It would be best for him not to focus on things outside his control. We can do nothing about what’s happening in Rome, nor can we alter the course of groups or individuals beyond our reach. That belongs to God. It isn’t for us to explain why or how this crisis came about, or how or when it is going to end.

Ultimately, this crisis is the result of bad Catholics — of us failing to do what we were told to do, and ignoring Our Lady’s requests at Fatima to do penance, pray the Rosary, do our daily duty, make the Five First Saturdays, stop sinning, etc.

Christ built the Church; let Him resolve the crisis in His own way and in His own good time.

The Church herself — that is, the union of the faithful who receive the same sacraments, hold the same faith, and are subject to the same authority — cannot fail or be destroyed. But churchmen can, and many do, fall. We just need to ensure we don't fall with them. It is not our mission to resolve the crisis or to determine how it will be resolved.

Our task is to focus on our own sanctification. We should be aware of the crisis, certainly, but dwelling on it is a major distraction. Let God be God. We were warned about this long ago — that is what Fatima was about.

Consider the Crucifixion: how could God be crucified? Was that Man on the Cross truly divine? How could He be? Most of the Apostles fled, yet St. John remained steadfast at the foot of the Cross, strengthened by Our Lady. His gaze never left his Master. That is how we must behave during the Passion of the Church. Easter Sunday will come soon enough. Let us not trouble ourselves over what the Jews, the Romans, or even the Apostles are doing.

Do we focus on the storm, when Christ Himself is with us in the barque? When tempted to lose heart and flee because the crucified Mystical Body of Christ appears to be "a worm, and no man" (Psalm 21:7), we should make our own the words of St. Peter: "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." (John 6:68)

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8)

"Who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counsellor?" (Romans 11:34)

At every apparition, Our Lady at Fatima told us to pray the Rosary every day. She warned that only she could help us, implying that the ordinary means of assistance would not be available. In the end, her Immaculate Heart will indeed triumph, and there will be peace.

"Only I can help you." — Our Lady to the children of Fatima, July 13, 1917

Patience. Childlike trust. Watch and pray.

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh weak." (Matthew 26:41)