Since 1917, when three Portuguese shepherd children received apparitions of the Virgin Mary, Fátima has been the destination of milions of pilgrims. The events came at a time of great turmoil in the history of mankind, though the message of Fátima is eternal: prayer and penance form the path to salvation. This work tells the Fátima story with a moving account of the lives of the seers.

With an introduction by Pope Benedict XVI and including information previously suppressed, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone, definitively reveals and explains one of the most controversial events in twentieth-century Catholicism—the 1917 apparition of the Virgin Mary at Fatima. During World War I, three Portuguese children received a vision in which Mary, the Mother of Jesus, foretold great global turmoil. The first part of their vision—warnings about World War II, communism, and the spread of atheism—were widely publicized, but Vatican officials were hesitant to reveal the vision’s concluding images, thus creating the "secret" of Fatima. Speculation about this secret gripped many Catholics, and the aura of intrigue surrounding Fatima grew when the Church hierarchy barred the last surviving visionary from speaking publicly. In THE LAST SECRET OF FATIMA, Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican equivalent of prime minister and a top advisor to Pope Benedict, breaks the Vatican’s official silence on the last secret. Rather than Armageddon, he claims, the final prophecy envisaged the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II. Bertone argues the apparition at Fatima was a call to renewal for the Church, and he was assigned the task of promulgating this message by the Pope.

Since it was first performed in 1634, the passion play at Oberammergau has been an unforgettable experience for many millions of people. Concise, compact, colorful, and informative, this latest in the Pilgrim’s Guide series will enable the visitor to make the most of their stay and evoke many lasting memories. Illustrated in full color, there is insight into the traditions and staging of the play and a brief synopsis as it unfolds on stage. Practical details include how to see the play, a plan of the village, and a guide to the surrounding area. This is the fifth edition with enlarged content. Ray Goodburn has organized and led groups there on numerous occasions and is doing so again in 2010.

"The future of our civilization, our liberties, our very existence may depend upon the acceptance of her commands." --William Thomas Walsh This was the conclusion reached by William Thomas Walsh, distinguished author, historian, and teacher, after he had thorougly investigated the miracle of Fatima. Here is the whole remarkable story of the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three simple children at an obscure Portuguese village in 1917. Her prophecies of World War II and the rise of communism, her plea to humanity to do penance, her promise that world peace and the conversion of Russia would take place if her messages were heeded -- these are some of the dramatic events in this fascinating account of a modern miracle. Our Lady of Fatima is a magnificent re-creation of an event whose effects are still reverberating throughout the world -- the appearance in person of the Mother of God with a "peace plan from heaven."

The third edition of this guidebook to the biblical sites in both Israel and Jordan has been revised and rewritten, with new pictures, illustrations, maps, and plans. It contains practical information on both countries.