To prophesy or not to prophesy?

[Michael19682]

While attending a high school debate camp in the 1980’s in our nations capitol I got into a really bad spat with a few of my fellow camp attendees. It was all verbal; but in the course of it I made a 2 prophesies that came true. (Their insistence that the US Government and Constitution are the now true force of righteosness in the world raised my indignity as a person of Roman Catholic heritage.)

Irrespective of the veracity of their or my claims, I prophesied (though I didn’t know it was called that because I was unconfirmed until I was a 25 year old adult) two things: that there would be a German Pope immediately after John Paul II (just to needle them with my imagination I said that I had Vatican insided sources and that I was an Italian spy who would with my debate partner from high school be flying back to Italy after the camp session was over). I believe one of these was a German boy–now understand I am a very phonetic person and so don’t be shocked when I tell you that I even guessed the Pope’s German last name–and so he became indignant at how I guessed it.

The second event that I predicted was the flying of two planes into the world trade center. They symbolized the arogance and unbridled capitalism and greed of the US and I made the prophesy totally indignant but with an admitted impishness because I knew the reaction I would get. Embellishing further, and when they got even angrier, I said that I would do it myself with “the force of my consciousness.” That was taken as blasphemy of the kind Jesus was accused of when he used God’s name in John 8:58.

Frankly I dismissed the entire scenario and left to go back home before the debate rounds began (I had no experience prior nor since with formal debate).

Obviously these two events came about.

Moral theology question is: Should a prophet keep quiet so as to not start panic, or to be accused of simply expressing unconscious and aggresive impulses toward the public in the form of doom predictions? I suffered greatly and was hounded by that group of youngsters and their friends for many years because of my prediction. Yet I was at fault–it felt like a malice on my part–but its evolution by coincidence or other supernatural reason has ultimately vindicated my emotions as correct; the towers fell. The Pope is a good thing so that kinda doesn’t count, but nevertheless it bolsters my own belief that it was a prophesy. Like, did the doom prophets want Israel to learn “the hard way”?

If this entire recount sounds far fetched, I would offer the Lord as my witness–but I know that as fellow Catholics, Roman, Holy, Apostolic or otherwise you must know that I couldn’t possibly prevaricate on such an enormously important issue/question?

Yours In Chirst,

 

[Trishie]

Hi Michael, CAF has a policy of only allowing discussion of approved revelations.
What you share cannot be measured or tested by any of us here.
Only God really knows. We can only take on faith those things that the Church teaches, that God’s word teaches… and we are right be cautious of any other source. You’d be best to speak to your priest…but in all honesty others only have the person’s word for these things and there is no benefit into buying into it, it doesn’t change events. It would be my perception that if it were the case that you had any kind of pre-knowledge then this would be a private call to fervent prayer, not a publicly helpful thing to do. There are spiritual pitfalls in perceiving oneself as prophet and in convincing anyone else that one is. If it were real, then your responsibility would be ongoing prayers. It is our responsibility anyway.

God’s kindest blessings to you.

 

[Sirach2]

(just to needle them with my imagination I said that I had Vatican insided sources and that I was an Italian spy who would with my debate partner from high school be flying back to Italy after the camp session was over).

This is not the character of a genuine prophet sent by God with a specific message. It seems to be an attempt to bring honor to yourself.

Should a prophet keep quiet so as to not start panic, or to be accused of simply expressing unconscious and aggresive impulses toward the public in the form of doom predictions? I suffered greatly and was hounded by that group of youngsters and their friends for many years because of my prediction. Yet I was at fault

You might want to read the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. He was the favorite of his father and had the distinction above his brothers to wear the special robe bestowed on him. I get the feeling his prophecy to his brothers was taunting them in some respects, even though it came true in the long run, many years later. It is wisdom to keep these insights to oneself, especially since there is no mandate from God to share any of it publicly.