Malachy Prophecy

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CARose:
When talking with them, remember that only God knows the state of their souls, so assume that if they believe they have a good relationship with Christ that this is so and seek to find how you share that love. Find that which brings you together through Christ and rest assured that a loving God will, in the best time, bring them to his side if this is a sincere desire on their part.

CARose
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Thank you. Please pray for her. Her name is Christy. Also, I have a friend who lives in Dublin, Ireland. She is a Protestant missionary, and her job is to evangelize Catholics and lead them out of the Church and into her sect. Please pray for her, too. Her name is Nicole.
 
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Jew_Man_73:
Thank you. Please pray for her. Her name is Christy. Also, I have a friend who lives in Dublin, Ireland. She is a Protestant missionary, and her job is to evangelize Catholics and lead them out of the Church and into her sect. Please pray for her, too. Her name is Nicole.
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OK, that’s Cheryl, Joan, Christy, Nicole, JM and John Doe. Have I got it right? 🙂

No problem, happy to add a few more names to the list!

CARose
 
This might be rather on the extreme side, taking 35 years to come to fruition, 😉 but it illustrates the truth of that comment on timing.

The first examples I had of Catholicism were devout and wonderful people that I grew up around. And then there was the Italian Catholic family who lived across the street and were so good to me in my adolescence.

I hadn’t talked to them since my Father’s funeral four years ago and I got this urge to tell them that they had been such a blessing to me. I finally called them a couple of days ago to tell them thank you for everything - especially the example they had provided and told them that I was converting to Catholicism. I told them a little of what my home was like and how much I had needed them for the peace and compassion they had offered a young girl who was not loved. They were just as warm-hearted and non-judgemental when I called them as they always were when I was growing up and they shared my happiness that I now consider myself Catholic.

All I really “knew” of the Catholic Church until about three months ago were the human examples in my life and the very anti-Catholic propaganda from the protestantism and paganism I had adopted.

The human examples won out over all untruth.

So that’s my long-winded 😉 way of saying that you should ignore appearances. Never think that your example is not planting a seed, even if everything in and of the world tells you that you are accomplishing nothing, getting nowhere.

You are blessing people even though they want to argue with you incessantly and tell you that you’ve gone mad. (Or imply same. 😉 )

God’s peace be upon you - be not afraid! 🙂
Elizabeth
 
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Jew_Man_73:
I agree. My Protestant friends (And my parents) have been telling me for years that Catholics aren’t faithful and don’t honor G-d with their lives. I’ve been told for years that Catholicism is a religion of convenience. (My Protestant friends love to tell me how a Catholioc can just live however he/she wants, say a few Hail Marys, and be done with it. Instant forgiveness.) However, the more I dig into the faith, the more I find that that isn’t true. Catholicism actually requires more from its followers that Protestantism requires from its followers. Catholicism requires devotion and Christian living. My Protestant friends are wrong, but they still don’t believe me.
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and we’re praying for them!:yup:
 
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ElizabethJoy:
This might be rather on the extreme side, taking 35 years to come to fruition, 😉 but it illustrates the truth of that comment on timing.

The first examples I had of Catholicism were devout and wonderful people that I grew up around. And then there was the Italian Catholic family who lived across the street and were so good to me in my adolescence.

I hadn’t talked to them since my Father’s funeral four years ago and I got this urge to tell them that they had been such a blessing to me. I finally called them a couple of days ago to tell them thank you for everything - especially the example they had provided and told them that I was converting to Catholicism. I told them a little of what my home was like and how much I had needed them for the peace and compassion they had offered a young girl who was not loved. They were just as warm-hearted and non-judgemental when I called them as they always were when I was growing up and they shared my happiness that I now consider myself Catholic.

All I really “knew” of the Catholic Church until about three months ago were the human examples in my life and the very anti-Catholic propaganda from the protestantism and paganism I had adopted.

The human examples won out over all untruth.

So that’s my long-winded 😉 way of saying that you should ignore appearances. Never think that your example is not planting a seed, even if everything in and of the world tells you that you are accomplishing nothing, getting nowhere.

You are blessing people even though they want to argue with you incessantly and tell you that you’ve gone mad. (Or imply same. 😉 )

God’s peace be upon you - be not afraid! 🙂
Elizabeth
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Thank you for sharing your story. One of the reasons (There were many) that I decided to investigate the Catholic faith and consider conversion was the examples set by Catholics that I had known. They just didn’t match up with what my family and friends had told me about Catholics. The Catholics I had known were loving, devout, caring people. They were more devout and loving than the Protestants I knew, and most of the Jews I knew as well.
 
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Jew_Man_73:
Hello everyone,

I was just surfing the Internet and came across an article about the Malachy Prophecy. I have to say, I found the article to be disturbing. According to this prophecy, which dates back to the 1100s, Benedict XVI will be our last pope before the end of the world. (At least that’s what I got out of it. There might be one more pope after the current one, but that is supposedly disputed.) This article states that Malachy correctly predicted all the popes from his time up until John Paul II. Can anyone help me? Is this a real prophecy? Does the Church believe that Benedict XVI will be the last pope? The article also mentioned severe natural disasters and a time of persecution in which Christians will be killed. Is this true? Are the things contained in this prophecy supposed to happen? I have alot of family and friends who aren’t Christians. I really don’t want the end of the world to be that close because of them. Also, I’m just in the beginning stages of converting to the Catholic faith. This may sound selfish, but I’d like to have alot more years here on earth to enjoy my life and my newfound faith. The idea of a time of great persecution sounds scary, too.

I hope this doesn’t sound silly, but I’d really like to hear from anyone who might know something about this. In case it helps, the link to the article is:

newswithviews.com/Ryter/jon85.htm

G-d bless!
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I’ll try to hit you up with my take on the Malachy “prophecy” when I get home from work, but for now know that I’m Catholic and believe the prophecy to be a pious fraud.

That said, I do believe some prophecies i.e. Fatima, St. Jon Bosco’s prophecy of the ships at war, etc. but not Malachy.
 
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UnworthySoul:
I’ll try to hit you up with my take on the Malachy “prophecy” when I get home from work, but for now know that I’m Catholic and believe the prophecy to be a pious fraud.

That said, I do believe some prophecies i.e. Fatima, St. Jon Bosco’s prophecy of the ships at war, etc. but not Malachy.
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Thank you, I’ll look forward to hearing from you! 🙂
 
Welcome home, Jew Man! I just said a prayer for your family, that they would come to know Christ. I would appreciate a prayer for my dad, who stubbornly remains an atheist. I, too, have worries that the end of the world will come (or that he would die) before he becomes a Christian. All we can do is pray and trust in God for our loved ones.

I think the Malachy prophesies are interesting, but I don’t take them too seriously. However, I think we may well be in the end times. I seem to remember a scripture that indicates that after Israel is restored as a nation, the current generation will not pass away until Christ returns. Does anyone else remember this?

I used to be very uncomfortable with the thought of future persecutions. I’m reading Eusebius’ History of the Church right now, and I’m amazed at the grace and faith that the martyrs of the early church had. Some of them were worried that they would grow old and die of natural causes before they were martyred! They didn’t want to miss out on such a glorious death! They thought it an honor to die for their faith and that it was the ultimate expression of love toward their Savior who died for them. Reading the accounts is difficult and gruesome. But it is also amazing to read how God granted them grace and peace. God clearly reduced their pain for them and enabled them to endure treatment that would have killed a normal person several times over. Some Christians, who chickened out and renounced Christ, were killed anyway. The author says that anyone could easily differentiate between the martyrs and the defectors. The defectors were not spared any pain and they were spiritually tormented by their decision to renounce Christ. The expression on their faces plainly showed their torment and despondency. But witnesses report that it was easy to tell who the martyrs were in a group that was being executed. Smiles and peaceful facial expressions never left their faces throughout their torture and murder. This fact actually proved to be such a tremendous testimony, non-Christians came forward to confess Christ, knowing that they would immediately be killed. And they were. But people converted faster than they could be killed, and the Church continued to grow.

If we ever enounter terrible times, as the early Christians did, we also will have grace to confess Christ in the face of death and endure whatever happens. He will be with us, no matter what.
 
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petra:
Welcome home, Jew Man! I just said a prayer for your family, that they would come to know Christ. I would appreciate a prayer for my dad, who stubbornly remains an atheist. I, too, have worries that the end of the world will come (or that he would die) before he becomes a Christian. All we can do is pray and trust in God for our loved ones.

I think the Malachy prophesies are interesting, but I don’t take them too seriously. However, I think we may well be in the end times. I seem to remember a scripture that indicates that after Israel is restored as a nation, the current generation will not pass away until Christ returns. Does anyone else remember this?

I used to be very uncomfortable with the thought of future persecutions. I’m reading Eusebius’ History of the Church right now, and I’m amazed at the grace and faith that the martyrs of the early church had. Some of them were worried that they would grow old and die of natural causes before they were martyred! They didn’t want to miss out on such a glorious death! They thought it an honor to die for their faith and that it was the ultimate expression of love toward their Savior who died for them. Reading the accounts is difficult and gruesome. But it is also amazing to read how God granted them grace and peace. God clearly reduced their pain for them and enabled them to endure treatment that would have killed a normal person several times over. Some Christians, who chickened out and renounced Christ, were killed anyway. The author says that anyone could easily differentiate between the martyrs and the defectors. The defectors were not spared any pain and they were spiritually tormented by their decision to renounce Christ. The expression on their faces plainly showed their torment and despondency. But witnesses report that it was easy to tell who the martyrs were in a group that was being executed. Smiles and peaceful facial expressions never left their faces throughout their torture and murder. This fact actually proved to be such a tremendous testimony, non-Christians came forward to confess Christ, knowing that they would immediately be killed. And they were. But people converted faster than they could be killed, and the Church continued to grow.

If we ever enounter terrible times, as the early Christians did, we also will have grace to confess Christ in the face of death and endure whatever happens. He will be with us, no matter what.
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petra, The early Christians are so inspiring. Have you read Ignatius’ martyrdom, or his epistle to the Romans? It is so amazing the attitude they had. They desired martyrdom.
 
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petra:
Welcome home, Jew Man! I just said a prayer for your family, that they would come to know Christ. I would appreciate a prayer for my dad, who stubbornly remains an atheist. I, too, have worries that the end of the world will come (or that he would die) before he becomes a Christian. All we can do is pray and trust in God for our loved ones.

I think the Malachy prophesies are interesting, but I don’t take them too seriously. However, I think we may well be in the end times. I seem to remember a scripture that indicates that after Israel is restored as a nation, the current generation will not pass away until Christ returns. Does anyone else remember this?

I used to be very uncomfortable with the thought of future persecutions. I’m reading Eusebius’ History of the Church right now, and I’m amazed at the grace and faith that the martyrs of the early church had. Some of them were worried that they would grow old and die of natural causes before they were martyred! They didn’t want to miss out on such a glorious death! They thought it an honor to die for their faith and that it was the ultimate expression of love toward their Savior who died for them. Reading the accounts is difficult and gruesome. But it is also amazing to read how God granted them grace and peace. God clearly reduced their pain for them and enabled them to endure treatment that would have killed a normal person several times over. Some Christians, who chickened out and renounced Christ, were killed anyway. The author says that anyone could easily differentiate between the martyrs and the defectors. The defectors were not spared any pain and they were spiritually tormented by their decision to renounce Christ. The expression on their faces plainly showed their torment and despondency. But witnesses report that it was easy to tell who the martyrs were in a group that was being executed. Smiles and peaceful facial expressions never left their faces throughout their torture and murder. This fact actually proved to be such a tremendous testimony, non-Christians came forward to confess Christ, knowing that they would immediately be killed. And they were. But people converted faster than they could be killed, and the Church continued to grow.

If we ever enounter terrible times, as the early Christians did, we also will have grace to confess Christ in the face of death and endure whatever happens. He will be with us, no matter what.
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Several people at my parish have said that we are probably living in the end times, but I don’t know alot about it (How to tell if we are living in the end times, how to tell if a time of persecution is coming, etc) I don’t know much about the early martyrs, either. I would also like to know more about the early Church Fathers. Where would be a good place to start, for someone with little knowledge?

Thank you for your prayers, and I’ll certainly say a prayer for your father. I hope he comes into the Church and spends eternity in Heaven.
 
JM,

As for whether or not we’re living in the end times, I suggest you live every day as though it were the last and trust in God to allow you to live to a ripe old age. Remember that Christ stated that it was not for him to reveal the end of time, and if he’s not to reveal it, I take it to mean we’re not to know, so I don’t really try to conjecture.

Mine end of times will come on the day I die. I know I am not guaranteed tomorrow (although I often take it for granted, as do most of us), so I try to remember to keep myself in line with God’s desires. I’m not nearly as good at it as I should be, but I try my feeble best, and ask forgiveness for my shortcomings.

This is what I recommend for anyone worried that the end of time is near. It is, for you and me and everyone else, just maybe not the same day and year, as we each end our time on earth.

God Bless you in the meantime,

CARose
 
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CARose:
JM,

As for whether or not we’re living in the end times, I suggest you live every day as though it were the last and trust in God to allow you to live to a ripe old age. Remember that Christ stated that it was not for him to reveal the end of time, and if he’s not to reveal it, I take it to mean we’re not to know, so I don’t really try to conjecture.

Mine end of times will come on the day I die. I know I am not guaranteed tomorrow (although I often take it for granted, as do most of us), so I try to remember to keep myself in line with God’s desires. I’m not nearly as good at it as I should be, but I try my feeble best, and ask forgiveness for my shortcomings.

This is what I recommend for anyone worried that the end of time is near. It is, for you and me and everyone else, just maybe not the same day and year, as we each end our time on earth.

God Bless you in the meantime,

CARose
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Thanks! 🙂
 
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Jew_Man_73:
Several people at my parish have said that we are probably living in the end times, but I don’t know alot about it (How to tell if we are living in the end times, how to tell if a time of persecution is coming, etc) I don’t know much about the early martyrs, either. I would also like to know more about the early Church Fathers. Where would be a good place to start, for someone with little knowledge?
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the Catholic Answers Library has lots of tracts on writings from the Early Chruch Fathers. click on “fathers know best” on the left side of the screen under the heading “library”.🙂
 
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antiaphrodite:
the Catholic Answers Library has lots of tracts on writings from the Early Chruch Fathers. click on “fathers know best” on the left side of the screen under the heading “library”.🙂
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Thanks, I’ll look them up. 🙂
 
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jimmy:
petra, The early Christians are so inspiring. Have you read Ignatius’ martyrdom, or his epistle to the Romans? It is so amazing the attitude they had. They desired martyrdom.
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I haven’t read his epistle, but The History of the Church describes his death. He was fed to lions as entertainment for the public. He knew his fate ahead of time and actually looked forward to it. The martyrs were amazing. On the other side of it, it is so sickening that society was so depraved and bloodthirsty that they assembled to watch gruesome murder for entertainment. They were the originators of reality TV!
 
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Jew_Man_73:
Several people at my parish have said that we are probably living in the end times, but I don’t know alot about it (How to tell if we are living in the end times, how to tell if a time of persecution is coming, etc) I don’t know much about the early martyrs, either. I would also like to know more about the early Church Fathers. Where would be a good place to start, for someone with little knowledge?

Thank you for your prayers, and I’ll certainly say a prayer for your father. I hope he comes into the Church and spends eternity in Heaven.
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Thank you so much for your prayers for my dad. 🙂

I think one of the biggest factors that Christians attribute to our being in the end times is the re-establishment of the nation of Israel. I think there is a scripture somewhere that says that after this happens, the current generation will not pass away until Christ returns. I was hoping someone might know where that verse is. Anybody know?

Regarding preparation for possible persecutions, the most important thing is to stick close with the Lord. Develop our relationship with Him and our faith in Him. Even if we are not in end times, Christians are not exempt from other types of persecution and unfair treatment. And life itself is difficult for everybody. So whatever we encounter, the Lord will give us the grace to handle it.

Someone told me one time that God’s grace can only be experienced in the present. It is sort of like manna. We can’t store up grace for future hardships, but God gives us exactly the right amount of grace when we need it in the present moment. The hard thing about projecting into the future and imagining what persecutions might be like is we “go there” mentally, but we don’t have the grace to handle that trial—because the trial is not yet real and it is not in the present. This makes the imagined trial much more scary because we experience it mentally without any grace to comfort and strengthen us.

But IF we ever happen to really encounter such a trial, we will have all the grace we need for each and every moment as we go through the trial in real time. So, I try not to project and speculate about the future. Learning about the martyrs gives me comfort that God will give us grace for any trial we encounter–big or small.

The book I am reading is The History of the Church by Eusebius. I highly recommend it. It is the only surviving account of the Early Church history, contemporary to that period.
 
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petra:
Thank you so much for your prayers for my dad. 🙂

I think one of the biggest factors that Christians attribute to our being in the end times is the re-establishment of the nation of Israel. I think there is a scripture somewhere that says that after this happens, the current generation will not pass away until Christ returns. I was hoping someone might know where that verse is. Anybody know?

Regarding preparation for possible persecutions, the most important thing is to stick close with the Lord. Develop our relationship with Him and our faith in Him. Even if we are not in end times, Christians are not exempt from other types of persecution and unfair treatment. And life itself is difficult for everybody. So whatever we encounter, the Lord will give us the grace to handle it.

Someone told me one time that God’s grace can only be experienced in the present. It is sort of like manna. We can’t store up grace for future hardships, but God gives us exactly the right amount of grace when we need it in the present moment. The hard thing about projecting into the future and imagining what persecutions might be like is we “go there” mentally, but we don’t have the grace to handle that trial—because the trial is not yet real and it is not in the present. This makes the imagined trial much more scary because we experience it mentally without any grace to comfort and strengthen us.

But IF we ever happen to really encounter such a trial, we will have all the grace we need for each and every moment as we go through the trial in real time. So, I try not to project and speculate about the future. Learning about the martyrs gives me comfort that God will give us grace for any trial we encounter–big or small.

The book I am reading is The History of the Church by Eusebius. I highly recommend it. It is the only surviving account of the Early Church history, contemporary to that period.
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Thanks for the book recommendation. I’ll look it up.

I also would like to know the Scripture reference for the passage about the re-establishment of Israel. If anyone knows it, please post it here.

Thank you for sharing your insights on grace and persectution. Very well said.

And as always, you’re more than welcome for the prayers! 🙂
 
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