Are you prepared for the 3 days & 3 nights of darkness?

[Cardinalsong]

So…is this supposed to be a Catholic version of “The Rapture”?
:bigyikes:

 

[AlanFromWichita]

PS
I do not understand the prior comment of y2k. It meant nothing to me other than computer problems.

I saw the comment as an example in the computer world of hype, whereas this has become spiritual hype.

Actually, the “y2k” phenomena was real, and was not a virus but a result of programmers making certain decisions about the way they wrote the programs. There was very little actual fallout, but so many people ran around like Chicken Little worried the power grids would go crazy, our bank accounts would be wiped out, and the toaster would burn the toast every time. Some of this was possible but diligence headed it off – my brother for example made money on the deal by improving old business software written in the COBOL language.

As fas as the current issue in the spiritual realm, I don’t think any particular diligence is warranted for this particular phenomenon, which I don’t take as a serious prophecy of an event that will affect my life, unless it is adapted metaphorically and beyond any interpretation I’ve heard of.

Personally the main reason I’m interested in it is how much it’s caught others’ fascination, and for its ability to start conversations that can lead to actually useful discourse. (Not claiming that this post is an example, of course. )

Alan

 

[AlanFromWichita]

So…is this supposed to be a Catholic version of “The Rapture”?
:bigyikes:

Hey, that sounds a whole lot like what it may be.

One difference is that some of the Protestants I know of actually believe that stuff as literal truth.

Alan

 

[TimOliv]

I would not presume to instruct as each individual needs to refer to a spiritual director and prayer to obtain truth/direction.
PS
I do not understand the prior comment of y2k. It meant nothing to me other than computer problems.

Simply put, people spent very much time and effort worrying about this one date. People stockpiled food and supplies because this was to be “it,” and when the time came, nothing happened.

Likewise, I know of people who keep a healthy stock of blessed candles (the only candles which would supposedly light during the three days of darkness), and insist every single entry to their home (windows, doors, ducts, crawl spaces) require a medal of St. Benedict to keep demons out when the three nights come. They are preparing for an event which, in my opinion, has very little foundation of truth as if they were preparing for a “Y2K” like “calamity.”

 

[TimOliv]

I saw the comment as an example in the computer world of hype, whereas this has become spiritual hype.

Actually, the “y2k” phenomena was real, and was not a virus but a result of programmers making certain decisions about the way they wrote the programs. There was very little actual fallout, but so many people ran around like Chicken Little worried the power grids would go crazy, our bank accounts would be wiped out, and the toaster would burn the toast every time. Some of this was possible but diligence headed it off – my brother for example made money on the deal by improving old business software written in the COBOL language.

As fas as the current issue in the spiritual realm, I don’t think any particular diligence is warranted for this particular phenomenon, which I don’t take as a serious prophecy of an event that will affect my life, unless it is adapted metaphorically and beyond any interpretation I’ve heard of.

Personally the main reason I’m interested in it is how much it’s caught others’ fascination, and for its ability to start conversations that can lead to actually useful discourse. (Not claiming that this post is an example, of course. )

Alan

Well played

I assure all of you I was not trying to create any bad blood. I personally do not subscribe to the “Three Days” school of thought, however the hype that it can cause does intrigue me. I am merely curious where my fellow board dwellers fall in their view of the three days of darkness.

 

[batteddy]

The Three Days of Darkness are part of private revelation, and as such one may believe or not believe.

To clarify something, however: They are NOT related to the END TIMES.

The end times events (antichrist, conflageration, resurrection, judgement) are part of public revelation.

The Three days of Darkness is an event that is still part of History. It is not Supra-historical like the end times…

A time line generally goes like this:

-conspicuous Apostasy, evil, and natural disasters coincident
-Days of Darkness and Chastisements (may be conditional…ie, we can avert at least some of the prophesied events through penance and certain devotions)
-Rule of Angelic Pope and Great Monarch (predicted by MANY mystics)
-Period of Peace, true height of Church Age (remember though, that perhaps all this has already happened. Perhaps it is all symbolic language. The Dark Ages, followed by the rule of Charlemagne and the High Middle Ages perhaps? Who knows)
-PUBLIC REVELATION COVERS ONLY THE REST-
-the biblical “Great Apostasy” proper
-the Antichrist
-Return of Elijah and Enoch
-Conversion of the Jews
-Tribulations and Disasters
-Final Conflageration
-The General Ressurection
-The Last Judgement
-The New Heaven and New Earth forever

But the days of darkness are not strictly speaking supposed to be “end times” apocalyptic phenomena. They are an event still within the “church age” and even though miraculous, still would be a part of natural history (as opposed to “salvation history” outlined in public revelation)

 

[havemercy]

Shotgun! I call being the chosen Pope!

 

[puzzleannie]

didn’t we just have this question on another thread? actually we have experienced 3 days of darkness several times, due to blizzards, power outages, tornadoes and other natural events, pretty scary when you have small kids, new babies, sick grandparents (or a freezer full of meat). we made it through, largely because our parents were GS and boy scout leaders who hammered “be prepared” into us pretty effectively.

Since the first blizzard I was stuck in with an infant, I have always made it a practice to have water, non-perishable food, batteries etc on hand. down here in hurricane country it is second nature.

 

[hasikelee]

I have to admit that I am not that riled up about the 3 days thing.

Mainly because all the fuss seems to be coming from very traditional religious people. For example, the prayer group my mother attends (which includes a lady who claims to have revelations and see angels among other things) and also my grandfather who is part of the Pius X schism.

I get the same feeling from these people regarding this 3days/3nights as I get from those Christians who freak out about the rapture.

It’s almost an attitude of “I’m so special that I have the key to a secret which will spare me suffering and get me one-up on my fellow sinners.”

The whole…I’m too good to suffer and die with all those other people…God is looking out for me especially.

It really puts me off. Our whole focus as Catholics should be on becoming more like Christ everyday at every minute. Not focusing on little rituals and stocking up because we got in on a special secret that the lower people don’t know about or don’t believe in.

 

[bones_IV]

It sounds like so much blather to me. I’m guessing the details have some meaning to the authors and are allegorical at best as far as describing anything that’s going to happen. Perhaps these were visions that fit in with the saints’ spiritual journey.

My wife used to be concerned about the three days and nights, but I never understood it. Since then we have been through a great deal of spiritual warfare and frankly, this sort of prophecy is just not all that impressive to me at this point and neither is she concerned any more about it. Although it’s hard to say just why, but it comes across a contrived and not a particularly useful vision. A vision about Peter and Paul selecting a new Pope and the flash of light and everything could very easily come into the mind of someone having mystical experiences, but it sounds to me like its usefulness was probably greatest in the authors.

Who am I to claim all this? Just some guy on the web with an opinion, that’s all.

Alan

Vatican Council I Confirmed the Charism of Prophecy

“Nevertheless, God has been pleased to supply, besides the interior aids of the Holy Spirit, external evidence of his revelation, namely divine acts, especially miralces and prophecies.” (DSch 3009).

 

[LilyM]

Yes, but it’s not a free-for-all situation where we can or should lend credence to every so-called or self-proclaimed prophet. Just as one cannot and should not lend credence to every self-proclaimed or so-called miracle.

There are too many out there that are either downright fraudulent or simply deluded. This is why the Church has set up processes for the investigation of claims of prophecy and miracles and will declare them either worthy of belief or not, or hold off on forming an opinion if there isn’t enough evidence either way.

In any event, prophecies and miracles always occur WITHIN the framework of belief already set up by Tradition, Scripture and the Magisterium. A true prophet of God will not set themselves up in opposition to Church teaching or scripture. And fruitless speculation about end-time events really seems to do that.

 

[M-Dent]

I can’t prepare with food or water…Dh eats it all when I’m not home…lol…

Speaking as the last child of a family of 14 kids, I never knew where my Mom hid the “goodies.” Lesson? Learn how to hide some of the food.

So, this end of days stuff, it scares me.

It really shouldn’t. I thoroughly enjoy life yet I look forward to the next life as much! If the ‘end of time’ came tommorow I’d feel lucky to witness it. If not, I still feel lucky to be here.

 

[thechrismyster]

Has anyone prepared for this by stocking up on holy water, blessed candles, three days supply of food & water, etc.?

Matthew 6:
"So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’
All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.

Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for a day is its own evil."

That advice comes from a very reputable source!

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Here is the problem: To what do all of these prophecies refer? To literal events? Political events? The three days of darkness: are these literal 24 hour days? When you look at the apocalyptic language of the Bible, it is all symbolic and mostly stands for political events. So, perhaps these prophecies are all saying that sometime in the future, for a short period of time, there will be major political upheaval. But if you look at the New Testament, none of those apocalyptic type scenarios play out. Moons don’t turn into blood, eclipses do occur but not for 3 days. Angels do not fly around in the sky with a giant bowl dishing out plagues. Its all symbolic of the political events that are occuring in the 1st century A.D.

Exactly - a comparison of the apocalyptic passages in the NT with their OT sources makes this very clear. Jesus and the Apostles knew what such imagery meant, because it was familiar within their culture. Those who take it non-figuratively centuries later, do so at their own risk.​

So, you have some very pious, holy people (much holier than I) who have very active imaginations. They imagine they are prophecying and use the language of biblical apocalyptic.

And as far as Fatima goes, I will not say definitively that the blessed Virgin did not appear; because I don’t know. But I have read the text of the 3rd secret and I can see how you can interpret it the way that Pope John Paul II interpreted it. But the 3rd secret is still hopelessly vague I think and I find it amusing that many traditional Catholics still do not think it is fulfilled.

With all due respect to the office of the papacy and those who have held that office; I must say that they are infallible in teaching on matters of faith and morals (defining public doctrine). They are neither impeccable nor immune to error in matters of prudential judgment. That is precisely why no one is obligated to believe that Fatima is true. If believing all of that helps you, then good. But I’ve seen a lot of damage from excessive concern about such things.

St. Vincent Ferrer thought that Antichrist had been been born in 1403 - I suppose it’s possible that the AC is over 600 years old, but it’s hardly likely ​

Sometimes, saints - & popes, for that matter - end up with egg on their faces. That doesn’t mean they aren’t saints, only that they sometimes fall into the same errors as their contemporaries.

 

[fin]

is this gonna happen all over the world?

 

[Sir_Knight]

is this gonna happen all over the world?

Same as the flood during Noah’s time.

 

[scoobydoo6v92]

I have to totally agree with that statement. I think a real god old fashioned depression would be the firing of clay that this country and culture need. It would be great to see the Lord come in our lifetime (as long as we are in the state of grace) I of course beleive that it will happen real real soon. I am trying to be ready at all times that he may come, though I am living my life as though it won’t happen. I am looking foward to a long life on earth but I am hoping that he will FINALY come and I believe we are in the last days. Scoob.

 

[bones_IV]

Yes, but it’s not a free-for-all situation where we can or should lend credence to every so-called or self-proclaimed prophet. Just as one cannot and should not lend credence to every self-proclaimed or so-called miracle.

There are too many out there that are either downright fraudulent or simply deluded. This is why the Church has set up processes for the investigation of claims of prophecy and miracles and will declare them either worthy of belief or not, or hold off on forming an opinion if there isn’t enough evidence either way.

In any event, prophecies and miracles always occur WITHIN the framework of belief already set up by Tradition, Scripture and the Magisterium. A true prophet of God will not set themselves up in opposition to Church teaching or scripture. And fruitless speculation about end-time events really seems to do that.

Right.

“The Holy Spirit…distributes special gifts among the faithful of every rank…Such gifts of grace, whether they are of special enlightenment or whether they are spread more simply and generally, must be accepted with gratefulness and consolation, as they are specially suited to, and useful for, the needs of the Church…Those who have extraordinary gifts…Judgements as to their genuineness and their correct use lies with those who lead the Church and those whose special task is *not indeed to ‘extinguish the spirit’ *but to examine everthing and keep that which is good.” (Lumen Gentium, Chapter 2, No.12)

They are obviously referring to Prophecy in the present ongoing sense. That is a post-Apostolic gift which exists into the 21st century. With the phrase from St. Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians in minds “extinguish not the spirit”, the Fathers of Vatican II had that passage in mind when confirming the charism of prophecy. Many Catholics have never read the writings of many Popes, or great Saints, or Fathers and Doctors of the Church on the subject of the charism of private prophecy.

 

[Jennifer_G]

So…is this supposed to be a Catholic version of “The Rapture”?
:bigyikes:

I guess you could say that. (Counter-Rapture, perhaps?)

Anyway, I’m curious as to what would be so profound as to cause every single person on the planet (which I’ve read in some of the private revalations) to convert to Catholicism.

About the 75% of the world population being gone, I’ve also read that it’ll be 7 females to every male, meaning the true population, as far as families would be concerned, would be much less. (i.e., from 6.5 billion to 1.625 billion (1.4 billion females, .2 billion males), then 400 million people to repopulate the Earth).

Then there’s the ‘monarch’s’ reign (I don’t think it’s an actual monarchy in government terms). So, if you do survive 3 days (I’m thinking it’s a bunch of volcanos and culderas erupting), you just might get to live in the final chapter.

 

[LilyM]

I’m curious as to what would be so profound as to cause every single person on the planet (which I’ve read in some of the private revalations) to convert to Catholicism.

Especially given the number of people who didn’t believe in his message the last time He appeared on earth I’m thinking there would always be a percentage so stubborn that they will persist in their own beliefs even in the face of the most convincing evidence to the contrary.