Customer Reviews

The Fatima Secret (Whitley Strieber's Hidden Agendas)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This book was a total waste of time and money. It basically goes over what is already known about the story of the three children that had the Fatima experience and then largely disappoints the reader by making suggestions why the Pope chose to tell the version of the third prophecy he did.
I do not normaly write reviews about books, but this book was such a let down, that I felt I should.
The cover leads the reader into thinking they will learn something new, or unknown about the third prophecy, but they don't. Save your time and money and don't buy this book.

I read this book in one night. I couldn't stop. It's a mindboggling trip into a world we too easily ignore. To me it proved that God indeed is watching us, cares for us and intervenes into our history. Hesemann is an excellent writer and he takes you on a guided tour through the fascinating world of miracles and apparitions, mystics and secret messages, deep into the most secret vaults of the Vatican. Does the fearsome 3rd Secret, published by the Vatican in June, indeed refers only to the past, is it indeed only symbolic? Hesemann doubts that - with good reasons. I hope he is wrong but I am afraid he isn't... this book concerns all of us!!

I powered through this book in a long afternoon. It is a fairly easy read; while I was going through it at times I felt like I was reading a Readers' Digest or a Scholastic (reading is fun!) book. All in all, I would have to say that Hesemann did a very good job of collecting and presenting the information. Througout the book, the author tends to stick close to facts and personal accounts, telling the real-life story of three kids who have made a lasting impact on Portugal and the Vatican if not the whole world. Speculation about what the visions really were are surprisingly few, considering the sensationalist packaging of the book. In fact, editor Whitley Strieber tosses out more opinion (*yawn*--UFO's did it...again) in his preface than the author does in the entire text. For anyone who just wants to find out the facts of the case this might be a good place to start.

Altogether, I found this to be a good but somewhat disappointing work. Written after the Vatican's publication of the third secret of Fatima in 2000, the book jacket refers to the controversy and doubts that still linger and poses the question, "What is the Vatican trying to hide?" Well, apparently, nothing. I don't want to spoil the story for future readers of this book, but I must say I was somewhat surprised to learn that the author pretty much accepts the authenticity of the Vatican's recent announcement. I am sure, though, that the more sensational references on the cover were the product of the publisher's marketing scheme and not that of the author. I do not mean to say that the book promises something that it does not deliver. Hesemann does give a fairly good description of the Fatima visions and provides a good background and assessment of the three prophecies. For myself, there just wasn't as much in this book as I would have wished. This is a very quick read, largely because the author, for the most part, does not go in to great detail. As a result, the force of his story and the impact of his conclusions is weakened. For example, I just cannot get overly enthusiastic about his contention that the efforts of Pope John Paul II (especially in terms of finally acceding to the Virgin Mary's 1917 request at Fatima to consecrate Russia) was largely responsible for the collapse of Communism.

Basically, this book is interesting and worth reading if you have some interest in the subject, but it is certainly not required reading for either New Age or Christian readers. There's really not much to get excited about here for either side. As an aside, I have to wonder what a Roman Catholic would think after reading this book--I've known one Catholic in my whole life , so the basic material of this book consists of concepts and traditions that I (coming from a Southern Baptist background) have little or no personal knowledge of.

The best book I have read in the last couple of years. Thrilling, fascinating, well-written and explosive. The author presents the full picture of what really happened at Fatima and why they still don't tell us everything... If he is right, the danger is not over yet. And if we look at Israel or Iraq or Russia, it looks like he is absolutely right. And still there is hope since we are not alone... A must-read for everyone who is concerned about our future... and wants evidence for the work of God in our history.

I am a big fan of the author Michael Hesemann, as his books are always of the highest quality and scholarship. His UFO-related books appeal to me more than his (later) books on religious (Catholic) subjects, but this book somewhat combines both topics. The emphasis in this book is on the "Marian" mysteries ("miracles?") of the 20th Century, on the Fatima apparitions, and on the life and beliefs of Lucia dos Santos--the child who apparently spoke with the apparitions of Mary (and, later, Jesus).
The author makes it clear that Lucia had a lasting impact on Catholic religious thought throughout the 20th Century. One sentence, toward the end of the book, sums up the whole Fatima impact:
"She [Lucia] repeated her conviction that the vision of Fatima concerns above all the struggle of atheist Communism against the Church and against Christians, and describes [in the "third secret"] the terrible sufferings of the victims of the faith in the twentieth century." [pp. 247-248]
In retrospect, these claims seem unfounded. I was planning to point out the lack of evidence for these claims by Lucia, especially that of persecution of Catholics in the 20th Century, but will keep my opinions to myself. (However, I wish to point out that I attended Catholic elementary school myself, and heard the same claims made by nuns and lay teachers.)
Historically, the year of the Fatima visions was the same year as the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia (from March through Nov., 1917). Surely, this could have influenced her impressionable young (10-year old) mind. And, it seems likely that this Bolshevik "threat" had a lot of conservative Christians nervous, including Lucia's parents, teachers, clergy, etc.
Three aspects of the Fatima apparitions and prophecies that make Lucia's dialogues with Mary seem illogical and unbelievable to me are:
1) Why was it that only Lucia saw and spoke to the "beautiful woman"--aka Mary? From what I have read, the people in the crowds did not see her.
2) Why didn't Mary's prophecies include the rise of fascist regimes such as those of Hitler and Mussolini? In the minds of many people, these were much worse (and more evil) that the Communist regimes. Hitler and Mussolini were as strongly anti-Communist as the Church, it appears, but far more dangerous than the Communists.
3) If the "dancing sun" incident must be explained as a natural phenomenon, one can rule out that the sun, itself, was involved, because this "miracle" was NOT seen anywhere else in the world outside of the vicinity of Fatima. We have only ONE sun for the entire planet! The UFO theory, including a possible holographic projection of the image of Mary, is actually a more plausible explanation that that of a "miracle" involving the sun.
In conclusion, I think that this is a well written, and thought-provoking book on the subject of Fatima. It is not clear to me how much "editing" Whitley Strieber was responsible for. In Chapter 17, for example, the opening sentence states: "The apparitions of the Virgin Mary don't happen only abroad; they happen near your hometown as well, right here in the United States." As Hesemann is a German resident, and was born in Germany, he probably did not write this passage (or entire chapter??). So, I wonder how much information can actually be ascribed to Strieber. There seems to be an overabundance of data toward the end of this book that tends to interrupt the literary flow toward the climatic revelation of the "third secret;" and it is this interruption that causes me to give this book 4 stars instead of 5.

The book contains interesting commentary on the events surrounding the children and the reaction of adults . These were unsophisticated country children with little or no knowledge of life outside their small village . Yet despite this adults wanted to control every aspect of their lives and when thwarted showed themselves furious that there is a greater power .
The photos are a real advantage in setting the time and place .

The Fatima Secret had alot of history information. It also contained the story about what happened at Fatima with the children. I already knew the story and wanted to learn more about the third secret which still has me searching. The book, however, gives us hope that the Virgin is still protecting us and that there are miracles.

A year ago the Vatican claimed that the 3rd Secret of Fatima dealt with the past. Hesemann, the author of this fascinating book, had his doubts. How right he was.
Now, after the shocking pictures of the WTC attack, we all have
to realize that the 21st century is one full of dangers.
The warning and mothery guidance from Fatima is more true than ever.
And the vision of an old, fragile Pope, going through the ruins of a destroyed city can come true any day after a new terrorist attack...

Read it NOW! This book has the key how to prevent the catastrophy... the key given directly by the Mother of God!

This book deals with the alleged secrets revealed to three Portuguese children by Virgin Mary.

From the beginning, the book's purpose is obvious: God sends a message that Communists are evil and if the world does not convert to Catholicism and bow before the Pope we are doomed. Communists, Freemasons and non Catholic population will burn in Hell by a God who demands of children to inflict pain on themselves by tying strings tightly on their limbs.

This book has been a HUGE waste of both time and money. Open minded people should look elsewhere for a good read. I only wish I knew this before buying it.