Let’s Call on Our Superhero!
As a child, I loved superhero TV shows and comic books. They made everything seem so simple. Arch villain on the loose? Police can’t stop him? What to do? Easy, call Batman on the bat phone!
As a child, I loved superhero TV shows and comic books. They made everything seem so simple. Arch villain on the loose? Police can’t stop him? What to do? Easy, call Batman on the bat phone! Giant alien monster knocking down skyscrapers in Tokyo? No problem. Get Ultraman on the scene! Superheroes such as these helped give me a sense of security. The outcome of their battles was never really in doubt, no matter how bleak the situation seemed. Good would surely triumph over evil, because… well… my favourite superhero was invincible!
I believe that if we can imagine something, such as a god-like, invincible superhero, it is because it symbolizes something that is true. Now, I don’t mean that Spiderman, Superman or Iron Man really exist, but that God really exists. He is all-knowing, omnipresent, and all-powerful. In the Batman TV show, Commissioner Gordon had a special phone he used to call Batman whenever super-criminals threatened Gotham City. How do we Christians call on our Superhero? Through prayer, of course. Especially, through the Rosary.
For many years, I worked as a communication specialist at the top level of church organizations. I’ve witnessed the forces of good attempting to overcome the forces of evil, with very little success. I believe that we are failing because we are not calling on our Superhero, the way He wants us to call on Him.
You may be familiar with the story of Fatima. Our Lady appeared to three peasant children in Portugal during the First World War. She requested that the Pope, together with all the world’s bishops, consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart. Many Catholics, including myself, believe that this was never done exactly the way Mary requested. There have been consecrations of the world to her Immaculate Heart, but no consecration specifically of Russia by the Pope and all his bishops.
As I look at world events and the course of modern history, I am filled with angst. Government debt in some advanced countries has reached crisis proportions. Certain central banks are reacting by creating huge amounts of new money, which threatens to debase currencies. The “war on terrorism” and the implementation of “political correctness” are undermining our freedoms. Russia and China are, I believe, gaining power while the United States is becoming weaker every day. Abortion, contraception, divorce, sexual immorality, pornography, drug abuse, gambling addiction, big-brother government, financial manipulation and war are threatening to destroy our civilization. Human institutions, including religious leaders, seem powerless to stem this tide of evil.
Who will save humanity? Only God can, and He will only act if Our Lady of Fatima’s requests are heeded by Holy Mother Church. At Fatima, Mary gave us reason to hope. “In the end,” she said, “my Immaculate Heart will triumph.” The Pope and his bishops, she said, would do the consecration as she requested, but, “it will be late.” It is late. Please pray for the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Note: It is my opinion that the consecration of Russia has never been done exactly as Our Lady of Fatima requested. This is not necessarily the opinion of Saint Gabriel’s News Room.