October 22, 1986

Dear Father Gruner,

I am currently the President of the Blue Army Division in the Cleveland Diocese. Your magazine, "The Fatima Crusader", prompted me to investigate the matter of the Collegial Consecration of Russia. After reviewing several books on Fatima, I came to the same conclusion that you have. NAMELY, THE CONSECRATION HAS NOT BEEN MADE.

I discussed the matter with the Spiritual Director of our Division of the Blue Army and he agreed that the consecration has not been made. We both agreed that we should try to do something about this. I drafted a resolution to be presented to the National Council of the Blue Army at the annual meeting on Sept. 11 & 12 of this year. This resolution was approved by the Board of Trustees of our Division and submitted to the resolutions committee of the National Blue Army.

We were totally unsuccessful with this resolution at the National Council meeting. I was not even allowed to show the delegates a copy of the resolution. It is quite apparent that the National Blue Army is controlled by a few entrenched people, and is not governed according to its constitution. As a result, it will be very difficult to effect a change within the organization. However, our local Blue Army is trying to do something anyway.

THE CONSECRATION OF RUSSIA IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND TIME IS SO CRITICAL. Therefore, I am writing to you in the hope that the information which I can provide you may be of some help in convincing more people to take some action on this matter. I believe that Blue Army people would be excellent people to get working on this. Many are confused and discouraged at the present time.

I am enclosing an article regarding the action of the National Council of the Blue Army on our resolution. I am also enclosing a copy of the resolution which our Division submitted. If you believe that publishing these in your magazine would be helpful to the cause of the Consecration, then please do so. If you would like more information on the article written in a different fashion, I would be happy to oblige you. If you feel that publishing this would be more harm than good, then just ignore it.

I will be trying to promote your magazine in the Cleveland area as much as I can since it carries THE TRUE MESSAGE OF FATIMA. (I have ordered some copies from your U.S. group.) If there is anything else that I can do to help you with this difficult apostolate, please let me know. I am enclosing a check for $500 to help you with your publishing costs.

Yours in Jesus and Mary,

Anthony C. Hoffman

Mr. Hoffman's enclosed article follows below.

Blue Army not permitted to discuss Resolution on Collegial Consecration

The National Council of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, which met at its annual meeting on Sept. 11 & 12, was not even allowed to see, much less discuss or vote upon a proposed resolution regarding the Collegial Consecration requested by Our Lady.

As you are all probably aware, our Holy Father consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on May 13, 1982, and also on March 25, 1984. However, the consecration requested by Our Lady through Sister Lucia was "God asks the Holy Father, in union with all the Bishops of the world, to make the consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart, promising to save it by this means." (FATIMA IN LUCIA'S OWN WORDS, pp 198-199)

Since the consecration by the Holy Father was not of Russia and therefore not in accord with that specified by Sister Lucia, the Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Division of the Blue Army (one of the oldest divisions in the Blue Army) submitted a resolution for consideration at the 1986 National Council meeting. However, the resolutions committee, consisting of one Joseph Walsh (who holds no elective office in the Blue Army), stated at the meeting that the resolution was an ecclesiastical matter and could not be considered by the delegates. The delegates were not even allowed to see a copy of the resolution to determine whether they should consider it or not. Mr. Walsh further stated that even if the Council passed the resolution, it would have no effect.

The Collegial Consecration is a most crucial matter since the conversion of Russia will not begin until it is made correctly. This should be one of the most important concerns for the Blue Army. However, the National Council which is, according to the Blue Army constitution, its governing body, could not even read or discuss the matter. It is time for the leaders of the Blue Army throughout the country to stand up and demand that our Blue Army be governed according to our constitution, and that we be allowed address those issues which are most critical to the world.

A copy of the resolution, as it was submitted to the National Council, is attached. As you read it you will see that it is directed toward the activities of the Blue Army and not the Church. Therefore, it is not an ecclesiastical matter as stated by Joseph Walsh. Several references are also given so that you can verify the words of Sister Lucia and also review what John Haffert wrote on the matter in the past.

Submitted by:

Anthony C. Hoffman,
President Cleveland Blue Army
8345 Columbia Rd.
Olmsted Falls, OH 44138
(216)235-2181

Proposed Resolution to the 1986 National Council

See Above page for introduction to this resolution.

Whereas Our Blessed Mother told Sister Lucia that "God asks the Holy Father, in union with all the Bishops of the world, to make the Consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart, promising to save it by this means.

Whereas the Holy Father has not mentioned Russia in any of the consecrations of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Whereas the Holy Father has not consecrated Russia in union with all the Bishops of the world.

Be it hereby resolved that the National Council of The Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima, U.S.A., Inc. recognizes that the Collegial Consecration of Russia has not been made in accordance with the requests of Our Lady, further, that it shall inform its members, through articles in the Soul Magazine, that the Collegial Consecration of Russia HAS NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, further, that it shall do all in its power to promote that consecration, and in particular to petition the Holy Father to make the consecration as soon as possible and in the exact manner as stated by Sister Lucia.

Since the conversion of Russia will not begin until this consecration is made, as requested by Our Lady, it is most important that we do everything in our power to have the consecration made correctly and soon. The Holy Father needs our prayers in order to be able to make this consecration. He also needs whatever reinforcement we can provide him through our petitions. Bishop Venancio, the first International President of the Blue Army strongly promoted petitions to the Holy Father as discussed in John Haffert's book, Dear Bishop.

Some references regarding the Collegial Consecration are as follows:

Dear Bishop, by John Haffert, Page 228. Fatima The Great Sign, By Francis Johnston Page 86. Fatima In Lucia's Own Words, Edited by Fr. Louis Kondor, SVD, Pages 198-199.

Respectfully submitted by the Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Division of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima.

Anthony C. Hoffman, President, Cleveland Blue Army July 12, 1986

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