December 18, 2024

World

Chronology of WW3 According to Catholic Prophecies

Mother & Refuge09 mins

Chronology of WW3 According to Catholic Prophecies Exploring Catholic Mystics’ Insights into Modern Global Tensions Catholic prophecy has long spoken of an apocalyptic conflict involving multiple nations, leading to divine chastisement and ultimate renewal. While World War III (WW3) is not explicitly named, the mystics and visionaries of the Church have described events that closely parallel the tensions unfolding in the modern world, including in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and beyond. Here is a detailed chronology, weaving prophetic revelations with contemporary geopolitics. 1. Prelude to the Conflict: Spiritual and Moral Decay Catholic prophecy often emphasizes that war is a consequence of humanity’s rejection of God. Our Lady of La Salette (1846): “The Church will be in eclipse, the world will be in dismay.” This foretells a widespread loss of faith and moral decay as precursors to global conflict. St. Faustina Kowalska (1930s): In her diary, she records Christ’s warning that mankind’s sinfulness could lead to great suffering: “If they do not repent, a greater punishment will come.” Modern parallels: Growing secularism and apostasy, even within the Church. Escalation of societal divisions over issues like abortion, gender ideology, and religious freedom. The global acceptance of moral relativism, which weakens the spiritual foundation of nations. 2. Geopolitical Flashpoints: The Middle East and Eastern Europe The Israel-Iran-Palestine Conflict Catholic mystics have hinted at the Middle East being a flashpoint for a great war. Fr. Stefano Gobbi (Marian Movement of Priests): He spoke of “a terrible crisis that will erupt in the heart of the Holy Land.” St. Nilus the Myrrh-Gusher (5th century): Prophesied a time of “wars erupting over sacred lands.” Modern developments: Rising tensions between Israel and Iran over nuclear weapons. The escalating Israel-Palestine conflict, marked by religious and territorial disputes, could spark wider regional warfare, drawing in global powers. The Russia-Ukraine War The Russia-Ukraine war aligns with prophecies regarding the role of Russia in future global conflict. Our Lady of Fatima (1917): “Russia will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church.” While this primarily referred to communism, the aggressive actions of Russia today are seen as part of this warning. Sr. Elena Aiello (1950s): “Russia will march upon all the nations of Europe, particularly Italy, and will raise her flag over St. Peter’s.” Modern developments: The ongoing war in Ukraine threatens to escalate, with NATO and other global powers increasingly involved. Potential alliances between Russia, China, and Iran add to the complexity, raising fears of a broader conflict. 3. The Spark: A Sudden and Global Escalation Catholic mystics have described WW3 as a sudden and unexpected eruption of violence that consumes the world. Blessed Elena Aiello: “Another terrible war will come from the East to the West. Russia with her secret armies will battle America.” Marie-Julie Jahenny: She foresaw civil wars, natural disasters, and invasions leading to a global conflagration. Modern parallels: The potential for a sudden attack by Iran or its proxies on Israel, leading to a broader Middle Eastern war. Russia’s growing aggression, potentially targeting other European nations. Cyberwarfare and nuclear threats heighten the risk of rapid escalation. 4. The Role of China and the East Catholic prophecy often includes references to the rise of powerful Eastern nations. St. John Bosco: In his visions, he saw an Eastern power invading Europe, causing widespread devastation. Our Lady of Akita (1973): “Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity.” Some interpret this as a reference to modern weapons, including those from Asia. Modern parallels: China’s growing military strength and alliances with Russia and Iran position it as a potential catalyst for WW3. Tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan could spark a broader Pacific conflict, involving the U.S. and its allies. 5. The Climax: The Three Days of Darkness The height of the conflict is marked by a supernatural event—the Three Days of Darkness. Blessed Anna Maria Taigi: She described the earth being engulfed in total darkness for three days. Only blessed candles would provide light, and those outside God’s grace would perish. Marie-Julie Jahenny: “The air will be infected, and storms of fire will fall from the sky.” This event symbolizes divine intervention to end the war, purging evil from the world. 6. The Aftermath: The Triumph of the Immaculate Heart After the chastisement, Catholic prophecies foretell a period of peace and spiritual renewal. Our Lady of Fatima: “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph, and a period of peace will be granted to the world.” St. John Bosco: In his visions, he saw the Church emerging victorious, guiding the world to a new era of faith. Modern hopes: These prophecies encourage the faithful to trust in God’s plan, even amid chaos. Devotion to the Rosary and the Sacred Heart are emphasized as means of spiritual protection. Spiritual Response Catholic prophecy, while foreboding, is ultimately a call to conversion. The faithful are urged to: Pray the Rosary daily for peace. Consecrate themselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Practice penance to atone for the sins of the world. Sources and Further Reading The Secrets of Fatima by Sister Lucia Prophecies of Blessed Elena Aiello The Mystical Revelations of Marie-Julie Jahenny St. John Bosco’s Dreams and Visions This detailed chronology ties together the warnings of Catholic mystics with the geopolitics of our time, emphasizing the need for prayer and trust in God as humanity faces its greatest trials.

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J.D. Vance’s Path to Catholicism: 13 Key Moments!

Mother & Refuge114 mins

By Matt McDonald National Catholic Register, Jul 2 Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance is one of the most overtly religious major politicians in America. Vance has written extensively about his life in faith, both in a mega-selling memoir and in a long essay that describes how a drug-using teenager with anger problems, family problems, school problems, and doubts about God became an accomplished, successful family man excited about being a Catholic. But nowadays, he’s also the most questioned of religious politicians, as pro-lifers ask if he’s still one of them. Where did he come from in faith? And how did he get where he is now? Vance, who comes from a long line of culturally Protestant Scots-Irish Americans from Appalachia, was baptized Catholic in August 2019. Below are 13 items about his meandering journey to Rome and the aftermath, drawn largely from his 3-million-copy-selling 2016 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” and a 6,777-word essay he wrote about his conversion for the Easter 2020 issue of The Lamp, a Catholic magazine.  1. J.D. Vance rarely went to church as a child. Vance was largely raised by his grandmother, whom he called “Mamaw,” who believed in Jesus and liked Billy Graham but didn’t like what she called “organized religion.” Vance wasn’t baptized as a child. The family members he spent the most time around generally didn’t go to church unless they were visiting their Appalachian ancestral home in Jackson, Kentucky. Even so, he says in his memoir, his grandmother had “a deeply personal (albeit quirky) faith.” 2. Vance had a crisis of faith as a child. When he was about 10, Vance had a moment of doubt. “Mamaw, does God love us?” he asked his grandmother after a major disappointment, mindful of the fractured family life he and his half-sister were growing up in. The question caused his grandmother to cry. Vance doesn’t say how his grandmother answered the question. But he describes another instance when Mamaw accidentally went the wrong way on a three-lane interstate before making a U-turn, causing him to scream in terror. “Don’t you know Jesus rides in the car with me?” his grandmother replied. 3. As a teenager, Vance was a Pentecostal. As an adolescent, Vance reconnected with his biological father, whom he hadn’t seen much of after his parents split up. For a while, he stayed with his dad every other weekend. “With little religious training, I was desperate for some exposure to a real church,” Vance wrote in “Hillbilly Elegy.” His father had given up drinking and became a serious Pentecostal, and he would take Vance to a large Pentecostal church in southeastern Ohio with his new wife and their children. Vance drank it in. Among other things, he rejected evolution and embraced millennialism, including a belief that the world would end in 2007. “I’m not sure if I liked the structure or if I just wanted to share in something that was important to him — both, I suppose — but I became a devoted convert,” Vance writes in his memoir. 4. Vance didn’t like the Catholic Church when he was a kid. Even before he started going to a Pentecostal church, Vance thought he knew certain things about Catholicism — which he didn’t like. “I knew that Catholics worshipped Mary. I knew they rejected the legitimacy of Scripture. And I knew that the Antichrist — or at least, the Antichrist’s spiritual adviser — would be a Catholic,” Vance wrote in his April 2020 article in The Lamp of his once-misguided impressions. 5. Vance’s image of Jesus when he was growing up differed from his image of the Catholic Church’s image of Jesus. One of Vance’s aunts married a Catholic, whom Vance liked and respected. “I admired my uncle Dan above all other men …,” Vance wrote in “Hillbilly Elegy.” His grandmother liked Dan, too. But Catholicism seemed too formal and impersonal to her. “The Catholic Jesus was a majestic deity, and we had little interest in majestic deities because we weren’t a majestic people,” Vance wrote in his conversion essay. 6. “Hillbilly Elegy” isn’t a conversion story. Vance mentions the word “Catholic” or “Catholics” only five times in the 264-page book, and he never engages with Catholic teachings in it. He wrote it between 2013 and 2015, several years before he became a Catholic, and gives no hint that he had ever considered Catholicism. He also doesn’t dwell in his book on his atheism as a young man, a period he describes at length in his conversion essay in The Lamp. 7. An Anglican philosopher provided the first crack in Vance’s atheism. While he was still a nonbeliever, Vance encountered the work of English philosopher Basil Mitchell (1917–2011) in an undergraduate philosophy course at Ohio State. As Vance describes it, Mitchell, who was a member of the Church of England, presented difficult experiences in life as a trial of faith that requires trust in God without fully understanding what God has in mind. Vance was surprised by Mitchell’s presentation because as a young Christian he had always thought that “[d]oubt was unacceptable” and “that the proper response to a trial of faith was to suppress it and pretend it never happened.” “But here was Mitchell,” Vance wrote in his conversion essay, “conceding that the brokenness of the world and our individual tribulations did, in fact, count against the existence of God. But not definitively.” Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance and former president Donald Trump bow in prayer during the last day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on July 18, 2024. Credit: KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images 8. A homosexual billionaire influenced Vance’s outlook on life. While a student at Yale Law School, Vance went to a talk by venture capitalist Peter Thiel, who was Facebook’s first outside investor and co-founded PayPal. According to Vance, Thiel argued that elite professionals got themselves trapped into climbing rungs on the socioeconomic ladder at the expense of happiness. Vance realized that he was “obsessed with achievement” for itself…

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How The World Looked When Jesus Was Born

Mother & Refuge09 mins

When our Lord Jesus Christ was born, around 4 BC, the world was a vast and intricate mosaic, held together by the immense power of the Roman Empire. To understand this sacred period, we turn to the insights of Roman geographers and historians, whose writings provide a window into the ancient world as it was when the Savior entered it. The Roman Empire: The Pinnacle of Civilization The Extent of the Empire At the time of Jesus’s birth, the Roman Empire was under the rule of Emperor Augustus, the first Roman emperor who had established the Pax Romana—a period of relative peace and stability across the empire. Roman geographers like Strabo and Pliny the Elder documented the expanse of Roman territories, which stretched from the British Isles in the northwest to Egypt in the southeast, and from Hispania (modern Spain) in the west to the regions of Syria and Judea in the east. Infrastructure and Urbanization The Romans prided themselves on their infrastructure. Roads, aqueducts, and cities were meticulously planned and constructed, facilitating trade, military movement, and communication. The Via Appia, one of the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads, connected Rome to the southern parts of Italy, exemplifying the empire’s engineering prowess. Economic and Cultural Hubs Cities like Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch were bustling centers of commerce, culture, and political activity. Roman geographers highlighted the significance of these cities not only as administrative centers but also as melting pots of different cultures, languages, and religions. Judea: The Birthplace of Jesus Geographical Significance Judea, where Jesus was born, was a small but significant province in the Roman Empire. Situated at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe, it was a land of diverse peoples and cultures. Roman geographers described it as a region of strategic importance, lying along vital trade routes and connecting various parts of the empire. Political Climate The political landscape of Judea was complex. It was under Roman occupation, with local governance often in the hands of client kings like Herod the Great. The Roman presence was marked by a blend of direct rule and local autonomy, a system designed to maintain stability while extracting resources and loyalty from the local populace. Socio-Economic Conditions The economy of Judea was largely agrarian, with agriculture forming the backbone of daily life. Roman records indicate that the region produced olives, figs, and dates, which were vital for both local consumption and export. The social fabric of Judea was a tapestry of various groups, including Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles, each with its own customs and religious practices. Beyond the Roman Frontiers: The Known World Neighboring Civilizations Roman geographers were aware of civilizations beyond the empire’s borders. To the east lay the Parthian Empire, a formidable rival known for its skilled horsemen and archers. The Silk Road, a series of trade routes connecting the East and West, brought goods and ideas from as far as China and India into the Roman sphere of influence. The African Continent Africa was known to the Romans through their interactions with Egypt and the kingdom of Kush. The Nile River was a critical artery for trade and transportation, and Roman geographers like Strabo described the wealth of Egypt in terms of its grain production, which was essential for feeding the population of Rome. Northern Europe and the Barbarian Tribes To the north, beyond the boundaries of the Roman Empire, lay the territories of various barbarian tribes. The Romans had frequent encounters—both hostile and peaceful—with these groups, whose lands were characterized by dense forests and rugged terrain. Roman geographers often depicted these regions as mysterious and untamed, inhabited by peoples with different customs and ways of life. The Worldview of Roman Geographers Maps and Descriptions Roman geographers created maps and wrote extensive descriptions of the known world. While these maps were rudimentary by modern standards, they reflected the Roman understanding of geography and their place within the world. The “Orbis Terrarum,” or the map of the world, often placed Rome at the center, symbolizing its perceived role as the heart of civilization. Cultural Exchange and Knowledge The Roman Empire was a conduit for cultural exchange. The spread of ideas, technologies, and religious beliefs was facilitated by the empire’s extensive network of roads and trade routes. This period saw the mingling of Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Near Eastern cultures, creating a rich tapestry of intellectual and cultural life. Conclusion The world at the time of Jesus’s birth was a dynamic and interconnected realm, intricately described by Roman geographers. From the bustling streets of Rome to the sacred landscapes of Judea, the Roman Empire was a complex mosaic of cultures, economies, and political entities. Understanding this context enriches our comprehension of the historical and cultural backdrop into which Jesus was born, lived, and preached—a world poised between tradition and transformation, seeking meaning and connection in a vast and varied landscape. As Catholics, we believe that Jesus entered this world at the appointed time, fulfilling the prophecies and bringing salvation to humanity. The richness of the Roman world, with its diversity and interconnectedness, provided the perfect stage for the spread of the Gospel. The birth of Jesus in a humble manger in Bethlehem marked the beginning of a new era, one where divine love and redemption were made manifest in the world. Let us reflect on the profound significance of this moment, understanding that the Savior came into a world much like our own, full of challenges and opportunities, to bring us closer to God and to one another.

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Dreaming of A Co-Housing of Christ Followers in Australia?

Mother & Refuge03 mins

Dreaming of A Co-Housing of Christ Followers in Australia? Have you ever considered the possibility of being part of a housing development that Lives, Glorifies and Celebrates Christ the King? A place where there is scope for private family living surrounded by opportunities for community, connection, sharing and exchanges with other families and individuals dedicated to the values of Biblical teachings living with a Love of Christ as the corner stone and core foundation of their life. Our family is interested in investigating the possibilities of creating such a community with other Christ families and individuals living in Australia or wanting to establish roots hear. We have identified a large parcel of land which includes 5 cottages and 16 Motal Units (suitable for conversion into studio apartments), a convention hall with commercial kitchen and a second Octagonal Meeting Hall waiting to be transformed and consecrated into a Church. This property located at the border of Victoria and New South Wales backs on to High Country State forests, has several water catchments, fruit orchids and organic gardens set up and ready for rejuvenation. If you are wondering how private and communal can be brought together formally under an umbrella of Christian values please see Co Housing Australia’s web site:-  https://cohousing.com.au/ and also Tasman Village Co Housing https://tasmanecovillage.org.au/ and https://www.visitecovillagefindhorn.uk/ as examples of what can be created by people coming together with common values and a common vision of ideal living. If you are inspired to commence conversations and investigations please contact Christabel via email: – [email protected]  

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Bible Facts Verified by Science

Mother & Refuge015 mins

The Bible, a collection of ancient texts revered by millions around the globe, has been a subject of faith, study, and sometimes skepticism. Over the years, many stories within its pages have been scrutinized, with some dismissing them as myths. However, scientific discoveries and archaeological evidence have increasingly shed light on several biblical events, providing a fascinating convergence of faith and science. Here, we explore fifteen instances where science has verified facts mentioned in the Bible. 1. The Great Flood One of the most well-known stories from the Bible is that of Noah’s Ark and the Great Flood. Geological evidence suggests that a significant flood event did occur. Researchers have found evidence of massive flooding in the Mesopotamian region, particularly around 2900 BCE. Sediment layers indicate that a catastrophic flood could have swept through the area, supporting the notion that the story of Noah may have roots in a real historical event. 2. The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah The Bible describes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as being destroyed by divine judgment due to their wickedness. Recent archaeological findings at the site of Tall el-Hammam in Jordan suggest that a sudden and catastrophic event did indeed obliterate a large urban center in the region. The evidence includes a layer of high-temperature destruction debris, which scientists believe could be the result of a meteoritic airburst around 1700 BCE. 3. The Exodus and the Red Sea The story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt and the miraculous parting of the Red Sea is another cornerstone of biblical narrative. Some researchers suggest that strong winds could have created a natural land bridge through a process known as “wind setdown.” This phenomenon has been observed in modern times and could explain how the Israelites crossed safely. 4. The Fall of Jericho According to the Bible, the walls of Jericho came tumbling down after Joshua and the Israelites circled the city, blowing trumpets. Excavations at the ancient city of Jericho have revealed collapsed walls dating back to around 1400 BCE, which corresponds with the biblical timeline. Archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon’s findings indicated that the city was indeed destroyed in a sudden and violent manner, possibly by an earthquake. 5. King David’s Existence The discovery of the Tel Dan Stele in northern Israel in 1993 provided the first extrabiblical evidence of King David’s dynasty. This inscription, dating to the 9th century BCE, contains references to the “House of David,” significantly bolstering the historical credibility of the biblical narrative concerning Israel’s famous king. 6. The Hittite Empire The Bible mentions the Hittites numerous times, but their existence was doubted until the late 19th century. Archaeological excavations in modern-day Turkey uncovered the ruins of Hattusa, the capital of the Hittite Empire, confirming their historical presence and influence in the region. 7. The Pool of Bethesda The Gospel of John describes the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem as having five porticoes. In the 19th century, archaeologists discovered the remains of this pool, complete with its five porticoes, validating the New Testament account. 8. The Assyrian Siege of Lachish The Bible recounts the Assyrian siege of Lachish in 701 BCE. Archaeological excavations at Lachish have uncovered a mass of Assyrian military artifacts and destruction layers that corroborate the biblical description of the siege by King Sennacherib. 9. The Babylonian Exile The Babylonian Exile, as described in the Bible, involved the deportation of the Jewish population to Babylon. Cuneiform tablets, such as the Babylonian Chronicle, confirm the capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II and the subsequent exile of its inhabitants. 10. Pontius Pilate Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who presided over the trial of Jesus, was once thought to be a mythical figure. However, the discovery of the Pilate Stone in 1961, an inscription bearing his name and title, confirmed his historical existence. 11. The Existence of Nazareth Skeptics once doubted the existence of Nazareth during Jesus’ time. Archaeological excavations, however, have unearthed first-century homes and artifacts, confirming that Nazareth was indeed inhabited during this period. 12. The Cyrus Cylinder The Bible speaks of Cyrus the Great allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. The Cyrus Cylinder, an ancient clay artifact, corroborates this account, detailing Cyrus’s decree that permitted exiled peoples to return to their homelands. 13. The Tunnel of Hezekiah The Bible describes King Hezekiah constructing a tunnel to bring water into Jerusalem. In the 19th century, this tunnel was discovered, and its inscription confirms it was built during Hezekiah’s reign, around 701 BCE. 14. The Dead Sea Scrolls Discovered between 1947 and 1956, the Dead Sea Scrolls include some of the oldest known manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible. These scrolls have provided significant insight into the textual accuracy and history of the Bible’s transmission. 15. The Siege of Jerusalem The Bible and historical records describe the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Archaeological evidence, including remnants of siege works and destruction layers, supports the biblical account of the city’s fall and the destruction of the Second Temple. The Bible, while primarily a spiritual and moral guide, occasionally touches on themes that intersect with the natural world, from biology and chemistry to the cosmos. Here are ten intriguing instances where modern science has confirmed or supported biblical references in these fields. 1. The Life Cycle and Biology of Human Beings Biblical Reference: Psalm 139:13-16 describes the intricate formation of a human being in the womb, acknowledging the complexity and wonder of human development. Scientific Insight: Advances in embryology and genetics have revealed the astonishing complexity of human development, from conception through birth. The precise orchestration of genetic material, cellular differentiation, and developmental stages aligns with the psalmist’s awe at the formation of life. 2. The Origin of Elements Biblical Reference: Genesis 2:7 states that God formed man from the dust of the ground. Scientific Insight: Modern chemistry confirms that the human body is composed of elements such as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, all of which are found abundantly in the…

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Saint Therese: Herald of the Apocalypse?

Mother & Refuge03 mins

Who could describe as “sweet” the reading of a book that gives an account of the rise of the Anti-Christ, the tribulations that will mark the end times, followed by meditations on death, judgment, Heaven and Hell? “Reading this book was one of the greatest graces of my life …The impression I received from it is too sweet to express. All the great truths of religion and the mysteries of eternity plunged into my soul a happiness not of this earth.” So wrote Saint Thérèse in her autobiography about End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life, a book she cherished for preparing her for the trials of monastic life as well as the happiness of Heaven. Here we might be inclined to dismiss Saint Thérèse. We might say: “Sure—Saint Thérèse would enjoy a book like that! She’s a great saint in Heaven who had a high tolerance for pain and suffering in this life!  She was confident in the glory that awaited someone with her sanctity—but what about the rest of us?” Such statements, I believe, misread Therese, misread the book, and misunderstand the sovereignty of God. Thérèse had no illusions about either the trials or the brevity of life; she was no stranger to physical and interior suffering; her discipleship shielded her from no cross. What made the book “sweet” for her was its account of Christ’s inevitable triumph—the victory won at Calvary, a victory confirmed by the Resurrection, a victory we are offered a share in by grace. More than that: Saint Thérèse was sure, in a way that I think most of aren’t, that Christ the King—crucified, risen and returning—is our King who is reigning right now. Read More with Aleteia  

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Support Father Calloway’s ministry! Mother and Child Medal

Mother & Refuge01 mins

Custom made medal by Laboure Medals. This medal is made out of a nickel alloy and finished with Anitique Nickel. It is high quality. I am currently selling 100 medals which were created to raise money for Father Calloway’s ministry. The medal is unique to Laboure Medals and can only be purchased here on Etsy. All money goes to Father Calloway’s ministry. The medal can be engraved by your local engraver. BUY & SUPPORT https://motherandrefuge.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_3862_jrumwb.mp4

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“What’s the Point?”: End Times and Using the Time We Have Left

Mother & Refuge011 mins

What is the purpose of the Christian life? Or we might ask even more simply: What’s the point? As the Church year comes to an end, this essential question is brought into sharp focus. The answer is as simple as it might be unpopular: we’re waiting for the fulfillment of time and of hope-filled promises of an untold future. We are awaiting the return of Christ. We “wait in joyful hope,” or something vital is missing from our individual faith. Talk of heaven and hell, death and judgment can be uncomfortable for Christians, and if the naive concepts of heaven’s “streets paved with gold” and hell’s “fire” shape the lives of some believers, these Sunday school images are neither what we are about, nor the best foundations for a way of living. So we have to be careful not to allow “end times” imaginings to overshadow the truth of God’s kingdom. Still, in the final weeks of the liturgical year, “end times” readings permeate our liturgical worship to a point that might seem unnecessarily negative and even macabre, especially for those Christians who have had the threat of judgment used as a weapon against them, like a divine hammer hovering always just above their heads, and ready to strike. The liturgical texts for the end of the Church year, like the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30) and the Lesson of the Fig Tree (Mark 13:24–32), offer us important insights into what our expectant waiting should be like. In the Parable of the Talents, a wealthy man gives talanton to his slaves—five, two, or one, “according to their ability.” One “talent” was worth 6,000 days’—or 16 years’—wages. The slaves with five and two talents succeeded in doubling their master’s money; the slave with the single talent buried it in the ground to avoid the risk of losing it. The master in the parable rewards the first and second slaves, but the third slave who buried the money out of fear was condemned as being “wicked and lazy” and thrown “into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” Some might use this passage from the Gospel as an opportunity to reflect on economic inequality but we can’t ignore that the Church has chosen this text at the end of the year, and paired it with a passage from Proverbs 31, which praises the productive activity of the God-fearing woman. She stands in stark contrast to the timid servant of the Gospel who was so frightened of failure that he chose not to act at all. The point of the pairing is that we are supposed to use the time we have to do something. We not only have to foster and develop the unique gifts that have been entrusted to each of us, we must also allow those gifts to enrich the world around us. Each day is itself a gift, and if we are truly living for the future, we have an obligation to make the most of today. But these last days of the Church year should also inspire us to act with urgency because, as Paul reminded the Thessalonians, the Lord will return “as a thief in the night.” We will hear the same theme repeated in Advent, as we watch and wait for the coming of Christ in the celebration of his birth in history, in his presence among us today in mystery, and in his final coming in majesty. Amid talk about the decline of Christianity and of a post-Christian society, I wonder whether so many branches of Christianity are in decline because so many Christians have lost a sense of purpose and the urgency of now in the work we have been called to: feeding and clothing the poor, comforting those who mourn, protecting the innocent and the victimized, healing the sick and addicted, and raising up those who have fallen down. Acts of selfless charity and hospitality are the most effective means of spreading the Gospel. Government can’t do it all, nor should we want it to, because we are called to minister to the world, and we mustn’t consign that responsibility elsewhere. We do well to remember and take comfort in the words of the Basil Hume, a Benedictine monk and Cardinal-Archbishop of Westminster, who is remembered as a wise, faithful and compassionate pastor: A priest started his homily at a funeral by saying, “I am going to preach about judgment.” There was dismay in the congregation. But he went on: “Judgment is whispering into the ear of a merciful and compassionate God the story of my life which I had never been able to tell.” It is a very great encouragement to think of being in the presence of God who is both merciful and full of compassion, because God knows me through and through and understands me far better than I could ever know and understand myself, or anyone else. Only he can truly make sense of my confused and rambling story … The time will come for each of us to appear before our God to render an account of our lives. It will not be a frightening moment, unless to the bitter end we have turned away from him or consciously ignored him. Instead it will be a moment of deliverance and peace when we can whisper into his merciful and compassionate ear the story of all our years, and be forgiven and made whole. The Gospel requires us to be open to change, and to a way of life that is far different from what we might choose for ourselves. This is what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “the cost of discipleship” and what Søren Kierkegaard was thinking of when he wrote of admirers and followers of Christ: A follower is or strives to be what he admires. An admirer, however, keeps himself personally detached. He fails to see that what is admired involves a claim upon him, and thus he fails to be or strive to be what he admires. These final days of the Church year provide the answer to our question to the “point” of…

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Italian Catholics reverting to ancient Roman gods, seers, and sorcerers 

Mother & Refuge010 mins

A startling number of lapsed Catholics in Italy are reverting to the deities of ancient Rome and turning to pagan seers, astrologers and psychics, attesting to a potentially catastrophic collapse of Catholicism in its traditional bastion.  Over 160,000 sorcerers are doing brisk business in the occult and New Age practises, with over three million Italians consulting the so-called “maghi” every year for advice. This involves shelling out an astronomical  €8 billion, according to data from the Osservatorio Antiplagio.  Between 10 to 13 million Italians – almost all of them baptised Catholics – have turned to sorcerers or witches at least once in their lives; while 30,000 Italians from all classes of society seek out psychics and visionaries daily, in a quest for a better future, the Codacons agency states.  The epicentre of witchcraft and occultism is in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, with 2,800 occult operators and 200,000 clients – numbers that far exceed the percentages of resident Catholic priests and Catholics who attend Holy Mass on a weekly basis.  A survey conducted in 2023 by the market research company SWG found that 34 per cent of Italians believe or engage in necromancy, 24 per cent in black magic, 19 per cent in predicting the future with cards, 18 per cent in white magic, and 17 per cent in psychic or occultic healers. In 2019, Pope Francis warned Italians “not to seek happiness by following smoke vendors – who are often vendors of death – experts in illusion”, a reference that was interpreted by Italian media as a caution against the proliferation of witchdoctors.  A year later, the Holy Father reiterated his admonition in his Epiphany homily, urging his flock not to follow “magicians, fortune tellers, [or] sorcerers” lest “you risk becoming idol-addicts”. In an Angelus address in July 2023, the pontiff cautioned Catholics to reject beliefs “in superstitions, such as magic, tarot cards, horoscopes and other similar things”, noting that “many, many Christians go to have their palms read”. Recent figures confirm the findings of a doctoral thesis submitted by Stefano Falappi to the University of Bergamo (2012), titled Education, Religious Diversity and Non-religious Beliefs, which demonstrated that it is no longer the Catholic religion dominating Italy but “religious diversity and non-religious beliefs in the increasingly pluralistic Italian context”. Meanwhile, in a parallel phenomenon, Italians disenchanted by the Church are claiming they have found an authentic spirituality by returning to their roots and reclaiming the pagan gods of ancient Rome.  The “Via romana agli dei” (“Roman road to the gods”) is a religious movement comprising various neopagan sects declaring themselves to be part of the European Congress of Ethnic Religions (ECER).  Practitioners of the Roman cult argue that even though their ancestors were persecuted after “the doomed and execrable Second Edict of Theodosius” in 392 AD, their rituals survived more overtly in rural Italy and secretly in upper-class Italian culture.   While several pagan deities survived, alledgedly, in Catholic guise, as “many goddesses are masked behind very specific Madonnas; many saints are gods and spirits in disguise”, and poets like Dante “kept memory of the Roman tradition, in an [apparent] syncretism with Christianity”. Since the late 1980s, many associations have revived the Roman cult in public, ranging from “little more than historical reenactment”, to others being “influenced by pre-20th century para-masonic influences”.  The Turin-based Centre for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR) lists the esoteric cults under the category of the Roman Traditionalist Movement, with neopagan adherents numbering over 230,000 in 2017, a 143 per cent increase over 10 years. A leading neopagan association is the Communitas Populi Romani, which describes itself as an “association of free men who recognise themselves holding to the same spiritual and cultural values ​​as the ancient religion of Rome, public or private”. Neophytes are encouraged to firstly, “set up a space dedicated to the deities in your home so that you can begin to offer to your gods”, and secondly, to “ritualise following the main holidays that are remembered by the Kalendarium”. “The Roman religion is fundamentally a collectivist and convivial religion, it does not leave much room for individualism and personalism which often led – and still leads – to condemnable superstitious practices,” adherents are told.  On 10 February 2024, an eclectic group of enthusiasts from the Communitas Populi Romani assembled near the ancient Roman Forum to express their devotion to the deities Juno, Jupiter and Apollo. Luca Fizzarotti, a computer programmer who joined the movement after he had a spiritual crisis, told Religion News Service (RNS) he was a catechist and practicing Catholic for many years but that “I had a very bad experience and had to leave my Church”.  Fizzarotti fell in love with a practitioner of Kemetic Orthodoxy, a cult based on the ancient Egyptian religious faith. “In the beginning I could not really understand [it], then as I slowly learned about the pagan community, I found a way to live out my spirituality,” he explains. Though Fizzarotti acknowledges that it was moving in with his girlfriend that sparked his interest in Roman paganism, the primary motivation behind the likes of him and others joining the pagan-influenced movement is a fascination with what Italian writer Andrea Angelini labels “Roman Polytheistic Reconstructionism”, rather than any New Age-type sexual incentives such as polyamory.  Proponents of the movement emphasise “harmony with ancient spirituality”, ethics of “duty to the divine”, and virtues of Fides (the reciprocity of commitment and the given word that binds the two parties), Pietas (justice, respect and devotion towards the gods), and Religio (correct execution of the rite which guarantees the favor of the gods).  “We all believe in the gods, we make rituals at home, we have devotion temples at home, we have our priests and officiants,” Donatella Ertola told RNS.  “I found in polytheism a new strength,” Antony Meloni, an airport construction worker, stressed. “I was looking for something that monotheism didn’t give me.”  Latinist and Rome-based researcher Lorenzo Murone told the Catholic Herald that the Catholic Church in Italy was fighting a losing battle against such cults because of its unwillingness to engage in “intentional evangelism”. 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HOLY ANGELS SEAL THE COMMUNITIES | PODCAST

Mother & Refuge0144 mins

(Please wait till load & click play button) Part A Part B Subtitles  (You can download if interested) Powered By EmbedPress HOLY ANGELS SEAL THE COMMUNITIES With Their Queen Mary, our Guardian Angels and the Sealed Angels for the Last Times, United with the Whole of Heaven, all will Help God’s children far beyond all human measure, to abandon all things and submitunconditionally to God, so that all that God’s Love Wills may be accomplished in them. The main task of some Angels is the apocalyptic battle, while others Seal the communities of God in the Last Times against the terrors of the infernal powers. The Angels will enclose in these communities love and fidelity, duty and measure, growth, beauty, and the Mercy of God, when outside everything falls in ruin. Through this Love of God, the children will be protected and safe. There will flourish holiness and purity, and a maximum of love in the Church undreamt ofbefore. And that time will Dawn of which it is written in the Gospel, that young men will have visions and men will be permitted to look upon the Glory of God’s Kingdom. What is, after all, the Work of the Angels and theknowledge of the Angels, if not such a Gracious Descent of the Kingdom of God?God has made His Covenant also with you, O man! Every day the Priest lays the pledge of God’s Fidelityupon your lips. Take care that the broken crown of Divine Childhood does not one day lay at the feet ofyour Angel. 2 Timothy 2:19 – “But the Sure Foundation of God standeth Firm, having this Seal: the Lord Knoweth who are His; and let everyone depart from iniquity who nameth the Name of the Lord.”The Return of Christ – Mark 13:24-27 – “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give its light, and the stars shall be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. Then they shall see the Son of Man Coming in Clouds with Great Power and Glory. And then He shall send forth the Angels and shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.” Our Lady to Father Gobbi, Marian Movement of Priests #63 – Dongo (Como, Italy); December 7, 1974 – “Therefore, in order to recognize this Action of Mine, you Must have the eyes of a little child, the mind of a littlechild, the heart of a little child. You Must again become simple, humble, recollected, poor, innocent. You Must truly become once again those little children to whom alone will be Revealed the Plans of God, the Mysteriesof the Kingdom of God.” From The Apostles by Pope Benedict XVI – “The subject of one of the most important visions of the Book of Revelation is this Lamb in the act of opening a Scroll, previously closed with Seven Seals that no one hadbeen able to break Open. Of the nine choirs of Holy Angels, one choir are Angels of Love, who go over all of Creation. And precisely in this choir, Almighty God brought together the Sealed Angels of the Last Times; we know them out of theApocalypse: the seven who go out to Seal the communities of God, and the three who call to judgment; and again seven, who pour the bowls of God’s Wrath over the earth, and three, who go out to harvest. The Angelswith the seven trumpets (Apocalypse) come from other choirs. The Seals signify a locking up. Seven Angels go out to Seal the communities.These Sealed Angels are Angels of the Last Times, which means they will have their greatest force and their actual work in the Last Times: seven of them go out to Seal the communities of God from the horrors of the LastTimes; against the onslaught of the Evil One in the Last Time; against the horrors of the devastation. The Seven Angels to Seal the Communities:1. Seals Love – Seals growth in those in the Church persevering in love and fidelity in God.2. Seals the Gates – Protects those striving and longing in affliction.3. Seal-Angel of the Bride of Christ – Preserves the beauty of the Spouse of Christ.4. Seals Duty – Locks up the consciousness of duty and fidelity to God.5. Angel of Mercy – Throws out Mercy and bring in the catch of God.6. Seals Dark Faith – Seals the ship of the Angels with Mary, for the community to be a guiding light for others.7. Seals Order and Measure – Connects love and measure, justice and law for Judgement. Before the Judge Comes upon the Clouds, once more He will send out very Powerful Angels, to Shake the earth and Remind it of the Omnipotence and Sovereignty of God. These Actions of the Holy Angels can be recognized in the Good works of Popes throughout time, and certainly in these times. From the Book of Heaven – the writings of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta:V14 – 4.25.22 – “I, Jesus, place thousands of Angels as Custodians of One Single Act done in My Will. In fact, since these Acts done in My Will are Seeds so that My Will may be done on earth as It is in Heaven, All areJealous of these Acts. Their Dew is My Breath; their Shadow is My Light. The Angels remain Enraptured by them and, Reverent, they Adore them, because in these Acts they see the Eternal Will, that Deserves All theirAdoration. And only when I find other souls who, picking them as Divine Fruits, make of them Food for their souls, then are these Acts Left. O! the Fecundity and Multiplicity of these Acts! The creature herself who doesthem cannot count them.” V14 – 11.11.22 – “Therefore I tell you, True daughter of My Volition, First Happy Birth from My Will – Be Attentive and Faithful to…

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