Recent military movements close to our shores have been reported. As a clear message to North Korea not to continue its nuclear tests, the United States nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson has headed for waters near the Korean Peninsula.
The scheduled visits of US Vice President Mike Pence first to South Korea, then to Japan also confirm the urgent concern about the precarious peace and security situation in the region.
The statements of Pence during his recent visit at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan are worth consideration. While Pence reiterated that the US, together with other nations, will seek diplomatic and economic solutions "to end North Korea's ambitions," he also said, "but as all of you know, readiness is the key and you, the instruments of American policy, should know: all options are on the table. Those who would challenge our resolve or our readiness should know: we will defeat any attack and meet any use of conventional or nuclear weapons with an overwhelming and effective American response."
While formally requesting and acknowledging the important role of China to influence North Korea to refrain from further nuclear tests, Pence reacted to China's militarization by reiterating to Japan the unwavering US commitment to defend Japan from the Chinese claim of Senkaku Islands and to other Asian nations that the US would continue to protect freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.
It is reported that the USS Reagan at the Japanese Yokosuka Naval Base will soon commence its scheduled Asia-Pacific patrol while the USS Carl Vinson strike group is in the region.
Reports noted that China and Russia have also deployed their naval intelligence-gathering vessels to "chase the USS Carl Vinson nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and to probe the movements of the United States. The Japanese navy is strengthening warning and surveillance activities in the waters and airspace around the area."
Chinese and Russian naval visits to the Philippines have also been reported recently. Surely, these naval visits are not unrelated to the various growing military maneuverings in the region.
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-Ryol told the BBC's John Sudworth that North Korea, despite international condemnation and growing military tensions with the US, will continue to conduct more missile tests on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis and that "all-out war" would result if the US took military action."
Will the present fragile peace and security situation give way to another world war? With nations taking and continuing their hard military stance and movements, with the US deploying the so-called "Mother of All Bombs"- the MOAB ( the Massive Ordnance Air Blast) in Nangarhar Province close to the Afghanistan/Pakistan border last April 13, are we again in the same unstable pre-war situation as the world was 100 years ago?
If you can all recall, in May 13, 1917, our Mama Mary appeared to Lucia Dos Santos and her cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto in Fatima, Portugal. Our Lady of the Rosary appeared in the midst of so much conflict and before the onset of World War I to assure all that God would grant peace with prayers, reparation, and consecration. Her apparitions culminated in the October 13, 1917 recorded miracle of the sun publicly witnessed and with papal confirmation.
Is it not a providential and timely reminder for us all that in the midst of so much conflicts, Pope Francis will canonize the Jacinta and Francisco this May 13th, exactly 100 years after the first apparition of our Mama Mary?
Should we all then immediately recall and urgently heed the call made by our Mama Mary a century back to pray the rosary daily, to perform acts of reparation and sacrifice, to have the Pope and Catholic Bishops of the world consecrate the warring nations to Her Immaculate Heart and to pray, pray, pray together for God's mercy to grant continuing peace for our present world?