BY THE account of believable Catholic mystics, it’s not a one-fell swoop of an apocalypse. So, with the belief that the Big A has commenced, there are yet many years of trials ahead, the crescendo merely on the upswing. One message from Heaven is that satan and his minions- with intent to harm to the hilt- are filling to the seams the room created by mankind's sins so as to push as many as possible to desperation to the point of blaming God.
So it is also by some visions of mystics that many will yield to the lures of the evil spirits in these times. Why, even way back in 1917 during the Marian apparitions in Fatima, the seers saw so many persons falling into hell, like leaves falling from a tree at the onset of winter.
Closer to our time, there is St. Faustina Kowalska of the Divine Mercy devotion, who was given a vision by Our Lord Jesus Christ, which she described thus:
“One day, I saw two roads. One was broad, covered with sand and flowers, full of joy, music and all sorts of pleasures. People walked along it, dancing and enjoying themselves. They reached the end of the road without realizing it. And at the end of the road there was a horrible precipice; that is, the abyss of hell. The souls fell blindly into it; as they walked, so they fell. And their numbers were so great that it was impossible to count them.
“And I saw the other road, or rather, a path, for it was narrow and strewn with thorns and rocks; and the people who walked along it had tears in their eyes, and all kinds of suffering befell them. Some fell down upon the rocks, but stood up immediately and went on. At the end of the road there was a magnificent garden filled with all sorts of happiness, and all these souls entered there. At the very first instant they forgot all their sufferings.” (End of quote.)
The attraction of everything that’s earthly can perhaps be summed up in the number of people- about a billion by last estimate- who have resorted to Tik Tok in various prurient shades as option to the pandemic ennui, as against quite a few who find the pandemic as means to come to terms with their religion.
Yes, satan is desperate to have as many earthlings die on his side, knowing well the limited apocalyptic era which is to end in the “triumph of the Immaculate Heart” of Mary.
The late St. Pope John Paul II was aware of pending apocalyptic times even before he became pope in 1978. In an address during the Eucharistic Congress in 1976, John Paul, who was then Cardinal Wojtyla, said:
“We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has ever experienced. I do not think that the wide circle of the American Society, or the whole wide circle of the Christian Community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-church, between the gospel and the anti-gospel, between Christ and the antichrist. The confrontation lies within the plans of Divine Providence. It is, therefore, in God’s Plan, and it must be a trial which the Church must take up, and face courageously...” (End of quote.)
Indeed, in our days, Our Blessed Mother has been issuing messages to help us cope in the growing trials of our days. Last June 30, she told mystic Pedro Regis:
“My Jesus is the way to your complete happiness. Do not look for shortcuts. Remain faithful to the true doctrine of the Church of my Jesus. Enemies will act to lead you along easy paths, but do not forget: the way to Heaven passes through the Cross. Turn away from the easy solutions offered by false shepherds. Trust in Jesus. In Him you will find your true liberation and salvation.
“ Always remember: in your hands the Holy Rosary and Sacred Scripture; in your hearts, love for the truth. Take care of your spiritual life. You are the Lord’s and the things of the world are not for you. Advance on the path of holiness. This is the message I give you today in the name of the Most Holy Trinity. Thank you for having allowed Me to gather you here once more. I bless you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Be at peace.” (End of quote.)
But observe and come to the conclusion that Covid 19 pandemic has even bolstered more faith in science in a dichotomy with religion on the other end. It would seem that the pandemic has even bolstered rationalism, cultivating obedience to what science has to say about health and lives, even as fear of virus has limited, if not literally shut down, the practice of faith.
It’s the kind of rationalism that Our Lord Jesus Christ condemned in His message to mystic Maria Valtorta on July 18, 1943. Here are excerpts:
“There are few things that I condemn as severely as this rationalism which rapes and desecrates and kills Faith -- I say Faith with a capital, in order to say true Faith, absolute, regal Faith. I condemn it as My assassin. It is this very rationalism which kills Me in hearts and which prepares and has prepared very sad times for the Church and the world.
“I have cursed other things. But none will I curse as this. It has been the seed from which have come other poisonous doctrines, and others, and still others. It has been the treachery which opens the door to the enemy. It has in fact opened the doors to Satan who has never reigned as much as now, since rationalism reigns.
“But it is said: 'When the Son of man will come, He will not find faith in hearts'. Therefore rationalism does its work. I will do Mine....
“Truly I say to you that I will clasp to My Heart the unfortunate man who has committed a human crime and repented of it, provided he has always admitted that I can do all. But I will turn the face of a Judge to those who, on the basis of a doctrinaire human science, deny the supernatural in the manifestations which the Father might want Me to give...
“One of the greatest sorrows I have is that of seeing how rationalism has infiltrated into hearts, even into hearts that are said to be Mine. It would be useless to let the other priests share in such a gift [of His revelations to Valtorta]....
“Less science and more charity. Less books and more Gospel. It is light in souls because I am Light. Disencumber all to make room for the Light...
“I attempt the last trials in order to inflame the souls that are no longer living souls, but automatons endowed with movement, and not with intelligence and charity. My work -- from the beginning of this century, the last of the second millennium -- is a miracle of charity to attempt the second salvation of the human race, especially of priestly souls without which the salvation of many is impossible. I substitute Myself for the empty pulpits, or the pulpits blaring words without true life. But few are those who are worthy of comprehending Me. Few even among My ministers..."