Thursday, April 28, 2011

Are These the Chastisements?


There seems to be  no end to the unusual and violent natural events.  Earthquakes. Tsunamis. Hurricanes. Floods. Tornadoes. Blizzards. Ice storms.  It's hard not to wonder if these are signs of the chastisements Our Lady spoke of at Fatima and at Akita.  I happened upon a website that talked about the Three Days of Darkness.  I wasn't frightened for myself, but it made me terrified for those I love who have turned away from God and even outright rejected Him.  I would be curious to know what priests think.  I think it's probably neither healthy or advisable from a spiritual standpoint to read too much about such events.

Tonight after dinner I needed to get flowers for the belated secretaries' day celebration we are having tomorrow that became my responsibility by default.  The sky was all kinds of insane colors.  Pink clouds, black clouds and brilliant patches of blue peeking through.  A flash of lightning here, some raindrops there.  I decided to chance it.  And I thought of Christ's words in Matthew's Gospel:

How is it that you can discern the face of the sky, but you cannot read the signs of the times?


I don't have an answer to that question, but I think it would be prudent to keep ourselves in what one of my former OR nurses would call " a maximal state of readiness."

1. Still not praying the Rosary?  There is no time like the present. If you still think it's too rote a prayer, maybe you'll consider that Our Lady herself wants you to pray it.  What more proof do you need?  Make the effort and she will help you with the rest.

2.  Confess your sins on a regular basis.

3.  Go to Mass and receive Holy Communion as often as you can.  Offer them for the intention of fallen-away family members and friends.  I know not everyone lives in area with access to daily Mass.  In that case, pause once  a day and reflect upon the fact that somewhere in the world, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is being offered.  Make a spiritual communion.

4.  Let us continue to pray for one another and for our priests.

12 comments:

  1. No I do not believe that natural disasters have anything to do with God's anger or rebuke or punishment. The good die equally with the evil. I believe God has a greater purpose in mind, such as suffering that leads to love. I'm sure there are many more purposes unperceivable to us mere mortals.

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  2. I like what you say about the
    Rosary.

    It is the best part of being
    Catholic...this connection to
    Jesus through His mother in
    the recitation of the Rosary.

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  3. I fear you are right, too few listen to the Fatima and Akita messages. Your points 1 to 4 say it all!

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  4. You may want to read this excellent post by my friend, Anne: http://annebender.blogspot.com/2011/04/end-times.html#comment-form

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  5. Yes! I do believe these are the chastisements and far worse will come (nations annihilated, etc.) IF Our Pope doesn't obey Our Lady of Fatima (http://www.fatima.org) and consecrate "Russia" with all the bishops to Her Immaculate Heart. Our Lord & God, Jesus Christ wants this done and done correctly. In 2017, it will be 100 years and we know that in 100 years we had the French Revolution because the King didn't consecrate France to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. God have mercy on us!

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  6. Manny, the Virgin of Fatima and of Akita was very clear that the good will die with the bad. You might want to read a bit about her warnings. Both of these apparitions were approved by the Catholic church and recognized to be authentic, unlike some others.

    Ann, thanks, I will definitely take a look at your friend's post.

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  7. Well, if it was chastisement, then why should we pray for them? That would be fighting God's will. No?

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  8. LOL, I take it that was a chastisement. Well, in my heart I do not believe that God acts through natural acts of nature. I did a bit of research on it this evening and the Church seems to be a bit split. Some do seem to cite what you said, but more importantly than citing saints I think their best argument is citing the Old Testament, where God acts on Israel's sins.

    Those that disagree with you cite Luke 13 where Jesus puts down the pharises for suggesting that people's plights were due to sin.

    I am not knowledgable enough to have a learned opinion. I can only believe what is in my heart. God is love and chastisments that punish innocent people would not be love. I see bad things that happen to all people, good and bad alike, as a process toward a greater good. Christ's crucifixion was a bad event to a good person. It was not a chastisement. It was a process that led to redemption.

    Anyway, that's my two cents. :)

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  9. Two cents? Inflation, my friend, it's worth at least a dollar :)

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  10. TLW,

    how very interesting that we both posted on the same subject at nearly the same time! And, as I'm writing this comment, I am at the place on your sidebar where you have St. Teresa's excellent bookmark and I think that her words speak clearly to all talk of chastisement-do not be disturbed or frightened-God alone suffices.

    Your blog is wonderful and I enjoy your sense of humor! Bless you~

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Comments which reflect true Christian charity are always welcome. Comments which attack the Pope, the Church, priests or other bloggers will go in the dustbin, especially if they are anonymous. Thank you and God Bless you!