J.M.J.

January 13, 1993,

Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord

Dear Friend of Our Lady,

       I feel especially blessed and grateful to be able to begin the New Year by sending you this very special and important issue of The Fatima Crusader.

       Inside these pages, you will find our report on the Worldwide Bishops Conference which your prayers and sacrifices helped make possible last October in Fatima.

       As you may already know, this great and unique event brought together scores of bishops, priests, theologians and Fatima experts from more than 23 countries around the world.

       For the first time in 75 years, Our Lady's Fatima Message was openly and freely discussed in a public forum by the leaders of the Church. To our knowledge, it was the largest single private gathering of bishops ever to take place!

       In addition, it was also the first opportunity for many (if not most) of these influential and powerful bishops, archbishops, and even Cardinals to hear a full explanation of Our Lady's promise of peace through the consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart.

       But most important of all, the Conference succeeded as nothing else has in bringing the real issues of Fatima to the attention of both our Church leaders and the public at large.

       This was certainly our goal from day one and, thanks to God and people like you, we achieved it far beyond our expectations!

       Bishop Gilbert Rego spoke for many when he called the Conference "absolutely marvellous" and thanked Our Lady's friends for their help in making it possible.

Was the Conference “Too Successful"?

       If the anger and desperation of Our Lady's enemies is any indication, then this Conference was one of the greatest victories we have ever achieved for God's Mother and Her Fatima Message.

       Nothing (I repeat, nothing) we have ever done has resulted in so much fury and violence, so many lies and distortions as this attempt to bring the full Fatima Message to the bishops.

       While we expected opposition, nothing could ever have prepared us for the diabolical full-scale smear campaign that Our Lady's enemies mounted from the moment we arrived in Fatima and which continues unabated to this very day!

       But this time, grinding out a steady stream of falsehoods and vile innuendo has not been enough for Our Lady's enemies...

As you may have read, on October 10, I was physically assaulted and injured in the sacristy of Our Lady's Shrine by a man whom we later learned was under orders of a local Church bureaucrat. It was only by the Grace of God and the intervention of a bishop that I escaped far more serious injury.

       This outrageous attack on a Catholic priest shows just how desperate the devil is to prevent us from bringing Our Lady's full Message to the bishops and the world!

       But sadly, there is more and even worse...

What Are They Doing to Sister Lucy?

       As you will read in "Has the Pope Fulfilled Our Lady of Fatima's Request" in this issue, Sister Lucy granted a rare interview last October with two of the Church leaders who were attending our conference.

       During the course of this interview, Sister appeared to make a series of statements that flatly contradicted nearly 75 years of prior testimony.

       In fact, a number of the statements attributed to Sister Lucy are so bizarre and out-of-character that it has led some Fatima scholars to go so far as to suggest that she was drugged, brainwashed or even replaced with an impersonator.

       There is no question that the 84-year-old Sister Lucy has been under almost constant pressure by Church bureaucrats and others to repudiate many of the statements she has consistently made over the past seven decades, especially those concerning the Consecration of Russia.

       New evidence suggests that, in a meeting last Spring, a powerful Church figure may have ordered Sister Lucy — under her vow of obedience — to make just these kinds of statements which she is reputed to have made in this recent interview.

       Whatever the real solution to this mystery, it is clear that the timing (near the close of our Conference) of this interview was deliberate and carefully arranged to cause a maximum amount of chaos and confusion. (See Father Paul's article "Is This the 'Most Awesome' Fatima Cover-up?")

       As we (in association with leading Fatima experts) continue to try and make sense of this strange interview, it is critical that all of Sister's friends pray harder than ever for the safety and well-being of Our Lady's last surviving witness.

What's Behind This New Conspiracy of Lies?

       While stopping the Bishops Conference was important to Our Lady's enemies, their number one goal (as always) continues to be nothing less than the total destruction of your faith.

       Satan and his earthly allies know that if they can plant the seed of doubt in the minds and hearts of Our Lady's nearest and dearest (people like you), then they can succeed with anybody!

       And I must tell you that this new campaign of lies and disinformation is already taking its toll...

       Just as they planned to do, the innuendoes and outright falsehoods have led some of our supporters to question their commitment to Our Lady and to Her Fatima messenger.

       The perpetrated confusion they caused among some of our supporters has gotten so serious that I was forced to go to a handful of dear friends to beg the money necessary to pay overdue and pressing bills for TV and Radio. (For the moment, we were able to save most of our TV and Radio stations. For your revised Radio and TV schedule, please phone us at 1-800-263-8160).

       Most tragic of all, these attacks are coming at a time when we should be building on the tremendous momentum that the Conference began, not retreating!

Will YOU Remain True to Our Lady?

       Our Lord has told us in Holy Gospel that "the truth will set ye free." It is both His solemn promise to us and our ultimate assurance of final victory.

       It is because I trust and believe that Our Lady will send me the help we need that I have taken the risk of sending you this special issue of the Crusader at a time when the Apostolate is under such serious attack and financial pressure.

       We have had to borrow more than $140,000 to put this issue in your hands and those of other faithful friends. Even then, we still have not had enough funds to be able to distribute this critical information as widely as we should and, indeed, must.

At this moment, literally thousands of copies of this special report are ready to be sent to bishops, priests, seminarians and others worldwide. Yet they can only be sent if you and others love Our Lady enough to help.

Total Victory OR Total Catastrophe?

       At this crucial juncture in history, the faith and actions of Our Lady's true friends have a significance far beyond our few numbers. That's because what we do now cannot help but effect the lives and very salvation of countless millions around the world.

       So much is at stake at this moment. It is a very dangerous time. That's why I am praying so hard that you will join me today in making a new and even stronger commitment to Our Lady in 1993.

       We urgently need your prayers now, especially every single Rosary that you can offer to help protect the Apostolate and help us defend Our Lady against those who would silence Her and thus enslave you.

       And yes, we also need your material help as well. After a long hard year, our funds are exhausted. As I told you, I have sent you this special issue on faith, trusting in your love for Our Lady to help us pay for the printing and mailing.

       Please give whatever you can afford. Before you write your check, I beg you to re-read Our Lord's words which I have placed at the top of this letter. He is truly speaking to us all!!

       Throughout February, I will have offered a special series of Masses, asking Our Lady to protect all Her loving children. Please send me your special intentions to remember.

            Yours in Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

             Father Nicholas Gruner

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