Sorrow of Sorrows
TEARS of sorrow. They have been welling up in me the past week, as the Lord has taken me through a series of understandings which I will try to unfold here, with His grace.
THE BROKEN CROSSES
Last year, as the Lord was pouring forth what seemed to be strong prophetic words (which I have summarized in The Petals, and expounded upon in Trumpets of Warning!), I noticed a number of crucifixes in our home and tour bus had broken—almost always at the hands or arms. I felt it was a message, but I did not know what.
Then during the past few weeks, three more crucifixes have broken, once again at the arms (the latest, seen in the picture above.) I wrote the spiritual director of my writings, not wanting to read anything into what appeared to be simple accidents. He too relayed that crucifixes have broken at the arms in his home. But in his case, no one had touched them.
It wasn’t until I sat down to begin writing this letter to you, that suddenly I understood: the Body of Christ is breaking and about to be broken…
FALL FROM GRACE
A few years back, I had a vivid dream which repeated in various forms. It would always begin with the stars in the sky beginning to circle and spin about. Suddenly they would fall. In one dream, the stars turned into balls of fire. There was a great earthquake. As I began to bolt for cover, I vividly remember running past a Church whose foundations had crumbled, it’s stain-glassed windows now tilted toward the earth.
Last week, a brother in Christ happened to write me with this account:
Just before waking up this morning I heard a voice. This was not like the voice I heard years back saying "It has begun." Instead this voice was softer, not as commanding, but seemed loving and knowledgeable and quiet in tone. I would say more of a female’s voice than a male’s. What I heard was one sentence… these words were powerful (since this morning I have been trying to push them out of my mind and cannot):
"The stars will fall."
Even writing this now I can hear the words still echo in my mind and the funny thing, it felt like sooner than later, whatever sooner really is.
In the account of Revelations 12, it says:
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. (Revelations 12:1-4)
The Apostle John uses many symbols throughout Revelations to convey his message. The woman, according to biblical exegesis and the popes, is a symbol for both Mary and the Church. In his literary analysis of Revelations, author Steven Paul deduces that the "star" is a symbol for a member of the priesthood (The Apocalypse—Letter by Letter; iUniverse, 2006).
The dragon—those forces of Satan at work through a conglomeration of powers, both hidden and organized—sweeps a third of the stars from Heaven. That is, a third of the Church hierarchy is swept away into apostasy, along with those who follow them.
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition. (2 Thess 2:1-3)
COMING SCHISM
Already, as I have written in Trumpets of Warning! — Part I, we are witnessing, I believe, the "prologue" to this coming schism. Confusion reigns among the sheepfolds of the Church: moral doctrines are disregarded by many of the laity, distorted by several priests, and discarded even by some bishops. It calls to mind once again the words of Ezekiel 34:
Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost… So they were scattered for the lack of a shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts.
Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: I swear I am coming against these shepherds…. I will save my sheep, that they may no longer be food for their mouths. (Ezekiel 34:1-11)
There is coming a time when the chief shepherd, the pope, will be struck in one form or another, leaving the Catholic Church to appear shepherdless.
Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered. (Zec 13:7)
Religion shall be persecuted, and priests massacred. Churches shall be closed, but only for a short time. The Holy Father shall be obliged to leave Rome. —Blessed Anna-Maria Taigi, Catholic Prophecy
I had another vision of the great tribulation… It seems to me that a concession was demanded from the clergy that could not be granted. I saw many older priests, especially one, who wept bitterly. A few younger ones were also weeping… It was as if people were splitting into two camps. —Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, The Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich
As I wrote in Persecution, I believe the concession demanded could very well be the legal obligation of an "international body" insisting that the Catholic Church accept alternative forms of marriage, among other things. The Church’s teachings on contraception, euthanasia, and abortion are continuing to drive a deep gulf not only between it and the political direction of many countries, but most especially between the Church and lawmakers and those who interpret the law. We are already seeing in lower courts, on regional levels, a willingness to prosecute Christians who maintain orthodox views.
Also, I believe there is a hidden division already, which will be made manifest much the way a volcanoe suddenly erupts. Already, we see smoke pouring out…
GLIMPSES
The Lord has been giving me interior glimpses of the confusion and bitter division which will ensue. I can only say that it will be a time of great sorrows. It leads me to speak a word of warning in love: NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT YOUR HEART RIGHT WITH GOD.
Those who feel that they can simply wait until the end to get their house in order are making, I believe, a grave error. As it was too late once the door of Noah’s ark was shut, it will be too late then. Now is the time when Jesus is working supernaturally and secretly, preparing souls who have come to Him, to persevere through the days ahead. God has permitted a deceiving spirit in our world, and those who put off opening their eyes today will be too blind tomorrow to follow the directions God will be giving His people in the midst of chaos. With love, and a sense of the utmost urgency, I repeat:
Today is the day of salvation! Put right your heart with God. Get your spiritual house in order.
"Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation." While [Jesus] was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. (Luke 22:46-47)
JOHN, AND THE HIDDEN PREPARATION
During the years of Christ’s ministry, the Apostle John never imagined that he would one day stand beneath the Cross of Jesus. As it turns out, he was the only one of the Twelve who did. Why?
Scripture notes that Jesus considered John the "beloved" disciple. And we see why at the Last Supper:
One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was lying close to the breast of Jesus. (John 13:23)
John had his ear to the Heart of Jesus. He heard Love whispering to him, a whisper which reached the depths of his soul in ways that He did not comprehend. It was this same apostle who later penned the words, "God is love."
John found strength to remain beneath the Cross while all the others fled, because he was prepared by the Heart of Jesus. For us Catholics, that is the Eucharist. But it is not just a matter of receiving the Eucharist on our tongues, but also in our hearts. For didn’t the betrayer of Christ also partake of the Last Supper?
He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me… one of you will betray me… It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it. (John 13:18, 21, 26)
Indeed, the times are coming when many with whom we have shared the Eucharistic banquet will be set against those who remain faithful to Christ through his authentic pope… division upon division, sorrow of sorrows.
And so now is the time to prepare our hearts, opening them wide to Jesus so that the graces of the Eucharist, the Scriptures, and our interior prayer penetrate and transform our being. How else can the spirit be strong when the flesh is so weak?
Also, I want to note that John stood beneath the Cross with Mary. Perhaps it was seeing her strength, standing there alone, that drew him to her side. Indeed, Mary’s strength, her fortitude, her faithfulness, will always draw you to the feet of Jesus. And so brothers and sisters, take up the Rosary and pray; do not let go of our Mother’s hand. And with your whole heart receive her Son, our Eucharistic Savior. In this way, you will acquire the graces necessary to stand with Jesus in the days ahead… the days of sorrow in which the body of Christ will be broken.
He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you." …Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom… and the earth shook, and the rocks were split. (Luke 22:19; Mark 15:37-38; Matt 27:51)
But broken only for a time.
For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will look after and tend my sheep. As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep. I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark. (Ezekiel 34:11-12)
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