Lucia made it plain that Our Lady did not ask for the consecration of the world to her Immaculate Heart. What she demanded specifically was the consecration of Russia. She did not comment, of course, on the fact that Pope Pius XII had consecrated the world, not Russia, to the Immaculate Heart in 1942. But she said more than once, and with deliberate emphasis:

— “What Our Lady wants is that the Pope and all the bishops in the world shall Consecrate Russia to Her Immaculate Heart on one special day. If this is done, She will convert Russia and there will be peace. If it is not done, the errors of Russia will spread through every country in the world.”

— “Does this mean, in your opinion, that every country, without exception, will be overcome by Communism?”

— “Yes.”

It was plain that she felt that Our Lady's wishes had not yet been carried out. People must say the Rosary, perform sacrifices, make the five first Saturday Communions, pray for the Holy Father.

— “Did Our Lady ever say anything to you about the United States of America?”

She gave me a rather startled glance, and then smiled in faint amusement, as if to suggest that perhaps the United States was not so important in the general scheme of things as I imagined.

— “No,” she said gently.

— “She never did. But I wish you would have Masses sad for me in the United States!”

I promised, and she said she would pray for me.