I must start by saying I have not read Martin’s books yet, although I have listened to most of his Art Bell radio interviews and some of his Bernard Jantzen interviews, as well as his discussions on William F. Buckley’s Firing Line (all available online.) That said, I cannot claim to be expert on Fr. Martin, although I have read about him for years. Malachi Martin was a Jesuit priest, scholar of ancient written languages, in pectore bishop and cardinal, exorcist, and author of many controversial books, including Hostage to the Devil, The Final Conclave, Vatican, The Keys of This Blood, and Windswept House, to name a few. He served as assistant to Cardinal Augustin Bea, a German Jesuit, leader of the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity at the Second Vatican Council. As such, Martin was permitted to read the entire Third Secret of Fatima, a much contested document. While Martin held liberal views prior to Vatican II, review of the Secret and witnessing the changes wrot by the Council led to his adopting a much more traditional, pre-Vatican II perspective.

Robert Marro enjoyed a close, nine year friendship with Martin, serving as a driver and traveling companion, while Martin served as Marro’s spiritual director. Marro wrote this book to set the record straight on some of the controversies surrounding Fr. Martin, admitting that while Marro is no expert, as a former CIA operative, he was a good reader of character. Marro is obviously mainly presenting Martin’s take on the various claims and slanders, although he provides corroborating evidence and testimony where he has access to such. For example, Fr. Martin was released from his Jesuit vows of obedience and poverty, by Pope Paul VI, while maintaining his vow of celibacy and priestly ability to say Mass, deliver sacraments, and participate in exorcisms. This allowed Martin to earn a living as a writer, advocate for the Roman Catholic faith, and live independently in New York City. He offered a traditional Latin Mass everyday, and lived with the Livanos family as a celibate priest. Marro is countering claims that Martin was a lady’s man, engaging in affairs, and was no longer permitted to engage in priestly duties.

Marro describes the circumstances of Martin’s in pectore elevation to bishop, for an assignment to travel to Czechoslovakia in the late fifties, behind the Iron Curtain to the Soviet-controlled country, to confront a priest then violating his vows, to offer him an opportunity to repent, or be laicized, on behalf of Rome. The Church was underground in former Soviet countries, as Catholics were persecuted by the Soviets. Martin was captured, taken to Soviet prison, horribly tortured, and released after over a year through Vatican negotiation. His in pectore elevation to cardinal was due to a Papal plan during the Cold War, to place twelve cardinals in various districts worldwide, in the event of nuclear war and the destruction of the Vatican, a conclave could be held eventually to choose a new Pope. Martin was appointed secret cardinal for the United States.

Most interesting is Martin’s turn toward traditional Catholic practice, and release from Jesuit vows, following his reading of the Third Secret of Fatima, and the movement of Catholic practice following Vatican II. There is not space here to review the complexity of claims regarding this controversy; in brief, many faithful believe that the full secret was not revealed by the Vatican in 2000 (following Martin’s death). It certainly was not revealed in 1960, when the Blessed Mother asked that it be made known. While Martin never stated the content of the Secret, he hinted that apostasy would come from the very top of the Church. Martin wrote about the alleged Free Masonry of Popes John XXIII and Paul VI, as well as alleged satanic practices in the Vatican by senior prelates. The movement toward ecumenism in the Church, seen by many as the dilution of our Faith, the changes of the Novus Ordo Mass from the traditional Latin rite (and danger of prohibiting TLM), and the subsequent changes by Pope Francis (and sanctioned by Pope Leo) for a synodal Church, as opposed to Papal-led hierarchy, as well as doctrinal softening (Holy Eucharist for divorced persons, blessings for homosexual couples, etc.)— the trends toward creating a softer, Protestant-like Church were seen by Martin as the fulfillment of top-down apostasy we were warned about by the Mother of God. Martin hinted at other warnings included in the Secret, telling Marro that if the Vatican issued some claim of a false Secret, he would take out a full page ad in The New York Times to proclaim the true Secret. Interesting that the Vatican’s claim regarding the Secret happened after Martin’s death.

I can only touch on some of the fascinating declarations made by Marro. While I may receive criticism for this, Marro’s submissions regarding Martin’s faithfulness to TLM (Traditional Latin Mass), the Council of Trent Catechism, and Martin’s concerns for our Church in light of the warnings of the Blessed Mother and the failure of Rome to heed them (Martin was a supporter of Fr. Nicholas Gruner, founder of the Fatima Center, and leading voice for the truth of the Fatima message) I consider valid. I believe Martin’s love for Christ and his Church is undeniable, as is his intellectual brilliance. Marro was truly blessed to have nine years of close friendship with Fr. Martin. While Marro’s book is not likely to put the rumors and scandal to rest, it does bring attention to the most important issues of our day, the changes in our beloved Church, the source of grace we depend upon for our salvation. I can’t think of anything more important.

For more information about Robert Marro and his relationship with Malachi Martin, in addition to reading his fascinating book, I recommend some recent interviews he has given: O Crux Ave Media (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IryQWo0cJMg); Dr. Anthony Stine at Return To Tradition (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmZvyJ-y3rc); John Henry Weston at LifeSite News (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRX_vSY03RY&t=1408s) , among others.