IT MUST be true that the devil messes up people who try to do things of and for God. That's why we should always pray for priests, including the most imperfect ones, especially these days when the forces of hell seem all in fury against them. We need priests especially in our apocalyptic times. They are what Jesus described to mystic Maria Valtorta as "stars" to guide us through the darkness of our decadent.
And yes, the devil also worms his way through the concerns of lay people, including mystics, and those trying to spread their messages. I could thus explain the redundancy of the first paragraph in my last column which used the word "widespread" twice in one phrase that caused me grammatical agony. The devil did it? On second thoughts, that would be giving the devil too much credit. The fault must have been, as usual, on my propensity to let go of written work without the benefit of a second look... a mortal sin for one who writes.
With all the recent and credible mystics warning of an apocalypse (some have declared it has started), I can only react with obedience, at times with reluctance because of the fear the messages would cause in people, but always carried off by how the Blessed Mother justifies all: to save souls from eternal hell.
So I continue with messages revealed to mystic Blessed Elena Aiello of Italy, who died in 1965 and is now a candidate for sainthood.
On December 8, 1956, feast of the Immaculate Concepcion, the Blessed Mother told Elena: "The times are grievous. The whole world is in turmoil, because it has become worse than the time of the deluge....
"Everything is in suspense, like a thread; when this thread breaks, the justice of God will fall like a thunderbolt and will complete its terrible course of purification."
On March 23, 1961, the Blessed Mother also said: "My daughter, the scourge is near. Much is spoken of peace, but all the world will soon be at war, and the streets will be stained with blood! No gleam of light is seen in the world, because men live in the darkness of error, and the enormous weight of sin angers the justice of God....
"All nations will be punished, because sin has spread all over the world! Tremendous will be the punishments, because man has arrived at an insupportable contest with his God and Father, and has exasperated His infinite Goodness!
"Many iniquitous and wicked leaders of the people, who live and drag along with them their people outside the laws of God, showing themselves in sheep's' clothing, while being rapacious wolves, have ruined society, stirring it up against God and His Church...
"How can the world be saved, from the disaster that is about to crash down upon the misleading nations, if man does not repent of his errors and failings? The only salvation is a complete repentance and return to God, and a true devotion to my Immaculate Heart, particularly in the daily recitation of my Rosary...
"Once there was the chastisement by water, but if there is not a returning to God, there will come the chastisement by fire, which will cover the streets of the world with blood...
"My heart of Mother and Mediatrix of men, close to the mercy of God, invites, with many manifestations and many signs, the people to penance and to pardon. But they respond with a storm of hate, blasphemies and sacrilegious profanations, as if blinded by an infernal rage. I wish prayers and penance, in order that I may again obtain mercy and salvation for many souls - otherwise they will be lost." (End of Quote.)
In 1959, it was Jesus Christ, appearing with His body with the wounds of His last agonies, told Elena: "Do you wish to unite with Me in My agony? See how much I suffer! The sins of men have reduced me to this! What bitterness is poured into this Heart, pierced by many souls, who instead of loving me with sacrifices, and in flight from sinful vanities of the corrupt world, commit much iniquity.
"Help me to suffer by consoling my grieved Heart, and make reparation for the many sins. Oh my beloved bride, if you knew the pain that my Heart suffers from the loss of so many souls! Satan travels victorious over all the sinful earth. I need generous souls to appease the outraged justice of the Father, because the world is headed for imminent ruin. The hours of darkness are near!" (End of quote.)
And then, the Blessed Mother appeared and told Elena: "This great mantle which you see, is the expression of my mercy for covering sinners and for saving them. Men, instead, cover themselves with even more filth, and do not want to confess their real faults. Therefore, the justice of God will pass over the sinful world to purify humanity for so many sins, openly committed and hidden, especially those which corrupt youth.
"In order to save souls, I wish that there be propagated in the world the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mediatrix of men, devoted to the Mercy of God, and to the Queen of the Universe.
"The world will be once more afflicted with great calamity; with bloody revolutions; with great earthquakes; with famines; with epidemics; with fearful hurricanes; and with floods from rivers and seas. But if men do not return to God, purifying fire will fall from the Heavens, like snowstorms, on all peoples, and a great part of humanity will be destroyed!
"No longer do men speak according to the true spirit of the Gospel. The immorality of the times has 'reached a peak. But men do not listen to my motherly warnings, so the world must soon be purified.
"Russia will march upon all the nations of Europe, particularly Italy and will raise her flag over the dome of St. Peter's. Italy will be severely tried by a great revolution, and Rome will be purified in blood for its many sins, especially those of impurity! The flock is about to be dispersed and the Pope must suffer greatly.
"The only valid means for placating Divine Justice is to pray and do penance, returning to God with sincere sorrow for the faults committed, and then the chastisement of Divine Justice will be mitigated by mercy. Humanity will never find peace, if it does not return to my Immaculate Heart as Mother of Mercy, and Mediatrix of men; and to the Heart of my Son Jesus!" (To be continued)