The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-03-06
JOSEPH BREIC-
Takes Only
One just Man

Each week this column of mine is published in
so many Catholic newspapers that several million
persons have the chance to read it.
How many do so, | have no way of knowing.
| am not unduly concerned on that score. II there
is anything that history teaches in very large type,
1t is the fact that the great changes in the world
usually are brought about by the comparative few.
try never TO forget that God was willing to spare
a wicked city from destruction if but one just man
could be found living there.
The story is told in the Old Testament. 1t was
written about people thousands of years ago. Today
you and are living in the midst of a similar story.
FORTY-TWo ago, God sent the Virgin
Mary to a village in Portugal to tell mankind how
peace can be obtained for our planet.
Nobody realized then how dispensable peace soon
would be. But now we know. A war in our time, thanks
to our new weapons. could wipe out civilization.
Possibly it could even make the earth ~uninhabit-
able.
One airplane today can stand off, hundreds or
thousands of miles away, and unerringly strike cities
dead.
A submarine, lurking invisible under the sea, can
pour nuclear devastation upon population centers at
RALLlsTic MISSILE IS can be loosed from under
ground launching sites to carry atomic explosives to
the heart of a nation.
These are some of the methods of death and des-
truction that we know about. There are others that
are top secret"-We can only speculate about them.
There is no use trying to delude ourselves that
these forces cannot be let loose upon us. Inevitably
they will be let loose unless God restraints them.
The Virgin Mary, at Fatima in Portugal, told us,
through three shepherd children, how we can insure
that the divine restraints will be applied and will con-
tnue. She said:
People must pray the Rosary"
She asked that individuals and nations consce-
crate themselves to her Immaculate Heart.
She urged that we make the sacrifices necessary
for our state in life.
And she pledged the graces we need at the hour
of death If we will receive Communion and pray the
Rosary on the first Saturday of five consecutive
months, to make reparation for mankinds sins and
ours.
Our Lady entrusted three secrets to the shep-
herd children, to be made known at the appropriate
times. .e
outbreak of World War II and the communist persecu-
ton OF the Church, together with the promise that
Russia Will be converted and an era of peace will be
granted to humanity. -
TIE LAST Of the secrets was written and sealed
by Carmelte Sister Mary Immaculate. the onlv one of
the children now living. According to popular belief. it
Will be given to the public next year.
Between now and then, we will be especially dill
gent in fulfilling the requests of Our Lady of Fatima, If
we are people of good sense.
Some of us have done little or nothing thus far.
Some of us, in other words, have been foolish, care
less and slothful.
1t is silly of us to be like that. Indeed, it is, un-
charitable. it is terribly selfish. f.
WE ATHcl'cs have the Church, the sacraments
and sacramentals. the Catholic %devotions, because they
were given to us as free gifts from the Holy Spirit,
who "breatheS wherever He will"
These gifts, valuable beyond words, we're not
given for our good alone. We have a duty towards
others our %neighbors. our countrymen, our fellow
men all around the earth.
1t is our business to draw forth Gods blessings
and protection for them as well as for ourselves.
Very well then; in nine or 10 months 1860 will
be upon us. | hope that what have written will move
at least a few to do their part in fulfilling the urgent
requests of Our Lady of Fatima.