Saints' Discussion Forums

Although we certainly don't want to speak of non-approved apparitions, many Saints of the Church have spoken about the 3 days of darkness. How likely do you think it to be and if you think there will be such a thing, do you think it will come in your lifetime?

I think we are in many days of darkness now; spiritual darkness.
I don't think much about things like that....... so I don't know what to say.   :shrug:

I agree with the spiritual darkness, but a number of Saints seemed to stress a specific time. :-\ Not that it makes a lot of difference to what we do (although maybe in preparedness - always a good thing).

I do not know much about the three days, though I would like to read more..

I recall blessed beeswax candles being advised for light, or there would be none -- that demons would roam free, and reveal themselves to all, that many people would die.. that one should not look out or open a window, or one would die.. but the authority of these things I do not recall the details of, who prophecized it or not..

I do have the great impression we are overdue, in general for a chastisement of some kind.

World War 1, and World War 2, are both said to be chastisements for sin. That being the case, and the moral caliber of the world not being superior to the generations before those times, we would be overdue.

And stocking on on candles, holy water, sacramentals, as well as cans and guns would be basically the sensible thing to do.

The latter's the self-sufficient survivalist mentality in me. :)

Does anyone else know more?

I will be reading up more of these things as I keep up gathering prophecy quotes, I'm taking a couple days break from that at the moment. Reading all these end of the world prophecies and then tying all the threads together is some work. The prophecies in general regarding the anti-Christare very consistent, from many nations, over two thousand years, so you can see their reliability.

I do not however have much on the three days yet.

The main mention of the 3 days of darkness was in the Garabanal Apparitions in Northern Spain.
The Bishop of that Diocese considers the apparitions authentic but the Church has never given a general ruling on the matter.

I don't think cans and guns will do much for the next one, Shin.  Iran and Venezuela will see to that perhaps.  But, begging to differ  (as usual  ;D), I think we bring about our own chastisements.

Shin, what is all this research on the end of the world stuff?  Our personal end of the world is the same result as the bigger end of the world.  As St. Thomas More said to a friend before going to the guillotine: "I die now, you die later.  See you then."  (paraphrase)

A few of the Saints I've heard of talking  :-\  about this were St. Hildegard, Bl. Anna-Maria Taigi, St. Padre Pio, and Ven. Mary of Agreda (plus supposedly some mystics of the Church). I've also read of people equating some of the prophecies to some of Revelation.

I must admit I think that all the talk of blessed matches for the blessed candles, "kits" and black-out "curtains", etc. are simple marketing ploys. I have thought about getting some Blessed candles and some exorcised Blessed salt (along with water which is handy for numerous problems). Guns are too expensive and I have food and Holy water anyway.

Bailey2, I do think we do bring about our own chastisement, however this is about a mass chastisement and mass spiritual warfare is all, that it seems that Saints have talked about in a specific way (supposedly).

I don't actually know his last words. Now you make me want to find them to quote them.  :D

I understand that we must live each day as if it were are last! (and I do not, though at least I am thinking about it more now)..

But certain times can try even the saints more greatly than others..

And we are told in the scriptures, if I recall correctly, to watch the signs of the times.. to watch.. and to know and understand what is happening..

If we do not see our times in the context of history.. and what the saints speak of.. we lose an understanding and perspective of where we are.. that could be quite helpful.. and perhaps even essential..

If you look at how the ages of the world at traditionally divided.. when the gentiles fall away from Christianity finally. . this is a terrible sign, it is a sign of the very end. And the gentile nations, finally, have done so largely. .

What does this mean? Is it the very end? Or is it a precursor or a foreshadowing? One of the things that you notice in prophecy is that there are times that foreshadow what the complete fulfillment will be.. in other words.. a lesser fulfillment that shows what the final fulfillment will be like..

So watching and knowing how these things play out is good for more than only those who experience the final fulfillment of the end.

Prophecy is I would say my least favorite and last approached subject.. but as I learn about it.. it is not as ephemeral as I first thought... because of the vast agreement across time and history as to what will occur..

The reign of Julian the Apostate (http://www.audiosancto.org/sermon/20061126-Prefiguring-the-End-Times-the-Era-of-Julian-the-Apostate-part-1.html) is said to be a 'type' of the end-times and the time of the Antichrist. A type shows what the final time will be like. And I see a good deal of what is going on now in that time. The sermon gives an idea of prophecy and types, and how to understand it. Sort of a primer, I think, by examples. :D

St. Vincent Ferrer said that he was the Angel of the Apocalypse that God had sent to announce the decadence of Christendom and the beginning of the end times. This was in the 19th century.

Times have accelerated a good deal.

There are many books that compile quotations of the saints on prophecy. I have a few of them. I'm not going to interpret anything at all if I can help it. I just want to find out what is said, and build some concordances. So far what I've read.. and what we're going through right now..

Let me put it this way.. everything I've read tells me there's a great potential for cataclysmic events right now. And I think, even if a person knows nothing of prophecy and sees it all as a foreign language, 'Greek to me', which a person can actually overcome.. :) I know the feeling of that, I've been there... and disliked reading so many 'interpreters' reading things in, so my approach, going to the sources directly.. always my method truly.. so even if a person is like that..

You can tell just practically.. the world right now has great potential for great disasters to occur. This doesn't mean living in fear.. but it does mean being practically prepared for great things to potentially go wrong. In spirit, and to a degree materially.

We have New Orleans as an example of what happens when things break down.

One of the great examples of prophecy fulfilled, I might add is the prophecies of the Anglican schism and eventual rejoining, which we see occurring now I believe. :)


"He who survives those three days of darkness and horror will see himself as if alone, because the earth will be covered with cadavers".

St. Gaspar del Bufalo, founder of the Fathers of the Precious Blood, - d. 1837 A.D.
(Source: THE THREE DAY'S DARKNESS: PROPHECIES OF SAINTS AND SEERS by Albert J. Hebert, S.M)

The source cited is a book I do not have but definitely think I should pick up. The author also wrote, "Saints Who Raise the Dead: True Stories of 400 Resurrection Miracles"

"God will send two punishments; one will be in the form of wars, revolutions and other evils; it shall originate on earth. The other will be sent from Heaven. There shall come over the whole earth an intense darkness lasting three days and three nights. Nothing can be seen, and the air will be laden with pestilence which will claim mainly, but not only, the enemies of religion. It will be impossible to use any man-made lighting during this darkness, except blessed candles. He, who out of curiosity, opens his window to look out, or leaves his home, will fall dead on the spot. During these three days, people should remain in their homes, pray the Rosary and beg God for mercy."

Bl. Anna-Marie Taigi

I see I have more clips about this in my concordances than I thought.  Let's see what else do I have.

"God will send two punishments: one will be in the form of wars, revolutions and other evils; it shall originate on earth. The other will be sent from Heaven. There shall come over the whole earth an intense darkness lasting three days and three nights. Nothing will be visible, and the air will be laden with pestilence which will claim mainly, but not only, the enemies of religion."

"After the three days of darkness, St. Peter and St. Paul, having come down from Heaven, will preach in the whole world and designate a new Pope. A great light will flash from their bodies and will settle upon the cardinal who is to become Pope. Christianity, then, will spread throughout the world. He is the Holy Pontiff, chosen by God to withstand the storm. At the end, he will have the gift of miracles, and his name shall be praised over the whole earth."

Bl. Anna-Maria Taigi [Source: Desmond Birch, 'Trial, Tribulation, and Triumph' pp. 362-363]

Yes, this is almost all I have on it.

"All the nations will be shaken by war and revolution. During the three days of darkness, the followers of the evil cause will be annihilated, so that only one-fourth of mankind will survive."

Sister Marie of Jesus Crucified (19th Century) [Source: Dupot, 'Catholic Prophecy']

As always I go back to the Fatima message of Our Lady, which I think is a culmination of all prophecies. If Our Lady decided to perform the Miracle of the Sun, the greatest of miracles in our time She was trying to draw attention to what She was saying. If the Holy Father does not consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary , Russia will be the  instrument of great chastisements on earth. Will that period see the three days of darkness? I don't know. But She has provided us help for the coming difficult period. She emphasized on the daily Rosary, wearing the brown Scapular and Communion of Reparation on First Saturdays of five consecutive months. I think,  keeping a few blessed candles would be a good idea in case the three days of darkness came upon us in our lifetime. :)

Yes, blessed candles in any case are very useful regardless of what occurs. :)

Russia certainly has 'spread her errors' across the earth, that is especially all the fundamental concepts involved in Communism. It's a true shame to see it all taken so lightly. I want to say more from what I have read of the quotes I have but I still haven't gotten them all sorted out in my mind. I know that some seem related to Fatima -- there are some about wars, that I want to get a greater idea of who is participating in, if possible.

I am so much happier reading the moral advice of the saints, prophecy is difficult!  :D

I'd like to hear more on your research on Fatima.

Well, they say a meteor will eventually hit the earth and create all the things you guys are describing.  Also, all this fuss about 2012......  but, I think it is a simple matter of "when you see these things, look up to heaven and rejoice" and "to God, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day" and "no one knows the day or hour"  and yes, look for the signs.....but........  and I don't think the natural catastrophies are any more than usual throughout the history of the planet; nor the depravity and worse than it has always been........  but carry on......  :littlewings:

Oh no, now I have a song caught in my head 'Carry on'..  :littlewings:  :D


I'll try to write some more about it when I have it more figured out.  :D

Shin, you have compiled and wisely written about so many things! Thank you.

Patricia, what do you think about whether, if one has completed a set of Saturday of Reparations if one is advised to 'keep it up'.

Also, Shin, from what you've read do we really need to have Blessed candles made of beeswax or regular candles that have been Blessed? And do you think we can only use candles Blessed by a traditionalist priest?
These things are expensive and/or very difficult to find in this archdiocese (if the traditionalist priest is in communion with Rome, that is)? I know that some websites talk of this, but then sell "kits" or are otherwise materially involved and I don't trust them to not be biased and to speak the Truth.

Another somewhat natural phenomenon that has come about is our president canceling the National Day of Prayer. The idea of an Anti-Christ seems to be coming closer and closer.

Bailey2, the Church teaches that Scripture is to be read both literally (not literalistically as Fundamentalist churches do) and spiritually - we are to understand Scripture in the spiritual sense and as having been historically, now happening and future happenings. That's where prophecy enters in. Look at the OT. So your interpretation would not be wrong, although possibly incomplete? BTW, I think the hullaballoo about 2012 is most probably bogus.

What is OT?

Old Testament. Yesss! I knew that. :D

Brigid, Our Lady has asked for five consecutive Saturdays , but you can always continue for all your life.
About candles, I bought vanilla candles from Wal mart and got them blessed, but reading about what you asked, Brigid, am  wondering if I did the right thing. Shin, can you tell us about material of blessed candles?

Old Testament

Thanks, Patricia, for the information about the 5 first saturdays.

yeah, I figured that out driving to get my son........

And so what you say Brigid makes perfect sense to me...... thank you.

Thankyou, I'm glad I was able to explain it (at least somewhat) to you.

I read somewhere that Our Lady constantly prays for the world, and this has prevented the chastisements for a time... but the more sin there is in the world, the more time is running out. I feel that the sins of abortion, and the legalization of abortion and homosexuality, are bringing us closer and closer to the tribulation...... I don't know if I am right... but I've just felt this way for a while.

I feel this way, too - but look at the Roman Empire, they were terribly immoral and blood thirsty.

Looks that way. We have terrible earthquakes happening a dime a dozen. There were times when natural calamities were rare occurrences. :(

Well, the material thing I don't know where the quibble about them being beeswax or not comes from, and so I don't know how valid it is. I will look it up. Hmm.. given colony collapse disorder.. I wonder if beeswax is going to become rarer..

Ah-ha, it's Marie-Julie Jehanney, the Breton Stigmatist's revelations that mention the wax, they say, "The candles of blessed wax alone will give light during this horrible darkness. One candle alone will be enough for the duration of this night of hell... In the homes of the wicked and blasphemers these candles will give no light."

So people take this to mean the 'wax' is key to the candle working, which does not necessarily follow at least from that singular statement but otoh, does not necessarily not, and 'better safe than sorry' so to speak.

I've only read a little about her in the past, mostly from the Roman Catholic Sacramentals Foundation. I have the little booklet they put out about her.. somewhere. This disorganization since my move is a bit troublesome.

Now, Marie-Julie, I do not know how reliable she is offhand but I have no reason to particularly doubt her either -- some devout people quite like her -- I must say she certainly is associated with a plethora of sacramentals, a little overwhelming. In regards to something so minor as acquiring a few blessed beeswax candles rather than another kind, I think it's worthwhile to get them instead of something else. Wax and bees are important in Christian symbolism, you will often find bees on an altar bas relief, they symbolize loyal and devout servants of the Queen. Marie-Julie says one will be enough, I believe somewhere else someone said that the candle lit for those who are faithful, would not go out and would burn sufficiently. For my part, the way I lose and use things, I'd have two or three in any case, and I agree with what someone else said on another site about the matter, have the matches blessed too, you do not know whether your gas stove, or similar will work.

I always approve of getting the priests to bless as many objects as possible that you will be putting to a properly good use, as a general rule.

If one could find the candles in the popular devotion form, you know with an image of a Christ or Our Lady on them glass, I think that would be ideal too I might add.

Thanks for reminding me, sometimes I miss things and am forgetful besides. :)

I wish I could find that booklet on her.  :D

St Vicent Ferrer was born in 1357 and was an amazing saint. This sermon by the saint I found yesterday is one of the most enlightening I've heard on the subject of The End Times

St. Vincent Ferrer  -- Sermon on the Last Judgment
 
From: Angel of the Judgment: A Life of Vincent Ferrer, by S.M.C., Ave Maria Press. Chapter XI, pp. 102-117.  This entire chapter consists of the third of the sermons given on the second Sunday in Advent; on the last judgment.
   
Douay Translation of  Luke 21:25-28
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves;
26 Men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved;
27 And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with great power and majesty.
28 But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.
 
   Our sermon will. be on today's gospel, which consists entirely in the doctrine and instruction of Jesus Christ Himself. In this gospel He warns us of the great evils and tribulations which are to come at the end of the world, and tells us of the signs which will precede His coming in judgment. This subject will, I think, be of service to us. Let us begin with the Hail Mary.
 
   "There will be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars." By study of Holy Scripture and by factual experience we know that when any great and heavy affliction is about to come on the world, often some warning sign is shown in the sky or in the upper air. And this happens by the mercy of God, so that people forewarned of impending tribulation by means of these signs, through prayer and good works, may obtain in the tribunal of mercy a reversal of the sentence passed against them by God the judge in the heavenly courts; or at least by penance and amendment of life, may prepare themselves against the impending affliction.
 
   So, before the coming of any great mortality, phantom battles are seen in the sky; before famine there are earthquakes; and before a country is laid waste dreadful portents are seen. We are told of the terrible signs shown to the Jews for a length of time before the destruction of Jerusalem under Antiochus. "And it came to pass that through the whole city of Jerusalem for the space of forty days there were seen horsemen running in the air, in gilded raiment armed with spears like bands of soldiers. And horses set in ranks, running one against another, with the shakings of shields, and a multitude of men in helmets, with drawn swords, and casting of darts, and glittering of golden armor, and of harness of all sorts," (2 Macc 5:2,3). After this, Antiochus plundered the temple and slew the Jews. Therefore we read in Exodus: "And shall multiply signs and wonders in the land of Egypt," (Ex 7:3).
 
   Now among all afflictions, three of the greatest and most terrible are shortly to come upon mankind: first, the affliction of Antichrist, a man but a diabolical one; second, the destruction by fire of the terrestrial world; third, the universal judgment. And with these tribulations the world will come to an end. Therefore, according to the rule of divine Providence, as set out above, before these three, there will be warning signs in the heavens, in the sun and in the moon and in the stars, as is set out in our text.
 
   The first affliction to come on the world in a short space of time is the advent of Antichrist, a diabolical man, who will bring distress on the whole world as is implied in. today's gospel where it is said: "And upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves."
 
   In my text there are four clauses in which we are warned of the four ways in which Antichrist will deceive Christians. The first clause is this: "There will be sign, in the sun." You must know that in Holy Scripture Christ is called the Sun, and this is because, by the evidence of your own eyes, the sun is among the most beautiful of the creatures made by God. Taking the word etymologically, we have: S-O-L (Super omnia lucens), "Shining above all things." In the same way, Christ is more beautiful than all the saints, and shines above them all in the brightness of glory, not only inasmuch as He is God, but also as man. And as all the stars receive their light from the sun, who depends on nothing for its own brightness, so all the saints receive from Christ the brightness of glory, strength, sanctity, wisdom, understanding and influence. This is the reason why Christ is called the Sun, and under the same name of "Sun" God the Father sent Him into the world, saying: "But unto you who fear my name the Sun of justice shall arise" (Mal 4:2). This is not said of the natural sun. For the Church says in praise of the Virgin Mary: "For thou art happy, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise, for out of thee has arisen the Sun of Justice, Christ, Our Lord."
 
   The first clause tells us that there will be signs in the sun in the time of Antichrist; that is, there will be signs in Christ, and the precise sign is given by Saint Matthew saying: "The sun will not give its light." Such darkening does not happen with regard to the sun itself, for it is not in the nature of the sun to be darkened in itself. But by the interposition of clouds and vapor between the sun, and the earth the sun appears to be obscured. In the same way, in the time of Antichrist, the Sun of justice will be obscured by the interposition of temporal goods and the wealth which Antichrist will bestow on the world, inasmuch as the brightness of faith in Jesus Christ and the glow of good lives will no longer shine among Christians. For, lest they should lose their dominion, temporal rulers, kings and princes will range themselves on the side of Antichrist. In like manner, prelates for fear of losing their dignities, and religious and priests to gain honors and riches, will forsake the Faith of Christ and adhere to Antichrist. Now he will be a veritable man, but so proud that, not only will he desire to have universal dominion in the whole world, but will even demand to be called a god, and will insist on receiving divine worship. This we may gather from the second Epistle of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians (2:3): "For unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and is lifted up above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple of God, spewing himself as if he were a god."
 
   This will come about because Antichrist by the ministry of demons will possess all the gold and silver of the earth and seas, and pearls and all the precious stones that are in the world. As we read in Daniel (11:43) : "And he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver and all the precious stones of Egypt." With this wealth he will gather together in arms all the nations of the world, to fight against those who oppose him. As we read in the Apocalypse (20:7) : "He shall go forth and seduce the nations which are over the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog; and shall gather there together to battle the number of whom is as the sand of the sea."
 
   Observe that he will seduce the peoples, that is, with gold and silver and honors; Gog which signifies "hidden," and Magog which signifies "that which is disclosed," because both hidden and open evil are on his side. Then temporal lords and ecclesiastical prelates, for fear of losing power or position, will be on his side, since there will exist neither king nor prelate unless he wills it. For the same reason, religious, priests and laity will also uphold him. "There will indeed be signs in the Sun of justice, for then it will be obscured in the hearts of Christians, since from those hearts it will not give forth the light of Faith; all preaching of a better life will cease, owing to the interposition of the vapor and clouds of temporal goods. As we are told in Daniel (11.39) : "He will multiply glory and will give them power in many things and divide up the earth at his pleasure."
 
   I am asked why God permits this error among Christians, since He is God and the strongest cannot stand against Him? I answer by a dictum of theology taken from the Book of Wisdom (11:17) : "By what things a man sinneth, by the same also is he tormented." How do the peoples of the world sin against God today? They sin in order to gain honors, dignities and riches. Therefore, by honors, riches and dignities, God permits that Antichrist shall deceive them. If therefore you do not wish to be deceived, now with all your hearts contemn and despise all earthly goods, and long for those of heaven, considering that the goods of this world are transitory and empty, while heavenly and celestial goods are eternal. In this way you will be strong. Saint John gives this counsel: "Love not the world nor the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world the charity of the Father is not in him. And the world passeth and the concupiscence thereof" (1 Jn 2:15-17).
 
   The second clause says that there will be signs in the moon. You must understand that in the Holy Scriptures the moon signifies our holy Mother the Universal Church, which implies the world-wide union of Christians; for when men speak of the Church, they do not speak of the material building, or the stone and the walls which compose it, but of that gathering of the faithful under one Head, which is the Church in reality. The Church is signified by the moon and its five phases: first there is the new moon, then the waxing moon, next the full moon, to be followed by the waning moon, and lastly the old moon.
 
   The Church passes through these phases. The new moon signifies the Church of Christ in His own time; and as the new moon when first seen is like a bow-shaped thread with two horns following the sun, so the Church in the time of Christ had at first only two horns: Andrew and Peter who followed Christ. The waxing moon typifies the twelve Apostles, then the seventy-two disciples, then the three thousand converted by Peter on the day of Pentecost and so on. The full moon typifies the acceptance of the Gospel of Christ in every part of the world, in every kingdom and province. David says (Ps: 18.5) : "In the whole world their sound is gone forth, and their words to the ends of the earth."
 
   The waning moon typifies the inability of men to preserve what the Apostles had acquired. In the first place, the Church was lessened by the loss of the whole of India, by means of him they called John the Presbyter; the second, Assyria by means of one of their tyrants; the third, Africa by means of Mahomet; the fourth, the Greeks under their Emperor Constantine; the fifth, the Armenians with their king; the sixth, the Georgians with a certain pseudo-prophet; the seventh, the bad example of the Christians led by a certain heresiarch [Probably the Waldenses whom Vincent evangelized in the Alpine countries. We do not know the name of the individual heresiarch]; the eighth, the Italians with Bartholomew of Bari; the ninth, the French with Peter of Candia.
 
   The old moon, because the horns are reversed, typifies that the Church is no longer in the state in which Christ founded it. Christ founded the Church in great lowliness and poverty; now all this is turned round to pride, pomp and vanity, as may be easily seen in every rank of the Church. Mercy and liberality are changed into simony, usury and rapine; chastity becomes licentiousness, uncleanness and corruption; the brightness of virtue is changed into envy and malignity; temperance has become gluttony and voracity; patience has given place to anger, war and divisions among the peoples; diligence is superseded by negligence. Nothing is now left to make matters worse but an eclipse which is caused by the interposition of the earth between the sun and moon such as only occurs at full moon. As Isaiah says in 59:2: "Your sins have put a division between us." In the time of Antichrist, the Church, typified by the moon, will be eclipsed; because then she will not give her light, since Christians will no longer work miracles by reason of their sanctity; but Antichrist and his followers will work miracles, not true miracles, but false ones having the appearance of true miracles, in order that they may deceive the people. As Saint John says in the Apocalypse (13:13) : "And he did great signs, so that he made also fire to come down from heaven unto the earth in the sight of men," that is, balls of fire, such as it is within the power of the devil to send down, if God should permit this and does not prevent him; as we read in Job (1:16) : "And while he was yet speaking  another came and said: A fire of God fell from heaven and striking the sheep and the servants hath consumed them." O! The wonder of the people, this will be the downfall of many.
 
   You must know that Antichrist will perform other prodigies by the power of demons, and these will be true miracles according to the nature of things in themselves, but false in regard to the definition of miracle (i.e. by the power of God). For he will cause both images and babes of a month old to speak. The followers of Antichrist will question these statues or babies, and they will make answer concerning this lord who has come in the latter times, affirming that he is the savior. The devil will move their lips and form the words they utter when they declare Antichrist to be the true savior of the world; and in this way he will cause the destruction of many souls.
 
   And the Church, typified by the moon, will perform no miracles.
 
   Some say that such phenomena are not real miracles in the sense that raising the dead to life is a real miracle. I can give concrete examples of the dead being apparently raised to life, but such are only phantoms. For instance, in the same way as Christians raise dead people in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, so your dead father or mother may appear to speak to you; but in these latter times Christians will not be able to work similar miracles. Christ has warned us of these false miracles and signs, saying: "There will arise false christs and false prophets." That is to say, the sons of Christians who have already made shipwreck of their faith owing to the gifts of Antichrist. As Saint Matthew says (24:24) : "And they will show great signs and wonders in so much to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Behold I have told you beforehand."
 
   Suppose someone should ask: Why does Christ permit these works of destruction of Christianity by the devil? I answer according to the rule of Theology: "By what things a man sinneth, by the same also is he tormented." Since the people of the world sin against God by having recourse to the works of the devil, such as divination and fortune telling in their necessities—for instance, in order to find things they have lost, or to obtain health or children, instead of laying their needs before the omnipotent God—therefore God permits them to be deceived by the works of the demons.
 
   If you do not wish to be deceived, then place the whole of your faith and confidence in the name of Jesus Christ., and refuse to acknowledge any miracle unless it is worked in that same name; and so you will be strong against seduction. David says (Ps 39:5) : "Blessed is the man whose hope is in the name of the Lord; and who hath not regard to vanities and lying follies." The name of the Lord is Jesus. "And thou shalt call His name Jesus," (Lk 2:21). If you should receive any wound or hurt you should sign it devoutly with the Sign of the Cross.
 
   Antichrist arrogates to himself every other name of Christ, but as many of the saints tell us, he flies from the name of Jesus. Therefore, for that reason, the name of Jesus should receive the greatest respect from all Christians. Moreover, all the names of God, according to Saint Thomas Aquinas, should be honored in a sevenfold manner. Because the name of God is great it is to be feared; because it is holy it should be venerated; because it is sweet it should be savored in meditation; it is strong to save; rich in mercy; efficacious in impetration; and hidden in order to be discovered and known. He says also that the name of the Son of God is also the name of the father in a threefold way: for by it he is honored, invoked and manifested. He also says that in all the names given is also signified the name of Jesus, which is the sign of salvation, and therefore exceedingly to be honored.
 
   The third clause says that there will be signs in the stars. In the Sacred Scriptures "star" signifies "light-giving"; and so it is the appellation of Masters, Doctors, and Licentiates in Theology. This signification is found in Daniel (12:3) : "And they that are learned shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that instruct many to justice, as stars for all eternity." In these stars, that is learned men, there will be signs in the time of Antichrist; because, as Christ says in the Gospel of Saint Matthew (24:29) : "Stars shall fall from heaven"; and this is the third combat waged by Antichrist, that of disputation. Then stars, that is the learned, shall fall from heaven, that is, from the truth of the Catholic Faith. The disputations of Antichrist with the learned will be based entirely on the text of the Old Testament, and these doctors, so far from being able to answer him, will not even be able to speak. Then the stars, the masters, will fall from heaven, that is from the heights of the Faith. For, according to Daniel (11.36) : "And the king, Antichrist, will do all according to his will and will lift up and magnify all against God, and against the God of Gods he will speak great things;" that is, the matter of his blasphemies will be insoluble so far as men are concerned.
 
   You may ask again why Christ allows this, that those who defend the Faith should fail so utterly? I answer that Christ allows this for two reasons: first, according to the rule of theology: "By what things a man sinneth, by the same is he tormented;" and this follows from the fact that masters and teachers no longer care for study of the Bible, but prefer the study of the poets and other profane works.
 
   The second reason why Christ permits this, is because of the scandalous and wicked lives and the many sins of learned. men; for in the case of many of them, the greater their knowledge the greater also is their sin and the worse their consciences; for they are proud, puffed-up, wine-bibbers and the rest. He who can bind a lioness can easily bind a sheep; if therefore the devil can hold in chains the minds of the learned by reason of their evil lives, how much easier is it for him to bind the sheep that is their tongues—so that they cannot speak.. The ignorant are in much better case, for knowledge puffeth up, if therefore you wish to be strong, embrace the counsel of the Apostle Paul (1 Cor 2:5) : "That your faith might not stand on the wisdom of men but on the power of God." Reasoning and disputation are good for strengthening the intellect, but not for fortifying belief, since faith must be held from the motive of obedience, because Christ Himself has commanded us, announcing the gospel which the Apostles preached and Holy Mother Church has ordained. Therefore, O Lord, I believe.
 
   The fourth clause tells us: "And on earth distress of nations by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves." Behold these are the tortures which Antichrist will inflict, and on the earth distress of nations by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves. That is the preparations for battle, the sanding of the arena before the combat, which will be the work of the lords who are already on the side of Antichrist; because then no one will dare to name Christ nor the Virgin Mary under pain of death; and the waves are those of torments which have never in the past been so dreadful as those which will be inflicted by Antichrist. In Saint Matthew, Christ warns us (24:21): "For there shall then be great tribulation such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be. And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened." We read in the Apocalypse (17:10): "And when he shall come he must remain a short time," The Doctors in general say that Antichrist will reign for three and a half years only; which is the measure of a thousand and two hundred days and ninety days; "and from the time when the continual sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination unto desolation shall be set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days" (Daniel: 12:11).
 
  If I am asked why Christ permits the Christians to be so terribly persecuted, I answer : "By what things a man sinneth, by the same also is he tormented." Because now, at the present time, people are offending God by wars, divisions and false flattery, by feuds and duels, so Christ permits them to be torn in pieces and slain by Antichrist. If therefore, you do not wish to be slain and destroyed, be at peace and concord now with everyone, according to the counsel of the Apostle: "Have peace with all men; revenge not yourselves, my dearly beloved; but give place to wrath, for it is written : "Revenge is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord" " (Rom 12:18).
 
   The second evil or retribution will be the conflagration of the earthly world which is mentioned in the second part of the gospel of this Sunday: "Men withering away for fear and expectation of what is to come on the whole world; for the powers of heaven will be moved."
 
   After Antichrist has been slain by lightning on Mount Olivet and his death has been made widely known through out the world, this our earth will exist for forty-five more days; I do not say years, but days. This is clearly to be seen in Daniel (12:11) : "And from the time when the continual sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination of desolation shall be set up, there shall be one thousand, two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh unto the one thousand, three hundred and thirty-five days."
 
   The Doctors say that these forty-five days will be given by God for the conversion of those who have been seduced by Antichrist, but Antichrist will have left behind him so great riches and pleasure that hardly any of the nations will be converted to the Faith of Christ. For there is no savior but Christ, and yet they will not be converted.
 
   Then in the four parts of the earth, east, and west, and north, and south, fire will blaze forth by thee divine power, and as it presses forward, the whole world in succession will be set on fire until nothing of the other three elements will remain. Then, when men are made aware of the tumult and the fire and see the lightnings bursting forth from it, they will wither away for fear of the fire, and expectation of eternal damnation. The Apostle Paul, in the epistle to the Hebrews (10:27) says of this: "But a, certain dreadful expectation of the judgment and the rage of a fire shall consume the adversaries."
 
   "For the powers of heaven shall be moved." This is said to imply that the fire has no natural cause, as some people erroneously imagine, for they say that for forty years before the consummation of the world it will not rain. This fire, however, comes from the rigor of divine justice and acts through the ministry of angels, as it is shown in the saying: "For the powers of heaven shall be moved." This fire comes down, likewise, for the purification of the other three elements—earth, air and water—which have been infected and corrupted by the sins of men. Concerning this, David says (Ps 96:3): "A fire shall go before him and shall burn his enemies round about.  His lightnings have shone forth to the world; the earth saw and trembled. The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord; at the presence of the Lord of all the earth."
 
   You understand how sinners are the enemies of Christ; but why do they say, "and shall burn his enemies round about," when the good as well as the bad will be destroyed by the fire? The good and the friends of God will die in the fire it is true, but they will die without pain or suffering; but the wicked and God's enemies will die in the greatest pain and torment. Therefore, the enemies of God are named.
 
   Saint Thomas Aquinas speaks beautifully of this when he says that this last fire, inasmuch as it precedes the Judgment, will act as an instrument of God's justice. It will also act like natural fire, inasmuch as, in its natural power, it will burn both wicked and good and reduce every human body to ashes. Inasmuch as it acts as an instrument of God's justice, it will act in different ways with regard to different people. For the wicked will suffer intensely through the action of the fire, but the good in whom nothing is found which must be purged away will feel no pain from the fire, just as the three children felt nothing in the fiery furnace, although the bodies of these others will not be preserved as were those of the three children. And this will come to pass by the divine power, that without pain or suffering their bodies will be resolved into ashes.
 
   But the good in whom there is some stain to be purged away will feel the pain of this fire, more or less according to the merits of each. But they will be swiftly purged for three reasons. The first reason is that in them little evil is found, for they have been already in great measure purged by the preceding tribulations and persecutions. The second is that the living will voluntarily endure the pain; and suffering willingly endured in this life remits much more quickly than suffering inflicted after death. This is seen in the case of the martyrs, for if, when they came to die, anything worthy of purgation was found, it was cut away by the pruning knife of their sufferings. And the sufferings of the martyrs were short in comparison with the pains of purgatory. The third reason is that the heat of the fire gains in intensity what it loses through the shortness of the time. But in so far as the fire is active after the judgment its power only extends over the damned, since all the bodies of the just will be impassible.
 
"This is a serious thought for those who will not do penance. In that last day, how greatly the temporal lords and prelates of the Church will desire to do penance when they see the fire. But then such repentance will avail them nothing, because they are acting not from charity, but from servile fear. Therefore, do penance now, forgive injuries, make restitution of any ill-gotten goods, live up to and confess your religion; and let priests obtain breviaries. If it were certain that in a short time this town was going to be destroyed by fire, would you not exchange all your immovable goods for something that you could take away with you? So it is with the world, which in a short while is to be destroyed by fire. Therefore place your hearts in heaven, and your lips by speaking with reverence of God, and your works by doing good. This is Christ's counsel, saying: "Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth where the rust and moth devour and thieves break in and steal." Notice the word "rust," which is Antichrist, and "moth," which is fire, for these will devour all.
 
   The third evil will be the tribulation of the universal Judgment which is mentioned in the third part of this gospel. "Then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and majesty." After the destruction of the world by fire, Christ the Lord Judge, with the Virgin Mary and all the saints, will come to the judgment seated on a throne in the air. And the Archangel Michael will cry with a. loud voice, saying: "Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment."
 
   Then suddenly, by the divine power, all the dead, both good and wicked, will arise, children will rise with grown people and all will be gathered to the judgment. Even those who died in their mother's womb will be there, as Saint Thomas teaches, to accuse those through whose fault they died without Baptism. And the age at which all will rise will be thirty years.
 
   Christ Himself says concerning the General Judgment: "When the Son of Man shall come in His majesty, and all the angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the seat of His Majesty. And all the nations shall be gathered together before Him; and He shall separate them one from another as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He shall set the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left" (Mt 25:31-33). And the creed of Saint Athanasius: "At Whose coming all men must rise with their own bodies; and it will be rendered to every man according to his own deeds; those who have performed good works will go into eternal life, and those who have done evil into eternal fire."
 
   The sheep are the good and the goats are the wicked. Christ will say to the sheep on His right hand: "Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess ye the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." To the goats on His left He will say: "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels."
 
   The wicked will go into eternal punishment, the just into eternal life. But for the rest, no one will dwell in this world, because those things which are transitory and finite have passed away in their finite condition; movement has passed away.
 
   Therefore, the Church in the person of every Christian makes petition in the Office for the Dead: "Deliver me, O Lord, from everlasting death, in that tremendous day when the heavens and the earth are moved, when Thou shalt come to judge the world by fire."

This sermon is great riches! Thank you Martin!

'By what things a man sinneth, by the same also is he tormented.'

Wisdom 1:17

Is very striking to me, amongst so much else too.