...and that mysterious promise "Russia will be converted". Bl. John Paul took it seriously and became the "Fatima Pope". And...well...look what's happening.. churches full, Christian traditions and feast-days publicly honoured with big celebrations...latest development : a relic of "St Andrew's Cross" was brought to St Petersberg to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Russian fleet, and crowds have lined up in their thousands and thousands to venerate it at cities across Russia and Belarus, some waiting for up to nine hours, in a massive display of public Christianity...read more here...
For years, people across the world prayed "for the conversion of Russia". We didn't really imagine what it would be like when it happened...
Life for most Russians is fairly grim: poor housing, poor healthcare, Mafia crime, high levels of alcohol abuse... Christianity is a message of hope and gives a sense of tradition and a framework in which to rethink Russian history and the ghastly events of the 20th century. And it is in no small measure all bound up with Russian nationalism.
The promises of Fatima did not suggest that everything would be perfect, but stated that the conversion would occur. And it is occurring.
One irony is that it is now the West that needs conversion...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
It sounds silly, but I was a child during the Cold War, and I really thought that Russia was too big a country for Mary to handle.
Post a Comment