Chapter 4
At the time of the six apparitions at the Cova Francisco was a young boy, barely nine years of age. During the apparitions, when our Lady spoke to the children, both Lucy and Jacinta heard Her words but only Lucy spoke with Her. Francisco was able to see Our Lady but could not hear Her words and so Lucy and/or Jacinta would repeat Her messages to him. The parents of both Francisco and Jacinta were poor and lived in a small village, Francisco had not yet learned to read; he was just a typical young boy who enjoyed playing games and doing the things young boys do. However, after witnessing the apparitions of Our Lady and Our Lord, he became pensive and quiet as a result of the intense impression made on him by the very sorrowful and sad appearances of both Our Lady and Our Lord. At various times throughout the history of the Church, the Blessed Virgin has appeared to different individuals and these individuals frequently commented on Her obvious sadness. Francisco’s tender and contemplative heart caused him to have just one thought in mind: The Blessed Virgin and Our Lord Himself are infinitely sad and we must console them. Consequently Francisco became devoted to consoling Jesus and Our Lady as well as urging others to do the same. It is noteworthy that at Gethsemane Jesus looked for compassion and found none. Similarly when He showed St. Margaret Mary His heart surrounded by thorns it again indicated again the lack of compassion. Speaking of the need to console Our Lord, Frere Michel writes:
"this revelation of the Heart of God, this sadness, which is the highest and unmistakable mark
of His love for us"
was the greatest message bequeathed to us by Francisco. [It was] Francisco's gift to recognize the sadness of Our Lord was due to the innumerable sins and insults to Him, and so to console Him, Francisco offered his prayers and many sacrifices.
Since Francisco was unable to hear the Our Lady’s messages, his knowledge of Her messages is based upon what he was told by Jacinta’s and/or Lucy. This knowledge and the visual appearances of Our Lord and Our Lady were the basis of Francisco’s understanding and thoughts. These are described in great detail in chapter III of Vol. II of Frere Michel’s Trilogy. The discussion that follows is based on this chapter.
The Sadness of Our Lord and Our Lady
The deep impression on Francisco of the sadness of Our Lord is well illustrated by his remark:
"I loved seeing the angel, but I loved still more seeing Our Lady. What I loved most of all was to
see Our Lord in that light from Our Lady which penetrated our hearts. I love God so much! But
he is so sad because of so many sins! We must never commit any sins again"
Another time he said:
"What is God? . . . We could never put it into words. Yes that is something indeed which we could
never express! But what a pity it is that He is so sad! If only I could console Him! . . ."
It is remarkable that a little illiterate humble country boy, not yet nine years of age, would make such a profound statement. His statement revealed that he understood that it was the great love God has for us that made God feel so sad when we committed sins against Him and thus He would be forced to chastise us. Furthermore, Francisco surely understood that God’s chastisement might have to be so great as to prevent a soul from being forever with Him in His heaven. It is this insight that led to Francisco devoting the remainder of his short life to consoling God and Our Lady. Further evidence of Francisco’s intense desire to console God is shown by his response to Lucy’s question:
" Francisco, which do you like better: to console Our Lord, or to convert sinners, so that no
more souls go to hell."
Francisco replied:
"I would rather console Our Lord. Didn’t you notice how sad Our Lady was that last month, when
She said that people must not offend Our Lord anymore, for He is already much offended? I would
like to console Our Lord, and after that, convert sinners, so that they won’t offend Him any more."
Remark:
This is an interesting conversation considering Lucy was barely ten years old and Francisco was not quite nine
years old. From her question it is evident that the ten year old Lucy already understood the primary importance
of keeping souls out of hell and that this can only be done by converting sinners from their sinful ways. Francisco
also understood this as indicated by his straightforward blunt answer. Would that the "learned" modernist
theologians, with their implicit teaching of universal salvation, understood it even half as well! The concerns
of the children for the welfare of souls and their almost frantic endeavors to save souls from hell well illustrates
their grasp of the importance of the purpose for which Jesus established His Church. It is to the detriment of
souls that the conciliar church has effectively abandoned His purpose.
The Solitude of Francisco
Francisco looked for solitude in order to be alone in his prayers and in his devotion to God. As Lucy relates:
"He spoke little and whenever he prayed or offered sacrifices, he preferred to go apart and hide, even
from Jacinta and myself. Quite often, we surprised him hidden behind a wall or a clump of blackberry
bushes, whither he had ingeniously slipped away to kneel and pray, or, as he used to say, "to think of
Our Lord, who is so sad on account of so many sins."If I asked him: "Francisco, why don’t you ask me to pray with you, and Jacinta too?"
He would answer, I prefer praying by myself, so that I can thank and console Our Lord, Who is so sad!"
Remark:
Francisco’s recognition of the true value of solitary and silent prayer is in sharp contrast to the conciliar Church’s
emphasis on community, noisy merriment, joyous community celebration, etc.. Our Lord demonstrated the salvific
power of personal prayer and sacrifice by calling Francisco to Him immediately upon his death.
Since prayer and sacrifice are always consoling to God, Francisco did not shy away from sacrifices as is evident from the following:
From time to time, Francisco would say:
"Our Lady told us that we would have much to suffer, but I don’t mind. I’ll suffer all that She wishes!
What I want is to go to heaven!"
This statement also is in direct opposition to the "celebrate life", "be happy", "do not be afraid" attitude fostered in today’s conciliar Church. The statement also contradicts the teaching of universal salvation now implicitly promoted in some of the Holy Father’s teachings.
During the time of the apparitions, members of the children’s family, their friends, the local government officials and members of the clergy all doubted the words of the children. This doubt was manifested in criticism and taunting of the children. One day, when Lucy told Francisco how unhappy she was over this persecution from her family and from the outside, Francisco tried to encourage her with the words:
"Never mind! Didn’t Our Lady say that we would have much to suffer, to make reparation to Our Lord
and to Her own Immaculate Heart for all the sins by which They are offended? They are so sad! If we
can console Them with these sufferings, how happy shall we be!"
Remark:
The courage demonstrated by the children in holding fast to their positions in the face of such persecution and
taunting is in marked contrast with weak kneed waffling of the modernist theologians in the face of the least hint
of criticism from their so-called peers. These theologians shy away from teaching the doctrines Our Lord taught
were necessary for the salvation ofsouls and this reluctance is due to their pride in craving acceptance by their
secular peers as well as their enjoyment of the material pleasures of their positions
Francisco’s response illustrates how very different is the attitude of the little nine year old simple peasant child from that promoted by the "Be Happy", "Celebrate", "Do not fear", etc. conciliar Church of today. It does not take the theology of a learned modernist theologian to know which attitude is by far most pleasing to Our Lord, particularly today when personal sin is rampant all over the world and even in the Church. Frere Michel quotes other acts of repentance and reparation made by Francisco to console Our Lord. Such acts consisted of his denying himself tasty drinks, dancing, singing, parties, games, etc. One must remember that Francisco was just a 9 year old boy, and so willfully depriving himself of what adults might term "smalldelights", was indeed a great sacrifice. Thus, it is not at all surprising that Our Lord took Francisco into heaven immediately after His death. Of course with the conciliar Church now enamored of universal salvation, his immediate assumption into heaven would only be expected with a comment to the effect "It is too bad the little lad subjected himself to all that useless and unnecessary suffering and praying."
Francisco also had a most compassionate heart as is illustrated by his sensitivity to the needs of the sick and needy. He would do such things as help elderly people with the herding of their farm animals and assist sick people by telling them he would pray for them and actually doing so. Knowing of his presence at the apparitions, strangers would ask him to pray with them in order to gain a desired grace. Francisco never refused such requests and he would pray with all his heart and the grace requested would be obtained.
Further evidence of Francisco’s desire to console Our Lord is shown in the following conversation with his sisters Jacinta and Lucy. When they went into his room one day he said to them:
"Don’t talk much today, as my head aches so badly."
Jacinta reminded him:
"Don’t forget to make the offering for sinners."
Francisco replied:
"Yes. But first I make it to console Our Lord and Our Lady, and then, afterwards, for sinners and
for the Holy Father."
His great regret at not being able to spend long hours before the tabernacle consoling his "Hidden Jesus" is shown by the following conversation.
While he was sick in bed Lucy had dropped by to see him on her way home from school. He told her:
"Look! Go to the church and give my love to the Hidden Jesus. What hurts me most is that I cannot go
there myself and stay awhile with the Hidden Jesus."
Another time, after Lucy had left a group of school children to visit him in his sick bed, he said:
"Did you come with all that crowd?"
She answered:
"Yes, I did."
He immediately responded:
"Don’t go with them, because you might learn to commit sins. When you come out of school, go and
stay for a little while near the Hidden Jesus, and afterwards come home by yourself.
His One Great Desire
The one great desire of Francisco was to die and go to heaven. Little did he know how soon his wish would be granted. However, he had some hint of how soon when during the apparition of June 13, Lucy said to the Blessed Virgin:
"I would like to ask you to take us to heaven."
And the Blessed Virgin replied:
"Yes, I will take Francisco and Jacinta soon."
It was barely 18 months later that he got his wish. There are many testimonies to the fact that both Jacinta and Francisco were well aware of their wonderful future. It was this awareness that helps explain their ardent behavior towards Our Lord and His Blessed Mother. When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up he answered:
"I don’t want to do anything! . . . I want to die and go to Heaven."
Remark:
Considering Francisco’s young age, this is a truly wise answer as it illustrated he had a complete grasp of the
purpose of his life in this temporary world. Both he and Jacinta, knew they would go to heaven as they had been
told this by the Blessed Virgin. Keenly aware of their wonderful fates, the two children did not let this news
deter them from continually praying and making sacrifices as part of their efforts to console and please Our Lord.
This behavior is in direct contrast to the conciliar Church’s implicit teaching of universal salvation. Because
this implicit teaching is accompanied by enjoinings like "be happy", "celebrate", "enjoy
life", "do not fear", etc. the the faithful feel that the making of sacrifices and reparations is
not needed nor even appropriate.
Once when he was on his way to school Francisco told Lucy:
"Listen! While you go to school, I’ll stay with the Hidden Jesus. It’s not worth it for me to learn to read.
Soon I will go to heaven. When you come back, come and look for me here."
Lucy recalled:
"The Blessed Sacrament was kept at that time near the entrance of the church, on the left side, as the
church was undergoing repairs. Francisco went over there, between the baptismal font and the altar,
and that was where I found him on my return."
Remark:
The "Hidden Jesus" was the children’s term for Our Lord in the tabernacle. Of course, today many of the
modernists teach Our Lord is not present in the Holy Eucharist and would thus consider Francisco’s visit a waste.
In addition, if today Our Lord per chance is actually present in the tabernacle, He is truly a "Hidden Jesus"
because the tabernacle usually does not occupy a prominent place in the church or it is hidden away in a side room
of the Church. Your author qualifies the reality of the true presence of Our Lord today because some consecrations
are invalid and others are questionable and Our Lord is not truly present in the tabernacles containing the hosts
of such consecrations. It is evident the children were most fortunate to have lived in an era when they could confidently
expect the "Hidden Jesus" to be truly present in the tabernacle which was located in the most prominent
place in the church so all could readily adore Him. Upon entering their church they did not have to seek out the
tabernacle and, due to the near universal sanctity with which Holy Mass was celebrated, the children were assured
the "Hidden Jesus" was truly present in the tabernacle.
Some people thought that by his visiting the "Hidden Jesus" and not going to school that Francisco was just trying to escape attending school. Lucy relates the following incident to show that this was not the case.
On another occasion, as we left the house, I noticed that Francisco was walking very slowly:
‘What’s the matter?’ I asked him. ‘You seem unable to walk.’
He answered:
‘I’ve such a bad headache, and I feel as though I am going to fall.’
She immediately retorted:
‘Then don’t come. Stay at home!’
He replied:
‘I don’t want to. I’d rather stay in the church with the Hidden Jesus, while you go to school.’
Remark:
Francisco’s desire to console Our Lord was so great that frequently he would spend the entire school day before
the "Hidden Jesus" in the tabernacle. In contrast, today such devotions as the Forty Hours and Perpetual
Adoration of Our Lord are being forbidden in an increasing number of churches and dioceses. Even Cardinal Ratzinger,
the head of the Congregation for theDoctrine of the Faith has questioned such adoration.1
In place of participating in such devotions, the faithful today are urged to participate in parish activities more
appropriate to the new ‘cult of man’ Church.
Francisco’s Last Days
Just one year after the last of the monthly apparitions, during the month of October in the year 1918, Francisco came down with a severe case of influenza. So virulent was the influenza that nearly everyone in his household was affected by it. After several weeks, all members of his family recovered with the exception of both Jacinta and Francisco who remained bedridden. All the time during his sickness his family encouraged him and kept telling him he would soon get well and grow up to be a big man. However, Francisco knew in his heart he was soon to die and so would tell the family members to not bother because Our Lady was coming soon to take him to heaven. Even when the aching from the influenza became almost unbearable, he would disclaim medicines saying he was offering his suffering for sinners and for the Holy Father and to console Our Lord.
He wanted in the worst way to be able to visit the church and to kneel before the tabernacle so he could be near his beloved "Hidden Jesus". So obvious was the children’s sincerity and love for Our Lord that visitors to them would typically exclaim:
"It’s a mystery one cannot fathom! They are children just like any others, they don’t say anything to
us, and yet in their presence one feels something one can’t explain, and that makes them different
from all the rest."
One lady in particular, who did not believe in the apparitions, exclaimed:
"It seems to me that when we go into Francisco’s room, we feel just as we do when we go into a church."
As Frere Michel so eloquently writes:
"Eternity, Heaven and Hell, the love of our Father and our Heavenly Mother — here lays the whole message of Fatima which they (the children) lived so profoundly, whose light they reflected, and which they preached by their whole life. What a testimony!" (My addition)
The humility and fervor of Francisco is shown in one of his last conversations with Lucy. Lucy was suddenly called to his room and he asked that the room be cleared since he wanted to tell Lucy a secret. He said to her:
‘I am going to confession so that I can receive Holy Communion, and then die. I want you to tell me if
you have seen me commit any sin, and then go ask Jacinta if she has seen me commit any."
Lucy replied:
"You disobeyed your mother a few times, when she told you to stay at home, and you ran off to be with me, or to go and hide."
Francisco then said:
"That’s true. I remember that. Now go and ask Jacinta if she remembers anything else."
Lucy found Jacinta and told her of Francisco’s request. Lucy then returned to him and gave him Jacinta’s reply:
"Well, tell him that before Our Lady appeared to us, he stole a coin from our father to buy a music box
from Jose’ Marto of Casa Velha; and when the boys from Aljustrel threw stones at those from Boleiros,
he threw some too!"
After hearing the message, Francisco replied:
"I’ve confessed those, but I’ll do so again. Maybe, it is because of these sins that I committed that Our
Lord is so sad! But even if I don’t die, I’ll never commit them again. I’m heartily sorry for them now."
The joining his hands as in prayer he said:
"O my Jesus, forgive us, deliver us from the fire of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who
are most in need."
Note this is the prayer Our Lady taught the children. He then said:
"Now listen, you must also ask Our Lord to forgive me my sins."
and Lucy responded:
"I’ll ask that, don’t worry. If Our Lord had not forgiven them already, Our Lady would not have told
Jacinta the other day that She was coming soon to take you to Heaven. Now, I’m going to Mass,
and there I’ll pray to the Hidden Jesus for you."
Francisco then said:
"Then, please ask Him to let the parish priest give me Holy Communion."
"I certainly will." Lucy replied. Upon her return from church, Francisco was sitting on his bed and said to Lucy:
"Did you ask the Hidden Jesus for the parish priest to give me Holy communion?"
Lucy replied: "I did" and Francisco immediately said:
"Then, in Heaven, I’ll pray for you."
Lucy quickly replied:
"You will? The other day, you said you wouldn’t!"
He retorted:
"That was about taking you there very soon. But if you want me to pray for that, I will, and then
let Our Lady do as She wishes."
Lucy comments:
"Yes, do. You pray."
And Francisco concludes with:
"Alright. Don’t worry. I’ll pray."
Then Lucy left him and went off to her usual daily tasks of lessons and work. When she came home at night, she found him radiant with joy. He had made his confession, and the parish priest had promised to bring him Holy Communion the next day.
Remark:
This rather long conversation was presented to show the wonderful and simple faith of the children. Their faith
obviously contrasts with the faith being promoted today in the conciliar Church. The latter is devoted to the concerns
of this world as it must be when the aim of the conciliar church is to build a ‘cult of man’. In contrast, the
faith of the young children is concentrated on the only thing that matters, namely the welfare of their eternal
souls.
Today when confession is rare and is not encouraged, and in many places even prevented before first Holy Communion or confirmation, the overwhelming desire of Francisco to go to confession prior to first Holy Communion, indicates an entirely different set of priorities. Furthermore, his eagerness to discover and be reminded of past sins is a true example of the kind of "soul searching" one should do prior to confession. This is in direct opposition to the cavalier attitude toward confession by today’s conciliar Church which discourages having such scruples, denigrates venial sins, opposes the confessing of sins previously confessed because "God is too busy" and besides Hell probably doesn’t really exist and if it does exist it is not nearly as bad as the pre-conciliar Church made it out to be. The respect both children showed when approaching the sacraments of penance and Holy Eucharist is also noteworthy as it indicates the proper preparation, reverence and awe one should have to receive the sacraments. Their was nothing casual or indifferent about their receiving the sacraments of penance and Holy Communion. It also should be noted that the children were always careful to use the word "Holy" as opposed to the modernists who deliberately omit the word and say "Eucharist" rather than "Holy Eucharist" and "Communion" rather than "Holy Communion." Even though the children are not "learned" their wonderfully simple faith told them that the use of the word "Holy" in conjunction with the words "Eucharist" or "Communion" is pleasing to Our Lord because it is a sign of the honor and recognition due Him. Such use implicitly distinguishes the vast and infinite difference between we mortals and Our Lord who is God by virtue of being the second person in the Holy Trinity. As it should, the use of the word "Holy" removes any notion or indication of familiarity and equality between us and Our Lord and so denies the present day ‘man is god’ implicit in many of the modernist’s teachings and actions.
On April 3, 1919, the day before he died while in his sick bed, Francisco received his first Holy Communion. His joy at receiving his Hidden Jesus was revealed in his statement to his sisters:
"I am happier than you are, because I have the Hidden Jesus within my heart. I’m going to Heaven,
but I’m going to pray very much to Our Lord and Our Lady for Them to bring you both there soon."
This comment confirms Francisco was surely wise far beyond his years.
The following is one of the last conversations Francisco had with Lucy and it occurred the day prior to his death.
Francisco:
"I am sure I shall miss you terribly in Heaven! If only Our Lady would bring you there soon, alas."
Lucy:
"You won’t miss me! Just imagine! And you right there with Our Lord and Our Lady! They are so good."
Francisco:
"That’s true! Perhaps I won’t remember!"
As a portion of the same conversation, Lucy writes:
The day before he died he said to me:
"Look! I am very ill; it won’t be long now before I go to heaven."
Lucy:
"Then listen to this. When you’re there, don’t forget to pray a great deal for sinners, for the Holy Father,
for me and for Jacinta."
Francisco:
"Yes. I’ll pray. But look, you’d better ask Jacinta to pray for these things instead, because I’m afraid
I’ll forget when I see Our Lord. And then more than anything else, I want to console Him."
Even though he was dying and knew he would die shortly, Francisco was still thinking about how he could console Our Lord. Such devotion can surely serve as an example for all of us and well illustrates that "a little child shall lead them." Lucy recounts her last conversation with Francisco. It occurred on the eve of his death.
That night I said goodbye to him.
Lucy:
"Goodbye, Francisco! If you go to heaven tonight, don’t forget me when you get there, do you hear me?"
Francisco:
"No. I won’t forget. Be sure of that."
Then Francisco grasped Lucy’s right hand and held it tightly for a long time while looking at her with tears in his eyes.
Lucy, with tears running down her cheeks said:
"Do you want anything more?"
Francisco, quite overcome, answered in a very low voice:
‘No."
Lucy’s aunt who was present in the room during the conversation saw that the scene was becoming too moving so she asked Lucy to leave the room. As she left the room, her last words to Francisco were:
"Goodbye then, Francisco! ‘Till we meet in Heaven, goodbye! . . . "
Remark:
Francisco’s life and the lives of Jacinta and Lucy well illustrate the vast difference between the pre-conciliar
Church and the conciliar Church. In the former, the primary emphasis was on the eternal, that is the salvation
of eternal souls while concern with temporal matters was, at best, secondary. Contrariwise, in today’s conciliar
church the primary emphasis is on the temporal, that is on the building of a ‘cult of man’ while concern with the
eternal, such as the salvation of souls, is at best secondary.
The following evening, on April 4, 1919 at about 10 PM, Francisco died peacefully and with a big smile on his face. Even though he had been in much pain for several days prior to his death, Our Lady allowed him to die in peace absent any pain. This past June, the Church finally saw fit to recognize Francisco was indeed likely in heaven as he was beatified, the first step on the way to declared sainthood.
Francisco’s life was short but oh so worthy and pleasing to Our Lord! He was put to the test and he withstood the test with flying colors. His humble and simple faith serves as example we should all emulate.
Go to Chapter FIVE
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References
1. Cardinal Ratzinger, Die Sacramentale Begrundung Christliker Existend.