The Church teaches us ways to live our lives. We can enjoy life in moderation. Marriage has been raised to a Sacrament, and the family is God's way of ensuring that life goes on. Marriage is a vocation, just like Holy Orders and the single life. It's not a sin to want to know what your true vocation is, and to live it out to its fullest. But I see your point. The Catechism says, we are to "know Him, love Him and serve Him in this life, and be happy with Him in the next." That's why He made us and why we are here.
The era of peace foretold by Our Lady of Fatima, following the proper consecration of Russia, has not yet happened. So we may be in the beginning of the end times, but we’re not yet at the end of the end times. The minor chastisement is upon us; it will be followed by an era of peace. Only after that can the AC arise, and the Major Chastisement play out, then the Second Coming.
Carol55, If we assume that the 6th Age is that of the Great Monarch and the 7th Age is that of the Antichrist, and the Antichrist is discussed in CCC 675, 676 and 677, then the "Great Monarch" would presumably be discussed in the CCC at that point. Here is that section of the Catechism: The Church's ultimate trial 675 Before Christ's second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers.574 The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth575 will unveil the "mystery of iniquity" in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh.576 676 The Antichrist's deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history that messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgment. The Church has rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under the name of millenarianism,577 especially the "intrinsically perverse" political form of a secular messianism.578 677 The Church will enter the glory of the kingdom only through this final Passover, when she will follow her Lord in his death and Resurrection.579 The kingdom will be fulfilled, then, not by a historic triumph of the Church through a progressive ascendancy, but only by God's victory over the final unleashing of evil, which will cause his Bride to come down from heaven.580 God's triumph over the revolt of evil will take the form of the Last Judgment after the final cosmic upheaval of this passing world.581 So, if we trust the Catechism, any Great Monarch in Europe (assuming he is some sort of secular monarch) would have a great secular kingdom, right? But section 676 says that the Antichrist's deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history the messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgement. The Church has rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under the name of millenarianism, especially the "intrinsically perverse" political form of a secular messianism. Remember, the Great Monarch prophecy says that the Great Monarch comes BEFORE the Antichrist, not AFTER the Antichrist. So if the Great Monarch prophecy is to be interpreted consistently with Catholic teaching, it CANNOT be referring to any kind of secular, human-concocted European/Catholic kingdom. And if it is a kingdom instituted by God, other than the Roman Catholic Church itself, it will be manifested only AFTER the Antichrist's deception. In fact, the claim of establishing a humanistic, secular, historical Catholic "kingdom" is the very sign of the Antichrist. That is the essence of the "secular messianism" that is condemned by the Catechism. Now, please don't misunderstand me. I don't think the Great Monarch prophecies are wrong or Satanic, when properly understood. I think they refer to the time of a schism in the Church (Apocalypse 11) after which there will be a Holy Monarch/Holy Pope on one side and a Unholy Monarch/Antipope on the other. People will have to choose a side. The true Pope will promote the traditional teachings of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. The Antipope will promote novel ideas about "the brotherhood of all men" and providing "solutions to problems at the price of apostasy from the truth." So be on the watch for a world-renowned leader of "the Catholic Church" who promotes novel doctrines and practices and rejects the traditional doctrines and practices of the communion of the Saints.
I guess what I am saying is that the purpose of this life is not to build a utopia where everyone can be happy. I mean if there were an age of Mary and Great Monarch, I would accept it. But scarcity is built into this place. Unless God miraculously transforms the earth, it still won’t be paradise. I can’t really tell what would be the purpose of such an age. Like wouldn’t it be better if Christ just came? Unless there are humans who still haven’t accepted the gospel in that age.
Thomas21 your sentiments are perfectly in accord with Catholic teaching. CCC 675, 676, 677, teaches conclusively that "the purpose of this life is not to build a utopia where everyone can be happy." That would be try to "to realize within history that messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgment." That is a false goal that the Church has condemned for many centuries. The "Age of Mary and Great Monarch" is not something that should be understood as implementing a "perfect society" visible "in the world" brought about by human agency. The closest thing we will have in this world to a "perfect society" BEFORE the Second Coming is the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
PNF said: "Thomas21 your sentiments are perfectly in accord with Catholic teaching. CCC 675, 676, 677, teaches conclusively that "the purpose of this life is not to build a utopia where everyone can be happy." PNF - I fail to see from the CCC how 675, 676 and 677 in any manner 'conclusively teaches" that "the purpose of this life is not to build a utopia where everyone can be happy." AntiChrist? ... Is most thoroughly discussed in the New Testament. He shall be a man.. Some say arriving in the Planned 'Third Temple' in Jerusalem. The Church is going to undergo a very strong trial . mirroring the Passion of Jesus b/c of the Jews who rejected Him.. The Church shall not continue along in an ascendant / getting better - manner.. 677 The Church will enter the glory of the kingdom only through this final Passover, when she will follow her Lord in his death and Resurrection. The Kingdom will be fulfilled, then, not by a historic triumph of the Church through a progressive ascendancy, but only by God's victory over the final unleashing of evil, which will cause his Bride (JESUS) to come down from heaven. ....God's triumph over the revolt of evil will take the form of the Last Judgment after the final cosmic upheaval of this passing world. Signs? ... The ones which Jesus give us have been continuing to unfurl - ref: Matthew 24 and Revelations and Tradition For any who do not accept the content of the Great Monarch and Holy Pope? This following still catches attention. The Great Catholic Monarch (strong ruler) rises up taking back Europe in the late 2030s. The Holy Pope with a sign of redemption on his forehead will reign in 2038 and afterwards. Dates aside, Those claims above can also be easily realized as very possibly connecting to AntiChrist - including any sign on his forehead! .. Dates? .. IMO, I say, before this very 2020's decade is over.. 'things' shall be very different than they are today.. +
Frankly, it is my understanding that Catholic teaching is that the "earthy pilgrimage" is a "vale of tears." Our "joy" is in our sufferings when united with the sufferings of Christ. And that the highest expression of Christian practice are living out the "evangelical counsels" of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, which are steps along "the Way of the Cross." Where does building a "utopia" and making sure that "everyone can be happy" fit into that traditional Catholic vision of the earthly pilgrimage?
However, there is more evidence for the second theory, namely that the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is not going to be the end of the world, but rather a new era of peace coming upon the Church and the whole world. This is already found in the writings of Ven. Bartholomew Holzhauser, a 17th century founder of a religious community who conglomerated the teaching of many saints and prophets. Much evidence points to the fact that we (now in the 21st century) are at the end of that tumultuous fifth age of the Church coming quickly into the sixth age of an “era of peace.” Notice how similar this is to what Mary said at Fatima regarding a “period of peace.” In fact, many canonized saints and ancient prophets conglomerated in this book prophesy that the sixth age of Church history will include two figures known as “The Holy Pope” and “The Great Catholic Monarch.” (I preached on these two expected men in the second half of a podcast here.) 3 at the link https://padreperegrino.org/2018/05/tihm/
PNF said: Where does building a "utopia" and making sure that "everyone can be happy" fit into that traditional Catholic vision of the earthly pilgrimage? It surely doesn't connect with the _Understandings_ of CCC 675, 676 and 677.. which serve to summarize to us some of Scriptural Public Revelation Prophesy- which specifically concern: The Church's Ultimate Trial.. The AntiChrist.. The Return of Jesus God's Victory over Evil The Last Judgement, and The 'cosmic upheaval of this passing world' Without Any Mentioning of Great Catholic Monarch, Holy Pope and Dates! NOR has it as of Yet addressed those aforementioned Concerns - Re: the Great Catholic Monarch and the Holy Pope - and how as written they can also bring to mind aspects of AntiChrist The Great Catholic Monarch (strong ruler) rises up taking back Europe in the late 2030s. The Holy Pope with a sign of redemption on his forehead will reign in 2038 and afterwards. These private revelations add onto public revelation.. which is a no go.. and which would make them invalid.. CCC - There will be no further Revelation 66 "The Christian economy, therefore, since it is the new and definitive Covenant, will never pass away; and no new public revelation is to be expected before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ."28 Yet even if Revelation is already complete, it has not been made completely explicit; it remains for Christian faith gradually to grasp its full significance over the course of the centuries. 67 Throughout the ages, there have been so-called "private" revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ's definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history. Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church. Christian faith cannot accept "revelations" that claim to surpass or correct the Revelation of which Christ is the fulfillment, as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such "revelations". +
I am not sure that I am truly following the debate on this thread but I just want to say that I don't believe that the period of peace which I do believe is related to the time of a Great Monarch and Holy Pope will be what most people think of as a utopia which only Heaven will be. I think that the period of peace will be a time of a renewal in all things Godly and a time when many people will enter the Church and will want to live a more holy life and follow the commandments especially those given to us by Our Lord but there will still be pain and suffering etc. Although I realize that the prophecies of Alois Irlmaier are not approved by the Church many seem to line up with prophecies from various saints which have been approved by the Church. Alois just gives us more details about what will happen in Germany and Europe and the world in gernerl prior to this renewal in Godly things. I mention him because he states that we will return to a time of our grandfathers: "The laws, which bring death to the children, become invalid. Then peace will be. A good time. The Pope, who had not to flee across the water for a long time, returns. When the flowers bloom in the meadows, he will return and mourn for his murdered brothers. After these events a long, lucky time comes. But the people have to begin there, where their grandfathers began." (11) (Irlmaier) Irlmaier indicates that, in terms of technological development, the upheavals throw humankind back 100 years; more importantly though they seem to trigger a spiritual renewal. http://rense.com/general20/shape.htm So, our values will be much better but I don't believe that our grandfathers had an easy life, iow not what one would consider a utopia which will only be found in Heaven but they knew that.
He was interviewed in the 1950s and said the upheavals would set us back a hundred years, so that would be the 1850s. Life expectancy in 1850 was 38, and many children who made it to birth subsequently died in infancy or childhood. There was no electricity, modern medicine/ surgery, no internal combustion engine, communication, etc. People alive now will have a very hard life if they live through this. They’re not used to this level of hardship but subsequent generations will adapt. (I won’t have to worry about it. With the collapse of technology and modern medicine I won’t be able to get a new pacemaker battery in eight years, so I’ll quickly succumb to congestive heart failure, if not before then because all the medicines that keep me ticking will have dried up.)
would a technological setback delay the globalization of the antichrist? today with full global technological integration it is easier for a set of heretical ideas to be in the minds and mouths of millions of people at the same time; in fact I wonder what it would be like today if the Vatican hadn't abolished the index of forbidden books for Catholics in 1966.
My understanding of "the Period of Peace" is that it is a short period (maybe months) that occur after the Warning. It will be a period when people will be open to conversion to the authentic Catholic faith because of the Warning experience. But this period will soon pass and most of those who "converted" will fall away. After that, will be the worst period, "the Wrath." But the Elect will not experience "the Wrath," as St. Paul said (1 Thessalonians 5:9). The Period of Peace is described in this way by Maria Valtorta in her notebooks (which were never banned by the Holy Office) and by Fr. Michel Rodrigue.
I think a technological setback is integral to God’s plan and permissive will regarding the end times. Hitler eliminated millions of Catholics and Jews and other groups with just note pads and pencils. Imagine how efficient he would have been with the advanced technology we have now, let alone in the coming years. The devil salivates at the chance to use this advanced technology to enslave mankind, but ultimately that would destroy man’s free will and God will not permit that. So He is going to completely dismantle this technological bureaucracy soon, to prevent the devil from being able to use it against mankind. When the AC does come, hopefully he will be forced to use that 1850s technology to impose his seven year reign, “lest even the elect would be deceived.”
Read “Trial, Tribulation and Triumph” by Desmond Birch. The consensus of legitimate Catholic prophecy over the centuries is that the period of peace will be at least one generation (about 20 years) or many generations.
I’m also convinced that prior to the Flood, part of the reason God sent the waters upon the earth was the technological advancements of Noah’s compatriots, and them playing with elements only reserved to God Himself. There’s a superb novel (if you like compelling sci fi richly mixed with profound Catholic principles) by Michael D. O’Brien called Voyage to Alpha Centauri that addresses this concept. I don’t want to ruin it for anyone who might pick up this novel, but the technological advancement of pre Flood humanity plays a central role.
Thank you Brian. I keep meaning to post the following which I recently came across I think in a post on Emmett O'Regan's site. It may be helpful for those interested in this subject. https://www.facebook.com/GreatCatho...80695689770&reply_comment_id=1520853864945784
From that link: ST. PAUL - APOSTLE (b.? - died c. 68 AD) St. Paul is so well known in Church history that his biography needs no introduction here. His second letter to the Thessalonians, which teaches about the End Times and the Antichrist, is important in order to establish the Catholic Church's teachings on End Time events and discerning when the Antichrist himself will finally appear and not simply just one of his precursors. However, St Paul also made what is could be considered the first Great Catholic Monarch prophecy. According to St. Paul, the Antichrist, whom he describes as the 'Man of Sin' and 'Son of Perdition', will come just when the world is about to end. However, the Antichrist will be prevented from coming for a time by a 'katechon' or 'Witholder'. It is not until the katechon is removed will the Antichrist finally appear. The Antichrist will finally be defeated when Christ returns from Heaven with his Angels, that is, the Second Coming. Christ will defeat the Antichrist Himself. St. Paul: (2 Thessalonians : 1-8) “And we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of our gathering together unto him: (i.e. the Second Coming) That you be not easily moved from your sense, nor be terrified, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by epistle, as sent from us, as if the day of the Lord were at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means, for unless there come a revolt first, (I.e. the Great Apostasy), and the man of sin be 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, shewing himself as if he were God. (I.e the Antichrist). Remember you not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (6) And now you know what WITHOLDETH, that HE MAY BE REVEALED IN HIS TIME. (7) For the mystery of iniquity already worketh; (i.e the foretold antichrist precursors were already at work even then), only that HE WHO NOW HOLDETH, (i.e. the Katechon) DO HOLD, UNTIL HE BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY). (8) And then that wicked one shall be revealed (i.e the Antichrist), whom the Lord Jesus shall kill with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.” (i.e. Christ will kill the Antichrist at the Second Coming). The Church has upheld the teaching from St. Paul regarding the Antichrist appearing just before the Second Coming as the excellent explanatory catechism of Spirago and Clarke confirm: “Our Lord will kill him on the Last Day (2 Thess. 2:8)” This will happen right before the General Judgement: “Antichrist is a man who will give himself out to be Christ. And by the help of the devil will perform many wonders. (2 Thess. 2:9). He will be a terror by the persecution which he will raise. (Apoc. 20: 3-9) It is probably that he will choose for his kingdom Jerusalem and those places where Christ lived. Our Lord will kill him on the Last Day. (2 Thess. 2:8) Types and forerunners of Antichrist have existed from time to time. (1 John 2:18), “for the mystery of iniquity already worketh” (2 Thess. 2:7)” (Source: Spirago and Clarke, “The Catechism Explained: The Exhaustive Explanation of the Catholic Religion, (1899)”, TAN Publishers, 1993, pp. 272- 273). :::::: Who is the “Katechon” - The 'Withholder' of the Antichrist? As mentioned, St. Paul also says that the Antichrist would have someone impeding his arrival before then—the 'Withholder' or the 'kathèkon' or 'katechon'. (2 Thess. 2: 6-8) Only when this Witholder is removed would the final great apostasy happen and the Antichrist would finally appear. Of interest, however, St. Paul used both neuter and masculine form of the word for 'katechon'. Since St. Paul used the word 'now', the 'katechon' of course refers to the Church and all good secular leaders who have followed Church teachings and have withheld the various antichrist precursors from gaining the final upper hand through history. (Possibly represented by the neuter, general form of 'Katechon´.) Then, we have the MASCULINE form of the word, which points to something specific near the end of time and the Second Coming. Practically all the early Church fathers have noticed this must point to one last kingdom or individual who will be manifested, who will 'withhold' the Antichrist back for one last time, and then this katechon will be 'removed'. Only when the katechon is removed can the Antichrist finally appear, after which Christ will defeat the evil one at the Second Coming. Practically all the early Church fathers have agreed according to the Scriptures it is the Holy Roman Empire that will be the 'final' imperial katechon before the evil one's reign. Of course, the Empire will have a leader, hence, enters the 'Last World Emperor', or Great Catholic Monarch prophecies. Not only have early Church Fathers and Doctors foretold about this great leader, but also approved apparitions, saints, blesseds, venerables and mystics over the centuries. Hence, the promise of one last Great Catholic Monarch must indeed be the 'katechon' spoken of by St. Paul. ::::::::: Therefore, the Age of Peace is NOT the 'New Heaven and the New Earth' The promised Age of Peace that will be established by the katechons, the Great Monarch and Angelic Pontiff before the Antichrist, is a completely different age and event from the New Heaven and New Earth Christ will establish at the end of Time. The first is temporal and will not last forever, the second is Eternal as it will be established by Christ on the Last Day as foretold in the Apocalypse. If a prophecy or an interpretation of a prophecy says The Antichrist himself and not a precursor will come before the Age of Peace, the interpretation is not just an error but is heretical, therefore prophecies that promote this are definitely fake. Also, fake prophecies featuring such an erroneous interpretation of the Antichrist's timing will sometimes promote heretical interpretations of the 1,000 Year Reign of Christ from the Book of Revelation in order to account for or even cover up the error. The heretical literal interpretation of the 1,000 years mentioned in the Apocalypse is called the Chiliast Heresy, was promoted by Gnostic heretics, and has been condemned by the Church for centuries. See the Great Catholic Monarch and Angelic Pontiff Prophecy Timeline: https://greatmonarch-angelicpontiffprophecies.blogspot.com/
