There is a very strong link between the history of Russia and the messages that the Virgin Mary left humanity in her apparitions in Fatima. In fact, on July 13, 1929, Our Lady asked for the conversion of Russia and for it to be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart, to impede the spread of its "poisonous branches" throughout the world. Russia was not consecrated and, in fact, it is symbolic that a few months later the October Revolution broke out.
Now that we witness in Russia the rebirth of the Christian faith it is necessary to reread these messages of Fatima and to understand Mary's power of intercession.
ZENIT: Father Cesare, why did Our Lady speak specifically of Russia in her apparitions?
Father Cuomo: Because Russia was the nucleus from which that atheistic materialist ideology sprang that intended to remove God from the life of men, from society and from everything, through a harsh program of conquest. Our Lady herself said: "The poisons will spread from Russia throughout the world and nations will be destroyed." Unfortunately all these evils, in fact, spread beyond the Soviet Empire.
ZENIT: Hence there is no solution?
Father Cuomo: On the contrary, the Virgin has given us the remedy: her Immaculate Heart. Through true devotion, which does not mean only the recitation of certain prayers, but really putting oneself at the service of Mary, we can cover, clean little by little, all the poison spread. At times I like to think that there was a strong wave of evil, but at the same time the Heavens did not remain still, but threw an even bigger "rod," the heart of Our Lady, to absorb all this. The act of consecration that John Paul II carried out in 2000, entrusting the Third Millennium to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, confirmed this: Our Lady's heart is the support of humanity and the anchor of salvation for this century.
ZENIT: What does "Consecration to the Immaculate Heart" mean?
Father Cuomo: It is a reference to our baptismal consecration, as well as an aid to live it more profoundly under the guidance of Our Lady, our Mother, whom the Lord has given to us as a particular support to come closer to Jesus. The Christian must enter the "radius of action" of this very good, holy Mother, if he wishes to be really conformed to Jesus. In fact, it would be somewhat unnatural not to do so. ... The visionaries say that together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary must also be venerated. Among other things, this was an explicit request of Our Lady herself.
ZENIT: What is the "connection" between saying the Hail Mary 50 times and peace in the world?
Father Cuomo: Through the rosary, Our Lady changes your heart: She brings you to penetrate better into the mysteries of Jesus' life not only in thought but also leading you little by little to see these mysteries with her own heart. Moreover, the rosary gives one the capacity to see where good and evil are, to be more easily aware of where there is lying, deceit; in a certain sense, it is a protection! In addition I see that, often, after having recited the rosary I feel spontaneously a Eucharistic desire, to be in communion with Jesus. Hence, through the rosary and all the other practices connected with it, the Virgin continues to generate Christ spiritually in the life of the faithful.
