused and still rouses most interest and discussions. The author offers a translation of contents of all three Fatima visions (»secrets«) and then elaborates on the Christian understanding and interpretation of the eschatological state called Hell, because the central message and contents of the Fatima eschatological vision, in author’s opinion, revolves around this. In the final part of the article, the author offers a few contemporary interpretations and understandings of the Fatima events, understood as »prophetic events«. He emphasises reflections and writings of a few authors who offer, in his opinion, valuable contributions to understanding what happened in Fatima. The author concludes that spiritual interpretations of the Fatima revelations are still open, that the Fatima message remains current, and that a »serious signal« was emitted from Fatima. This signal opposes widely reigning imprudence and indifferentism, summons us to seriousness of life and history, to responsibility, and warns of dangers that threaten the humanity.)
Keywords
eschatology; private revelations; Fatima apparitions; Fatima »secrets«
Hrčak ID:
204179
URI
Publication date:
26.7.2018.
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