2 Mystics Foretell Crisis in Papacy: “The Church is in great danger.”
“Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves”. (Pope Benedict XVI at his inaugural address)
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I. Blessed Elizabeth Canori Mora
Blessed Elizabeth Canori Mora (d. 1825), on instructions from her
confessor, wrote down revelations she received from God. Today, the
manuscripts are safely kept in the archives of the Trinitarian Fathers
at San Carlino, Rome. These practically unknown revelations tie in
remarkably with those of the current situation of Rome and the Church
today.
She was beatified in 1994.
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Crisis in the Church
On Christmas Eve 1813, Elizabeth was transported in ecstasy to a
place refulgent with light. There she saw countless saints in adoration
before a humble manger. The Infant Jesus signaled her sweetly to
approach, but on drawing near she saw that He was soaking with His own
Blood.
“Just the thought of it fills me with horror” she wrote. “But
at the same time I understood the reason for such shedding of blood was
the bad habits of many priests and religious who do not behave
according to their state in life and the bad education given to children
by their fathers, mothers and others entrusted with this duty. They,
who should increase the spirit of the Lord in the hearts of others by
their good example, instead mortally persecute Him with their bad
conduct and teachings.”
Blessed Elizabeth received many other revelations concerning the
devastating chaos and decadence into which Catholics, both lay and
clerical, would fall.
She relates that on February 24, 1814, she “…saw many ministers
of the Lord who rob each other and furiously tear off the sacred
vestments. I saw the sacred altars despoiled by the very ministers of
God.”
Likewise, on March, 22, 1814, while praying for the Holy Father she “…saw him surrounded by wolves who plotted to betray him…
I saw the Sanhedrin of wolves which surrounded the Pope, and two angels
weeping…when I asked them why they were sad and lamenting, looking upon
Rome with eyes full of compassion they responded, ‘Wretched city, ungrateful people, the justice of God will chastise you.’”
On January 16, 1815, angels showed her “many ecclesiastics who persecute Jesus Crucified and His holy Gospel under the guise of doing good…Like furious wolves they scheme to pull the Church leader down from his throne.” Then she was allowed to see the terrible indignation these wolves aroused in God. “In terror I saw the blazing lightening bolts of Divine Justice
fall about me. I saw buildings collapsing in ruins. Cities, regions and
the whole world fell into chaos. One heard nothing but countless weak
voices calling out for mercy. Countless people will be killed.”
What terrified her the most was God’s anger. She saw Him “extremely
angry with those who persecute Him. His omnipotent hands were holding
bolts of lightening, His face was resplendent with indignation and His
gaze alone was enough to incinerate the whole world.” The vision lasted but an instant, whereupon she recalled, “had it continued for another moment I surely would have died.”
Concerning her vision of June 7, 1815 she wrote of, “fierce wolves in sheep’s clothing, relentless persecutors of Jesus Crucified and His spouse the Holy Church… I saw the whole world convulsed, especially the city of Rome.
How can I possibly relate what I saw of the Holy College? Because of
contrary doctrines, together with the secular clergy, they were
scattered, persecuted and murdered by the impious…The regular clergy had
not suffered a total dispersion, but were also decimated. Countless men
of all conditions died in the massacre, but not all were condemned, for
among them were those of decent customs and others of holy life.”
Mercy Ceases for the World
On Christmas, 1816 Blessed Elizabeth saw Our Lady, who appeared extremely sad. Upon inquiring why, Our Lady answered, “Behold, my daughter, such great ungodliness.” Blessed Elizabeth then saw “apostates brazenly trying to rip her most holy Son from her arms.” Confronted with such an outrage, the Mother of God
ceased to ask mercy for the world, and instead requested justice from
the Eternal Father. Clothed in His inexorable Justice and full of
indignation, he turned to the world.
“At that moment all nature
went into convulsions, the world lost its normal order and was filled
with the most terrible calamity imaginable. This will be something so
deplorable and atrocious that it will reduce the world to the ultimate
depths of desolation.”
On the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29, 1820, she saw Saint
Peter descending from heaven, robed in papal vestments and surrounded by
a legion of angels. With his crosier he drew a great cross over the
face of the earth, separating it into four quadrants. In each of these
quadrants, he then brought forth a tree, sprouting with new life. Each
tree was in the shape of a cross and enveloped in magnificent light. All
the good laity and religious fled for protection underneath these trees
and were spared from the tremendous chastisement.
“Woe! Woe to those unobservant religious who despise their Holy Rules. They will all perish in the terrible chastisement together with all who give themselves to debauchery and follow the false maxims of their deplorable contemporary philosophy!
The sky took on a morbid blue color which terrified everyone who
looked at it. A dark wind blew everywhere. An impassioned and mournful
shrieking filled the air, like the terrible roar of a fierce lion, and
resounded all over the earth in blood curdling echoes.
All men and animals brimmed with terror. The entire world convulsed and everyone pitilessly slaughtered one another…
When this bloody fight will arrive, the vengeful hand of God
will weigh upon these fated ones and with His omnipotence He will
chastise the proud for their rashness and shameless insolence. God will
use the powers of darkness to exterminate these sectarian, iniquitous
and criminal men, who plot to eradicate the Catholic Church, our Holy
Mother, by tearing Her up by Her deepest roots, and casting Her on the
ground.”
God Will Laugh at Them
“God will laugh at their malice, and with a mere wave of His almighty right Hand, He will punish the wicked.
The powers of darkness will be allowed to leave Hell and enormous
crowds of devils will invade the whole world. They will wreak great
destruction and thus execute the orders of Divine Justice, to which they
are also subjected. They will chastise man’s goods, families, towns,
wretched cities, palaces, houses and everything else that exists on the
face of the earth to the exact degree that God decrees…
God will allow wicked men to be cruelly chastised by fierce
demons, because they voluntarily subjected themselves to the devil and
joined in his attack of the Holy Catholic Church…
I saw the horrible prison, Hell. There I saw the devils that
would be released on earth to carry their wicked destruction everywhere.
They will decimate every place that idolatry was practiced to such an
extent, that no trace of them will remain.”
The Great Restoration Begins
However, all will not end in this death and destruction. After these
purifying punishments, she saw Saint Peter return on a majestic papal
throne together with Saint Paul, who went through the world shackling
the devils and bringing them before Saint Peter, who cast them back into
the dark caverns from where they had come. “Then a beautiful splendor came over the earth, to announce the reconciliation of God with mankind.”
The small flock of faithful Catholics who had taken refuge under the trees will be brought before Saint Peter, who will “choose
a new pope. All the Church will be reordered according to the true
dictates of the holy Gospel. The religious orders will be reestablished
and the homes of Christians will become homes imbued with religion.
So great will be the fervor and zeal for the glory of God that everything will promote love of God and neighbor. The triumph, glory and honor of the Catholic Church will be established
in an instant. She will be acclaimed, venerated and esteemed by all.
All will resolve to follow Her, recognizing the Vicar of Christ as the
Supreme Pontiff.”
Early in 1821 Our Lord said to her, “I will reform my people and
my Church. I will send zealous priests to preach my Faith. I will form a
new apostolate and send the Holy Spirit to renew the world. I will
reform the religious orders by means of new holy and learned reformers.
They will all have the spirit of my predilect son Ignatius of Loyola. I
will provide my Church with a new pastor, who is learned, holy and full
of My Spirit. With holy zeal he will reform My flock.
“He told me many other things about this renovation. Many
sovereigns will support the Catholic Church and be true Catholics,
placing their scepters and crowns at the feet of the Holy Father and
Vicar of Jesus Christ. Many kingdoms will abandon their errors and
return to the bosom of the Catholic Faith. Entire peoples will convert,
recognizing the Faith of Jesus Christ as the true religion.”
The above is an excerpt from the May 2002 issue of the Brazilian
magazine Catolicismo concerning the private revelations of Blessed
Elizabeth Canori Mora.
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II. Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich
(d. 1824) Mystic, Stigmatist, was beatified in 2004.
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March 22, 1820
“I saw very clearly the errors the aberrations an the countless
sins of men. I saw the folly and the wickedness of their actions,
against all truth and all reason. Priests were among them, and I gladly
endured my suffering so that they may return to a better mind.”
April 12, 1820
“I had another vision of the great tribulation.
It seems to me that a concession was demanded from the clergy which
could not be granted. I saw many older priests, especially one, who wept
bitterly. A few younger ones were also weeping. But others, and the
lukewarm among them, readily did what was demanded. It was as if people
were splitting into two camps…”
May 13, 1820
“I saw also the relationship between the two popes. . .
I saw how baleful (harmful) would be the consequences of this
false church. I saw it increase in size; heretics of every kind came
into the city (of Rome). The local clergy grew lukewarm, and I saw a
great darkness…”
“Then the vision seemed to extend on every side. Whole Catholic
communities were being oppressed, harassed, confined, and deprived of
their freedom. I saw many churches closed down, great miseries
everywhere, wars and bloodshed. A wild and ignorant mob took violent
action. But it did not last long…”
“Once more I saw that the Church of Peter was undermined by a plan evolved by the secret sect,
while storms were damaging it. But I saw also that help was coming when
distress had reached its peak. I saw again the Blessed Virgin ascend on
the Church and spread her mantle [over it].”
July, 1820
“I saw the Holy Father surrounded by traitors and in great distress
about the Church. He had visions and apparitions in his hour of
greatest need. I saw many good pious Bishops; but they were weak and
wavering, their cowardice often got the upper hand…Then I saw darkness
spreading around and people no longer seeking the true Church.”
August to October, 1820
“I see more martyrs, not now but in the future…I saw the secret
sect relentlessly undermining the great Church. Near them I saw a
horrible beast coming up from the sea… All over the world, good and
devout people especially the clergy were harassed oppressed and put into
prison. I had the feeling that they would become martyrs one day.”
“When the Church had been for the most part destroyed
[by the secret sect], and when only the sanctuary and altar were still
standing, I saw the wreckers enter the Church with the Beast. There they
met a Woman of noble carriage who seemed to be with child because she
walked slowly. At this sight, the enemies were terrorized, and the Beast
could not take but another step forward. It projected its neck towards
the Woman as if to devour her, but the Woman turned
about and bowed down [towards the altar], her head touching the ground.
Thereupon, I saw the Beast taking to flight towards the sea again, and
the enemies were fleeing in the greatest confusion…. Then, I saw in the
great distance great legion approaching. In the foreground I saw a man
on a white horse. Prisoners were set free and joined them. All enemies
were pursued. Then, I saw that the Church was being promptly rebuilt,
and she was more magnificent than ever before….”
August 10, 1820
“I see the Holy Father in great anguish. He lives in a palace other than before
and he admits only a limited number of friends near him. I fear that
the Holy Father will suffer many more trials before he dies. I see that
the false Church of darkness is making progress and I see the dreadful
influence it has on the people. The Holy Father and the Church are
verily in so great a distress that one must implore God night and day…”
“I have been told to pray much for the Church and the Pope…The people must pray earnestly for the extirpation (rooting out) of the dark church.”
“Last night I was taken to Rome where the Holy Father immersed in
his sorrow, is still hiding to elude dangerous demands (made upon him).
He is still very weak, and exhausted by sorrows, cares and prayers. He
can now trust but few people. That is mainly why he is hiding. But he
still has with him an aged priest who has much simplicity and godliness.
He is his friend and because of his simplicity they did not think it
would be worth removing him. But this man receives many graces from God.
He sees and notices a great many things which he faithfully reports to
the Holy Father. It was required of me to inform him while he was
praying, of the traitors and evil doers who were to be found among the
high ranking servants living close to him, so that he might be made
aware of it.”
August 25, 1820
“I do not know in what manner I was taken to Rome last night, but
I found myself near the Church of St Mary Major, and I saw many poor
people who were greatly distressed and worried because the Pope was to
be seen nowhere, and also on account of the restlessness and the
alarming rumors in the city. These people did not seem to expect the
Church doors to open; they only wanted to pray outside. An inner urging
had left them there individually. But I was in the Church, and I opened
the doors. They came in, surprised and frightened because the doors had
opened. It seems to me that I was behind the door, and they could not
see me. There was no office on in the Church. But the sanctuary lamps
were lit. The people prayed quite peacefully…”
“Then I saw an apparition of the Mother of God,
and she said that the tribulation would be very great. She added that
people must pray fervently with outstretched arms, be it only long
enough to say three Our Fathers. This was the way her Son prayed for
them on the Cross. They must rise at twelve at night, and pray in this
manner; and they must keep coming to the Church. They must pray above
all for the Church of Darkness to leave Rome…”
“She (the Holy Mother) said a great many others things that it
pains me to relate: she said that if only one priest could offer the
bloodless sacrifice as worthily and with the same disposition as the
Apostles, he could avert all the disasters (that are to come). To my
knowledge the people in the Church did not see the apparition, but they
must have been stirred by something supernatural, because as soon as the
Holy Virgin had said that they must pray God with outstretched arms,
they all raised their arms. These were all good and devout people, and
they did not know where help and guidance should be sought. There were
no traitors and enemies among them, yet they were afraid of one another.
Once can judge thereby what the situation was like.”
September 10, 1820
“I saw the Church of St Peter: it has been destroyed but for the Sanctuary and the main altar. St Michael
came down into the Church, clad in his suit of armor, and he paused,
threatening with his sword and number of unworthy pastors who wanted to
enter. That part of the Church which had been destroyed was promptly
fenced in with light timber so that the Divine office might be
celebrated as it should. Then, from all over the world came priests and
laymen and they rebuilt the stone walls, since the wreckers had been
unable to move the heavy foundation stones. And then I saw that the
Church was being promptly rebuilt and She was more magnificent than ever
before…”
September 12, 1820
“I saw a strange church
being built against every rule…No angels were supervising the building
operations. In that church, nothing came from high above…There was only
division and chaos. It is probably a church of human creation, following
the latest fashion, as well as the new heterodox Church of Rome, which
seems of the same kind…”
“I saw again the strange big church that was being built there
(in Rome). There was nothing holy in it. I saw this just as I saw a
movement led by Ecclesiastics to which contributed angels, saints and
other Christians. But there (in the strange big church) all the work was
being done mechanically (i.e., according to set rules and formula).
Everything was being done, according to human reason. I saw all sorts of
people, things, doctrines, and opinions. There was something proud,
presumptuous, and violent about it, and they seemed to be very
successful. I did not see a single Angel nor a single saint helping in
the work. But far away in the background, I saw the seat of a cruel
people armed with spears, and I saw a laughing figure which said: ‘Do
build it as solid as you can; we will put it to the ground’.”
“I saw that many of the instruments in the new Church,
such as spears and darts, were meant to be used against the living
Church. Everyone dragged in something different: clubs, rods, pumps,
cudgels, puppets, mirrors, trumpets, horns bellows – all sorts of
things. In the cave below (the sacristy) some people kneaded bread, but
nothing came of it; it would not rise. The men in the little mantles
brought wood to the steps of the pulpit to make a fire. They puffed and
blew and labored hard, but the fire would not burn. All they produced
was smoke and fumes. Then they broke a hole in the roof and ran up a
pipe, but the smoke would not rise, and the whole place became black and
suffocating. Some blew the horns so violently that the tears streamed
from their eyes. All in this church belonged to the earth, returned to
the earth. All was dead, the work of human skill, a church of the latest
style, a church of man’s invention like the new heterodox church in
Rome.”
September 27, 1820
“I saw deplorable things: they were gambling, drinking, and
talking in church; they were also courting women. All sorts of
abominations were perpetrated there. Priests allowed everything and said
Mass with much irreverence. I saw that few of them were still godly,
and only a few had sound views on things. I also saw Jews standing
under the porch of the Church. All these things caused me much
distress.”
October 1, 1820
“The Church is in great danger. We must pray so that the Pope may not leave Rome; countless evils would result if he did.
They are now demanding something from him. The Protestant doctrine and
that of the schismatic Greeks are to spread everywhere. I now see that
in this place (Rome) the (Catholic) Church is being so cleverly
undermined, that there hardly remain a hundred or so priests who have
not been deceived. They all work for destruction, even the clergy. A
great devastation is now near at hand.”
“In those days Faith will fall very low and it will be preserved in some places only.”
“The Little Black Man in Rome, whom I see so often, has many
working for him without their clearly knowing for what end. He has his
agents in the New Black Church also. If the Pope leaves Rome, the enemies of the Church will get the upper hand.
I see the Little Black Man in his own country committing many thefts
and falsifying things generally. Religion is there so skillfully
undermined and stifled that there are scarcely 100 faithful priests. I
cannot say how it is, but I see fog and darkness increasing … All must
be rebuilt soon; for everyone, even ecclesiastics, are laboring to
destroy (and) ruin is at hand. The 2 enemies of the Church who have lost
their accomplice are firmly resolved to destroy the pious and learned
men that stand in their way…”
October 4, 1820
“When I saw the Church of St Peter in ruins
and the manner in which so many of the clergy were themselves busy at
this work of destruction –none of them wishing to do it openly in front
of the others – I was in such distress that I cried out to Jesus with
all my might, imploring His mercy. Then I saw before me the Heavenly
Spouse, and He spoke to me for a long time…He said, among other things,
that this translation of the Church from one place to another meant that
she would seem to be in complete decline. But she would rise again;
even if there remained but one Catholic, the Church would conquer again
because she does not rest on human counsels and intelligence. It was
shown to me that there were almost no Christians left in the old
acceptation of the word.”
October 7, 1820
“As I was going through Rome with St. Francoise and the other
saint, we saw a great palace engulfed in flames from top to bottom. I
was very much afraid that the occupants would be burned to death because
no one came forward to put out the fire. As we came nearer, however,
the fire abated and we saw the blackened building. We went through a
number of magnificent rooms (untouched by the fire), and we finally
reached the Pope. He was sitting in the dark and slept in a large
arm-chair. He was very ill and weak; he could no longer walk. The
ecclesiastics in the inner circle looked insincere and lacking in zeal; I
did not like them. I told the Pope of the bishops who are to be
appointed soon. I told him also that he must not leave Rome. If he did
so, it would be chaos. He thought that the evil was inevitable and that
he should leave in order to save many things beside himself. He was very
much inclined to leave Rome, and he was insistently urged to do so. The
Pope is still attached to the things of this earth in many ways…”
“The Church is completely isolated and as if completely deserted.
It seems that everyone is running away. Everywhere I see great misery,
hatred, treason, rancor, confusion and utter blindness. O city! O city!
What is threatening thee? The storm is coming, do be watchful!…”
June 1, 1821
“Among the strangest things that I saw, were long processions of
bishops. Their thoughts and utterances were made known to me through
images issuing from their mouths. Their faults towards religion were
shown by external deformities. A few had only a body, with a dark cloud
of fog instead of a head. Others had only a head, their bodies and
hearts were like thick vapors. Some were lame; others were paralytics;
others were asleep or staggering. I saw what I believe to be nearly all
the bishops of the world, but only a small number were perfectly sound. I
also saw the Holy Father – God-fearing and prayerful. Nothing left to
be desired in his appearance, but he was weakened by old age and by much
suffering. His head was lolling from side to side, and it dropped onto
his chest as if he was falling asleep He often fainted and seemed to be
dying. But when he was praying, he was often comforted by apparitions
from Heaven. Then, his head was erect, but as soon as it dropped again
onto his chest, I saw a number of people looking quickly right and left,
that is, in the direction of the world…”
“Then I saw that everything pertaining to Protestantism was
gradually gaining the upper hand, and the Catholic religion fell into
complete decadence. Most priests were lured by the glittering but false
knowledge of young school-teachers, and they all contributed to the work
of destruction. In those days, Faith will fall very low, and it will be
preserved in some places only, in a few cottages and in a few families
which God has protected from disasters and wars…”
1820-1821
“I also saw the various regions of the earth. My Guide (Jesus)
named Europe and pointing to a small and sandy region, He uttered these
words: ‘Here is Prussia (East Germany), the enemy.’ Then He showed me
another place, to the north, and He said: ‘This is Moskva, the land of Moscow, bringing many evils’.”
“I see many excommunicated ecclesiastics who do not seem to be
concerned about it, nor even aware of it. Yet, they are (ipso factor)
excommunicated whenever they cooperated to [sic] enterprises, enter into
associations, and embrace opinions on which an anathema has been cast.
It can be seen thereby that God ratifies the decrees, orders, and
interdictions issued by the Head of the Church, and that He keeps them
in force even though men show no concern for them, reject them, or laugh
them to scorn.”
April 22, 1823
“I saw that many pastors allowed themselves to be taken up with
ideas that were dangerous to the Church. They were building a great,
strange, and extravagant Church. Everyone was to be admitted in it in
order to be united and have equal rights: Evangelicals, Catholics sects
of every description. Such was to be the new Church…But God had other designs…”
“I see that when the Second Coming of Christ approaches, a bad
priest will do much harm to the Church. When the time of the reign of
Antichrist is near, a false religion will appear which will be opposed
to the unity of God and His Church. This will cause the greatest schism
the world has ever known. The nearer the time of the end, the more the
darkness of Satan will spread on earth, the greater will be the number
of the children of corruption, and the number of the just will
correspondingly diminish…”
“They built a large, singular, extravagant church which was to embrace all creeds with equal rights:
Evangelicals, Catholics, and all denominations, a true communion of the
unholy with one shepherd and one flock. There was to be a Pope, a
salaried Pope, without possessions. All was made ready, many things
finished; but, in place of an altar, were only abomination and
desolation. Such was the new church to be, and it was for it that he had
set fire to the old one; but God designed otherwise….”
“I came to the Church of Peter and Paul (Rome) and saw a dark
world of distress, confusion, and corruption, through which shone
countless graces from thousands of saints who there repose…”
“I saw the fatal consequences of this counterfeit church:
I saw it increase; I saw heretics of all kinds flocking to the city. I
saw the ever-increasing tepidity of the clergy, the circle of darkness
ever widening…”
“Again I saw in the midst of these disasters the twelve new
Apostles laboring in different countries, unknown to one another, each
receiving streams of living water from on high They all did the same
work. They know not whence they received their tasks; but as soon as one
was finished, another was ready for them…”
“The Jews shall return to Palestine, and become Christians toward the end of the world.”
October 22, 1822
“Very bad times will come when non-Catholics will lead many people astray. A great confusion will result. I saw the battle also. The enemies were far more numerous, but the small army of the faithful cut down whole rows of enemy soldiers. During the battle, the Blessed Virgin stood on a hill, wearing a suit armor. It was a terrible war. At the end, only a few fighters for the just cause survived, but the victory was theirs…”
