[Robert Drobot]

CALENDAR of the SAINTS Anno Dómini 17 July 2011 Ceiling Paintings of Balilihan Roman Catholic church "....and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. ~ ~ Apocalypse Α ☧ Ω Saint Acyllinus of Scillium, Martyr One of a group of twelve Christians martyred together A.D. 17 July 180 in Scillium, Numidia (in North Africa), the final deaths in the persecutions of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Upon their conviction for the crime of being Christians, the group was offered 30 days to reconsider their allegiance to the faith; they all declined. Their official Acta still exist. One of the Martyrs of Scillium. Α ☧ Ω Saint Alexandra, Martyr Α ☧ Ω Saint Alexius, Martyr The only son of a wealthy Christian Roman senator. The young man wanted to devote himself to God, but his parents arranged a marriage for him. On his wedding day his fiancee agreed to release him and let him follow his vocation. He fled his parent‘s home disguised as a beggar, and lived near a church in Syria. A vision of Our Lady at the church pointed him out as exceptionally holy, calling him the “Man of God”. This drew attention to him, which caused him to return to Rome, Italy where he would not be known. He came as a beggar to his own home. His parents did not recognize him, but were kind to all the poor, and let him stay there. Alexis lived for seventeen years in a corner under the stairs, praying, and teaching catechism to small children. At his death an unseen voice was heard to proclaim him ‘The Man of God’, and afterwards his family found a note on his body which told them who he was and how he had lived his life of penance from the day of his wedding until then, for the love of God. Α ☧ Ω Saint Andrew Zorard, Martyr A hermit of Polish descent. Andrew lived on Mount Zobar in Hungary. Benedictines resided nearby, and Andrew trained Saint Benedict of Szkalka. He was canonized A.D. 1083. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Anne Petras, Martyr Carmelite nun, professed on 22 October 1786.Sang in the convent choir. One of the Carmelite Martyrs of Compiegne guillotined A.D. 17 July 1794 at the Place du Trône Renversé (modern Place de la Nation in Paris, France. Α ☧ Ω Saint Ansueris, Martyr Benedictine martyr with twenty-eight companions. Saint Ansueris was a nobleman and abbot of Saint Georgenberg Abbey, near Ratzburg, in Denmark. He and twenty-eight other monks were stoned to death by the Wends following the death of Emperor Henry III. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Antoinette Roussel, Martyr One of the Carmelite nuns martyred in Paris by the French Revolution. Sixteen Cannelites were guillotined in Paris, ascending the scaffolds while singing "Veni Creator". They had been arrested for living in a religious community. On July 12 the Carmelites were taken to Paris and martyred A.D. 17 July 1794. In 1906, these nuns were beatified. Α ☧ Ω Carmelite Martyrs of Compiegne, Martyrs They are: Blessed Anne-Marie-Madeleine Thouret Blessed Anne Petras Blessed Marie-Geneviève Meunier Blessed Rose-Chrétien de la Neuville Blessed Euphrasia of the Immaculate Conceptiont Blessed Mother Teresa of Saint Augustine, prioress Blessed Marie-Anne Brideau Blessed Sister of Jesus Crucified Blessed Sister Teresa of the Holy Heart of Mary Blessed Mother Henriette of Jesus Blessed Sister Teresa of Saint Ignatius There were also three lay sisters: Blessed Sister Mary of the Holy Ghost Blessed Sister Saint Francis Xavier Blessed Sister Saint Martha and two tourières, who were not Carmelites at all but servants at the nunnery: Catherine Soiron Teresa Soiron both of whom had been in the service of the community since A.D. 1772. These sixteen are the first Catholic martyrs of the French Revolution to have been recognized. Guillotined A.D. 17 July 1794 at the Place du Trône Renversé ( modern : Place de la Nation ) in Paris, France. Before their execution they knelt and chanted the "Veni Creator", as at a profession, after which they all renewed aloud their baptismal and religious vows. The heads and bodies of the martyrs were interred in a deep sand-pit about thirty feet square in a cemetery at Picpus. As this sand-pit was the receptacle of the bodies of 1298 victims of the Revolution, there seems to be no hope of their relics being recovered. Five secondary relics are in the possession of the Benedictines of Stanbrook, Worcestershire. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Ceslas Odrowaz, Martyr Relative, possibly the brother, of Saint Hyacinth. Studied at Prague and Bologna.Ordained in Cracow. Doctor of canon law and of theology. Canon of the cathedral at Cracow. Provost of Sandomir. Noted spiritual advisor. Friar Preacher, receiving the habit from Saint Dominic himself. Director of vocations at the Dominican convent at Prague; when the congregation outgrew the convent, Ottakar I built them a larger one. Content that he had established a firm foundation in Prague, Ceslas returned to Breslau where he received a hero's welcome from the public and church officials. Spiritual director of Saint Hedwig of Poland. Travelling preacher through Moravia, Saxony, Prussia, and Pomerania. Noted for teaching the warrior class to practice Christian charity while pursuing a violent career. His prayers cured many, including the blind and mute, and reportedly brought a drowned child back to life. The successful resistance of the Mongols by the people of Breslau in 1240 is attributed to the prayers of Ceslas. Ceslas was well-known and highly regarded throughout the region during and after his lifetime. However, when non-Catholics took over Silesia many years later, primary records concerning him were burned. Ceslas's Cause for beatification was brought more than once before the Congregation. The lack of the original records, and the rather extraordinary nature of the claims made for him, caused the Congregation to delay approval for many decades. Α ☧ Ω Saint Cittinus Α ☧ Ω Saint Clement of Ohrid Student of Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius in Moravia and Panonia. Building on their work, he helped found Slavic literature and culture in Macedonia. He was the first Slavic writer, translated dozens of works, wrote a biography of Saints Cyril and Methodius, and founded the first Slavic university in Ohrid. Friend of Saint Naum. Served in the Bulgarian court. Taught from 886 to 893 at Kutmicevica, being a great influence on over 3,000 students, many of whom became priests and spread the Slavic liturgy through the region. Spiritual teacher of Saint Constantine the Presbyter.Bishop of Belica, the first organised Slav Church on the Balkan Peninsula.Bishop of Ohrid. Founded Saint Pantaleimonth's monastery. Α ☧ Ω Saint Cynllo Several churches are dedicated to this saint in Wales, but no details about him have survived. Α ☧ Ω Saint Cythinus of Scillium, Martyr One member of a group of twelve Christians martyred together, the final deaths in the persecutions of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Upon their conviction for the crime of being Christians, the group was offered 30 days to reconsider their allegiance to the faith; they all declined. All were martyred A.D. 17 July 180 in Scillium, Numidia ( in North Africa ). Their official Acta still exist. Saint Cythinus is one of the Martyrs of Scillium. Α ☧ Ω Saint Donata of Scillium, Martyr One member of a group of twelve Christians martyred together, the final deaths in the persecutions of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Upon their conviction for the crime of being Christians, the group was offered 30 days to reconsider their allegiance to the faith; they all declined. All were martyred A.D. 17 July 180 in Scillium, Numidia ( in North Africa ). Their official Acta still exist. Saint Donata is one of the Martyrs of Scillium. Α ☧ Ω Saint Felix of Scillium, Martyr One member of a group of twelve Christians martyred together, the final deaths in the persecutions of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Upon their conviction for the crime of being Christians, the group was offered 30 days to reconsider their allegiance to the faith; they all declined. All were martyred A.D. 17 July 180 in Scillium, Numidia ( in North Africa ). Their official Acta still exist. Saint Felix is one of the Martyrs of Scillium. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Frances Brideau, Martyr One of the Carmelite nuns martyred in Paris by the French Revolution. Sixteen Cannelites were guillotined in Paris, ascending the scaffolds while singing "Veni Creator". They had been arrested for living in a religious community. On July 12 the Carmelites were taken to Paris and martyred A.D. 17 July 1794. In 1906, these nuns were beatified. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Frances de Croissy, Martyr One of the Carmelite nuns martyred in Paris by the French Revolution. Sixteen Cannelites were guillotined in Paris, ascending the scaffolds while singing "Veni Creator". They had been arrested for living in a religious community. On July 12 the Carmelites were taken to Paris and martyred A.D. 17 July 1794. In 1906, these nuns were beatified. Α ☧ Ω Saint Fredegand of Kerkelodor Spiritual student of Saint Foillan of Fosses. Monk and then abbot at Kerkelodor Abbey near Antwerp, Belgium. Α ☧ Ω Saint Generosa of Scillium, Martyr One member of a group of twelve Christians martyred together, the final deaths in the persecutions of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Upon their conviction for the crime of being Christians, the group was offered 30 days to reconsider their allegiance to the faith; they all declined. All were martyred A.D. 17 July 180 in Scillium, Numidia ( in North Africa ). Their official Acta still exist. Saint Generosa is one of the Martyrs of Scillium. Α ☧ Ω Saint Generosus, Martyr Martyr, date unknown. No other information has survived. Relics rest at Tivoli, Italy. Α ☧ Ω Saint Gorazd, Martyr One of the Seven Apostles of Bulgaria. Α ☧ Ω Saint Hugh the Little, Martyr Patronage : torture victims. Α ☧ Ω The Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary Α ☧ Ω Saint Hyacinth, Martyr Martyr of Amastria, Paphlagonia. He was put to death for cutting down a tree consecrated to a pagan deity. Α ☧ Ω Saint Januaria of Scillium, Martyr One member of a group of twelve Christians martyred together, the final deaths in the persecutions of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Upon their conviction for the crime of being Christians, the group was offered 30 days to reconsider their allegiance to the faith; they all declined. All were martyred A.D. 17 July 180 in Scillium, Numidia ( in North Africa ). Their official Acta still exist. Saint Generosa is one of the Martyrs of Scillium. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Juliette Verolot, Martyr One of the Carmelite nuns martyred in Paris by the French Revolution. Sixteen Cannelites were guillotined in Paris, ascending the scaffolds while singing "Veni Creator". They had been arrested for living in a religious community. On July 12 the Carmelites were taken to Paris and martyred A.D. 17 July 1794. In 1906, these nuns were beatified. Α ☧ Ω Saint Kenelm of Kenelstowe, England Α ☧ Ω Saint Laetantius of Scillium, Martyr One member of a group of twelve Christians martyred together, the final deaths in the persecutions of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Upon their conviction for the crime of being Christians, the group was offered 30 days to reconsider their allegiance to the faith; they all declined. All were martyred A.D. 17 July 180 in Scillium, Numidia ( in North Africa ). Their official Acta still exist. Saint Lactantius is one of the Martyrs of Scillium. Α ☧ Ω Pope Saint Leo IV Cardinal-priest. 103rd pope. He saw the Saracens attack Rome in 846; upon his ascension, to prevent its recurrence he fortified the city and its suburbs, building a wall around the Vatican, fortifying the part of Rome still called the Leonine City. Rebuilt Saint Peter's. Rebuked Saint Ignatius of Constantinople for deposing bishops without his knowledge. Crowned Louis II joint Holy Roman Emperor with Lothair I in 850. Officiated at the crowning of Alfred, King of England, A.D. 853. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Madeleine Brideau, Martyr One of the Carmelite nuns martyred in Paris by the French Revolution. Sixteen Cannelites were guillotined in Paris, ascending the scaffolds while singing "Veni Creator". They had been arrested for living in a religious community. On July 12 the Carmelites were taken to Paris and martyred A.D. 17 July 1794. In 1906, these nuns were beatified. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Mother Therese of Saint Augustine, Martyr One of the Carmelite nuns martyred in Paris by the French Revolution. Sixteen Cannelites were guillotined in Paris, ascending the scaffolds while singing "Veni Creator". They had been arrested for living in a religious community. On July 12 the Carmelites were taken to Paris and martyred A.D. 17 July 1794. In 1906, these nuns were beatified. Α ☧ Ω Bishop Saint Magnus Felix Ennodius Gallo-Roman. Bishop of Pavia, Italy. Made two diplomatic missions to Constantinople in connection with the Eutychian controversy. Poet and hymnist. Α ☧ Ω Saint Marcellina Daughter of the Roman imperial prefect of Gaul. Sister of Saint Ambrose of Milan and Saint Satyrus, Moved to Rome when very young. Raised by her older brothers. Consecrated virgin, receiving the veil from Pope Liberius on Christmas Day 353 in Saint Peter's Basilica. Never cloistered, she lived with her mother, and in other private homes. Worked with Ambrose in Milan after his consecration as bishop. Noted for such austerities that her brother encourged her to relax in her later years.Ambrose dedicated his treatise on holy virginity to her. Buried in the crypt under the altar of the Ambrosian Basilica. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Marie Claude Brard, Martyr One of the Carmelite nuns martyred in Paris by the French Revolution. Sixteen Cannelites were guillotined in Paris, ascending the scaffolds while singing "Veni Creator". They had been arrested for living in a religious community. On July 12 the Carmelites were taken to Paris and martyred A.D. 17 July 1794. In 1906, these nuns were beatified. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Marie Croissy, Martyr One of the Carmelite nuns martyred in Paris by the French Revolution. Sixteen Cannelites were guillotined in Paris, ascending the scaffolds while singing "Veni Creator". They had been arrested for living in a religious community. On July 12 the Carmelites were taken to Paris and martyred A.D. 17 July 1794. In 1906, these nuns were beatified. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Marie Dufour, Martyr One of the Carmelite nuns martyred in Paris by the French Revolution. Sixteen Cannelites were guillotined in Paris, ascending the scaffolds while singing "Veni Creator". They had been arrested for living in a religious community. On July 12 the Carmelites were taken to Paris and martyred A.D. 17 July 1794. In 1906, these nuns were beatified. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Marie-Geneviève Meunier, Martyr One of the Carmelite nuns martyred in Paris by the French Revolution. Sixteen Cannelites were guillotined in Paris, ascending the scaffolds while singing "Veni Creator". They had been arrested for living in a religious community. On July 12 the Carmelites were taken to Paris and martyred A.D. 17 July 1794. In 1906, these nuns were beatified. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Marie Hanisset, Martyr One of the Carmelite nuns martyred in Paris by the French Revolution. Sixteen Cannelites were guillotined in Paris, ascending the scaffolds while singing "Veni Creator". They had been arrested for living in a religious community. On July 12 the Carmelites were taken to Paris and martyred A.D. 17 July 1794. In 1906, these nuns were beatified. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Marie Trezelle, Martyr One of the Carmelite nuns martyred in Paris by the French Revolution. Sixteen Cannelites were guillotined in Paris, ascending the scaffolds while singing "Veni Creator". They had been arrested for living in a religious community. On July 12 the Carmelites were taken to Paris and martyred A.D. 17 July 1794. In 1906, these nuns were beatified. Α ☧ Ω Archbishop Saint Narzales of Scillium Nephew of Saint Nerses Glaietsi.Bishop.Archbishop of Tarsus. Helped reunify Armenia with the Church of Rome in 1198. Translated many important Church documents into Armenian including the Rule of Saint Benedict, and Saint Gregory’s Dialogues. Α ☧ Ω Saint Nerses Lambronazi, Martyr Α ☧ Ω Saint Nicholas, Alexandra, and Companiions, Martyr Last Romanov rulers of Russia and martyrs. Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra are considered martyrs for the Russian people and were canonized soon after the Russian Orthodox Church was established in exile, following the Russian Revolution and the assassination of the Tsar and his family. Joining the Tsar and Tsarina as saints were their children, Alexis, Tatiana, Olga, Marie, and the famed Anastasia, along with a large number of monks, nuns, and priests who died because of their direct associations with the imperial family. The veneration of the last of the Romanov rulers of Russia has been especially heightened in the last decade, given the collapse of the Soviet Union and the lifting of the oppression against the Orthodox and Catholic Churches in Russia. Α ☧ Ω Bishop Blessed Pavol Gojdic, Martyr Son of the Greek-Catholic priest Štefan Gojdic and Anna Gerberyová. Attended elementary school at Cigelka, Bardejov and Prešov, finishing in 1907.Studied theology at Prešov and then Budapest where he consecrated himself and his work to the Sacred Heart. Finishing his studies on 27 August 1911, he was ordained soon after. Worked briefly as assistant parish priest with his father. Prefect of the eparchial seminary, and taught religion in a higher secondary school. Supervised protocol and the archives in the diocesan curia. Assistant parish priest in Sabinov. Director of the episcopal office in 1919. In a surprise move, he joined the Order of Saint Basil the Great at Cernecia Hora on 20 July 1922, making his vows on 27 January 1923, and taking the name Pavol. Apostolic administrator of Prešov on 14 September 1926; during his installation he said, "" With the help of God I want to be a father to orphans, a support for the poor and consoler to the afflicted."" His first official act was a pastoral letter on the 1100th anniversary of the birth of Saint Cyril, apostle to his people. Bishop on 7 March 1927; his episcopal motto: God is love, let us love Him!Promoted the spiritual life of the clergy and laity. Founded new parishes, and insured proper and valid liturgical celebrations. Built orphanages, founded the Greek-Catholic school in Prešov in 1936, and supported the publications Messenger of the Gospel and Thy Kingdom Come. Great devotion to the Real Presence and the Sacred Heart. Apostolic administrator at Mukacevo in Slovakia on 13 April 1939. Due to difficulties between Pavol and the local government, he tendered his resignation from the position. The Pope refused to accept it, and instead ordained him residential bishop of Prešov on 8 August 1940. On 15 January 1946 he was confirmed in his jurisdiction over the Greek-Catholics in the whole of Czecho-Slovakia. The Church in the region received a serious blow with the seizure of power by the Communists in 1948, and their immediate fight against the Greek-Catholic Church. Bishop Gojdic refused to submit the Greek-Catholics to Russian orthodoxy, or dismantle the Church in accord with Communist ideology. The government isolated him from the clergy and the faithful, and simultaneously tried to bribe him with offers of support and power if he would break from Rome." " I will not deny my faith," he said. ""Do not even come to me." On 28 April 1950, the Communists outlawed the Greek-Catholic Church. Bishop Pavol was imprisoned, and in a show-trial in January 1951, convicted of treason. Sentenced to life without parole and stripped of civil rights, he was moved from prison to prison, constantly abused, praying in silence, and celebrating the liturgy in secret. In the amnesty of 1953, his sentence was commuted to 25 years in prison, which in practical terms was a life sentence. At one point he was advised that he could straight from prison to Prešov, on condition that he become patriarch of the Orthodox church in Czecho-Slovakia; Bishop Pavol explained that this would be a sin against God, a betrayal of the Holy Father, of his conscience and of the persecuted faithful. His sentence continued, the abuse continued, and his health finally broke; he spent his remaining months in the prison hospital ( 17 July 1960 in the prison hospital at Leopoldov of illness and maltreatment received in prison; buried in the prison cemetery with a marker reading only "681";relics translated to Prešov on 29 October 1968;relics relocated to the chapel of the Greek-Catholic Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Prešov on 15 May 1990. ). Bishop Pavol was legally rehabilitated A.D. 27 September 1990, and has posthumously received the Order of T. G. Masaryk - II class, and with the Cross of Pribina - 1st class, one of the great honors of his native land. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Sister Julia Louise of Jesus, Martyr One of the Carmelite nuns martyred in Paris by the French Revolution. Sixteen Cannelites were guillotined in Paris, ascending the scaffolds while singing "Veni Creator". They had been arrested for living in a religious community. On July 12 the Carmelites were taken to Paris and martyred A.D. 17 July 1794. In 1906, these nuns were beatified. Α ☧ Ω Saint Secunda of Scillium, Martyr One member of a group of twelve Christians martyred together, the final deaths in the persecutions of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Upon their conviction for the crime of being Christians, the group was offered 30 days to reconsider their allegiance to the faith; they all declined. All were martyred A.D. 17 July 180 in Scillium, Numidia ( in North Africa ). Their official Acta still exist. Saint Secunda is one of the Martyrs of Scillium. Α ☧ Ω Saint Speratus of Scillium, Martyr One member of a group of twelve Christians martyred together, the final deaths in the persecutions of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Upon their conviction for the crime of being Christians, the group was offered 30 days to reconsider their allegiance to the faith; they all declined. All were martyred A.D. 17 July 180 in Scillium, Numidia ( in North Africa ). Their official Acta still exist. Saint Speratus is one of the Martyrs of Scillium. Α ☧ Ω Blessed Tarsykia Matskiv, Martyr Greek Catholic. Entered the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate on 3 May 1938, taking her vows on 5 November 1940. Made a private vow to her spiritual director that she would give her life for the conversion of Russia and the good of the Church. When the Bolsheviks arrived to destroy her convent, Sister Taryskia was the one who answered the door; she was shot without warning by a Russian soldier at 8am A.D. 17 July 1944. Α ☧ Ω Bishop Saint Theodosius of Auxerre Bishop of Auxerre, France A.D. 507 to 516. Α ☧ Ω Saint Theodota, Martyr Byzantine martyr. A lady of Constantinople, modern Istanbul, Turkey, she was martyred for hiding three icons from imperial officials during the Iconoclast period of Emperor Leo III the Isaurian. Α ☧ Ω Saint Turninus, Martyr Priest. Missionary. Worked with Saint Foillan of Fosses in the Netherlands and near Antwerp, Belgium. Α ☧ Ω Saint Vestina of Scillium, Martyr One member of a group of twelve Christians martyred together, the final deaths in the persecutions of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Upon their conviction for the crime of being Christians, the group was offered 30 days to reconsider their allegiance to the faith; they all declined. All were martyred A.D. 17 July 180 in Scillium, Numidia ( in North Africa ). Their official Acta still exist. Saint Vestina is one of the Martyrs of Scillium. Α ☧ Ω Saint Veturius of Scillium, Martyr One member of a group of twelve Christians martyred together, the final deaths in the persecutions of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Upon their conviction for the crime of being Christians, the group was offered 30 days to reconsider their allegiance to the faith; they all declined. All were martyred A.D. 17 July 180 in Scillium, Numidia ( in North Africa ). Their official Acta still exist. Saint Veturius is one of the Martyrs of Scillium. Α ☧ Ω

[Robert Drobot]

The Consecration of Russia Holy Mother, in this age of shameless and defiant impiety, when humanity dares to mock God, even within the walls of Holy Mother Church, we implore the fulfillment of the Will of God that thou didst manifest to the children of Fatima, and especially the decree given by thee to Sister Lucia; for we thy seed well know that His Will hath not been fulfilled; we also know these commands of God Almighty hath not been heeded by the sovereign Pontiffs of our age. For our sake, holy Mother, render an oblation of prayer to thy Son; words of consolation and intercession on our behalf, and plead the wrath of God not deepen upon His Church and the world. Send forth thy legions to usher in the triumph of the Will of God thou didst make manifest at Fatima. In the apparition of July 13, Our Lady warned the three seers that if people did not stop offending God, He would punish the world "by means of war, hunger and persecution of the Church and of the Holy Father," using Russia as His chosen instrument of chastisement. She told the children that "to prevent this, I shall come to ask for the Consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart" and promised that, by this single public act, Russia would be converted and peace would be given to the world. The Mother of God cautioned that if Her requests were not granted, "Russia will spread its errors throughout the world, raising up wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer and various nations will be annihilated." True to Her word, Our Lady reappeared to Sister Lucy on June 13, 1929 at Tuy, Spain, when in a great and sublime vision representing the Blessed Trinity, She announced that "the moment has come for God to ask the Holy Father to make, in union with all the bishops of the world, the Consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart. By this means, He promises to save Russia." When God sent Our Lady to convey His command that Russia be consecrated, it seems clear that He expected swift obedience from the Pope and bishops. The pastors of the Church, however, chose to delay and, on August 19, 1931, Our Lord Himself appeared to Sister Lucy in Rianjo, Spain and expressed His displeasure, saying "make it known to My ministers that, given they follow the example of the King of France in delaying the execution My command, they will follow him also into misfortune." Our Lord's warning is a grave one indeed, referring as it does to His command, through Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, to the King of France that he consecrate his nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The King chose to ignore the command and thus condemned his dynasty and throne to the horrors of revolution, chaos and the guillotine. The Blessed Virgin's request for the Consecration of Russia remains one of the most controversial aspects of the entire Fatima Message. While several popes have undertaken consecrations of the world since the request was made public ( including Pope John Paul II in 1982 and 1984 ), sadly, none of these have fulfilled the specific requirements of Our Lord and Our Lady's requests. In repeated visits to Sister Lucy, Heaven's King and Queen have insisted that it is Russia (and Russia only) that is to be the object of this public act of obedience and prayer. In addition, Our Lord and Our Lady have indicated that the Holy Father is to be joined in the act of consecration by all the Catholic bishops of the world on the same day and at the same time in their respective dioceses. Interestingly, only Pope Pius XII's consecration of the world in 1942 included substantial involvement of the bishops. Sister Lucy has written that this imperfect act of obedience, while not fulfilling Our Lady's Fatima request, nevertheless hastened the end of the Second World War, thus sparing the lives of tens of millions of souls. In response to Sister Lucy's question why He would not convert Russia without the Holy Father consecrating that nation to His Mother's Immaculate Heart, Our Lord replied "Because I want My whole Church to acknowledge that consecration as a triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary so that it may extend its cult later and put the devotion of the Immaculate Heart beside the devotion to My Sacred Heart." Click this link for more information on the Consecration of Russia Also see : Petition to Benedict XVI to consecrate Russia as instructed by The Queen of Heaven and Earth.