{"id":11105,"date":"2017-04-01T00:00:26","date_gmt":"2017-04-01T06:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?p=11105"},"modified":"2017-09-25T17:02:45","modified_gmt":"2017-09-25T21:02:45","slug":"what-if-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/what-if-2\/","title":{"rendered":"What If&#8230;?","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<div align=\"center\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/TheEndOfTheRoad_000.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"467\" height=\"434\" \/> <span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>What&#8217;s around the bend?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><strong>IN <\/strong>an\u00a0open\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/dear-holy-father-he-is-coming\/\">letter to the\u00a0Pope<\/a>, <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_1');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_1');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[1]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_1\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/dear-holy-father-he-is-coming\/\">Dear Holy Father&#8230; He is Coming!<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> I outlined\u00a0to His Holiness the theological foundations for an &#8220;era of peace&#8221; as opposed to the heresy of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/millenarianism-what-it-is-and-is-not\/\"><em>millenarianism<\/em><\/a>. <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_2');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_2');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[2]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_2\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/millenarianism-what-it-is-and-is-not\/\">Millenarianism: What it is and is Not<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>and the Catechism [CCC} n.675-676<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script>\u00a0Indeed,\u00a0Padre Martino Penasa posed the question\u00a0on the scriptural foundation of an historic and universal era of peace\u00a0<em>versus\u00a0<\/em>millenarianism to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: \u201c<em>\u00c8 imminente una nuova era di vita cristiana?<\/em>\u201d (\u201cIs a new era of Christian life imminent?\u201d). The Prefect at that time, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger replied, \u201c<em>La questione \u00e8 ancora aperta alla libera discussione, giacch\u00e8 la Santa Sede non si \u00e8 ancora pronunciata in modo definitivo<\/em>\u201d:<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><!--more--><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>The question is still open to free discussion, as the Holy See has not made any definitive pronouncement in this regard.<\/strong> \u2014I<em>l Segno del Soprannauturale<\/em>, Udine, Italia, n. 30, p. 10, Ott. 1990<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Thus it is remotely possible that the Church, at any point in the future, may also state definitively that an &#8220;era of peace&#8221; is also <em>contrary<\/em> to the Faith. Until such a pronouncement is made, if ever, one can also ask, &#8220;What if\u2014what if an &#8220;era of peace&#8221; is <em>not<\/em> part of the &#8220;end times&#8221;?<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">DIVERGING OPINIONS<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">The truth is, there are some contemporary authors who are taking this stand, suggesting that the Second Coming\u00a0of <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/endofroad.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"233\" height=\"188\" align=\"left\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"2\" \/>Christ and the end of the world is in fact imminent. We must say that they too are within their rights to propose this since the Church has not made any definitive pronouncement one way or the other. That said, Pope Benedict XVI, commenting on St. Faustina&#8217;s messages, which state that\u00a0they\u00a0were given to prepare the world for &#8220;the final coming&#8221; of Jesus, remarked: <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_3');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_3');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_3\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[3]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_3\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/faustina-and-the-day-of-the-lord\/\">Faustina, and the Day of the Lord<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>If one took this statement in a chronological sense, as an injunction to get ready, as it were, immediately for the Second Coming, it would be false<\/strong>. \u2014POPE BENEDICT XVI, <em>Light of the World, A Conversation with Peter Seewald<\/em>,\u00a0p. 180-181<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Indeed, in the same interview, Pope Benedict affirmed the expectation for the &#8220;triumph of the Immaculate Heart,&#8221; which Our Lady of Fatima promised would bring about a &#8220;period of peace&#8221; in the world. So, he clearly sees the &#8220;triumph&#8221; as an interim event before the final events which usher in the end of the world. He\u00a0prayed, then, that God may\u00a0\u201chasten the fulfillment of the prophecy of the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.\u201d <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_4');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_4');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_4\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[4]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_4\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Homily, Fatima, Portugal, May 13th, 2010<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>Yes, a miracle was promised at Fatima, the greatest miracle in the history of the world, second only to the Resurrection. And that miracle <\/strong><strong>will be an <em>era of peace<\/em> which has never really been granted before to the world<\/strong>. \u2014Cardinal Mario Luigi Ciappi, papal theologian for John Paul II as well as Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul I, October 9th, 1994,\u00a0<em>Family Catechism,<\/em>\u00a0p. 35<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Most notably, Benedict said of his prayer for the hastening of the Triumph:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong><em>This is equivalent in meaning to our praying for the coming of God\u2019s Kingdom. <\/em><\/strong><em>\u2014Light of the World, A Conversation With Peter Seewald,\u00a0<\/em>p. 166<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Yes, the fulfillment of the\u00a0<em>Our Father <\/em>when His kingdom will come and <em>&#8220;will be done on earth as it is in heaven.&#8221;<\/em>\u00a0Admittedly, this is where many eschatologists today have taken a wrong turn. They equate the &#8220;coming of the Kingdom&#8221; with the <em>parousia<\/em> at the end of\u00a0the world. However, even Jesus said 2000 years ago\u00a0that <em>&#8220;the\u00a0Kingdom of heaven is at hand.&#8221;<\/em> <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_5');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_5');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_5\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[5]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_5\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Matt 3:2<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> That is, the Kingdom of God has come, is coming, and will come. It is this &#8220;middle coming&#8221; of Christ&#8217;s kingdom that Our Lady and many of the last centuries mystics have been speaking of when the Bride of Christ will be brought to resemble Mary&#8217;s holiness, and when&#8230;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">&#8230;<strong>the power of evil is restrained again and again, that again and again the power of God himself is shown in the Mother\u2019s power and keeps it alive. <\/strong>\u2014POPE BENEDICT XVI,\u00a0<em>Light of the World, <\/em>p. 166, A Conversation With Peter Seewald<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>&#8230;in this middle coming, He is our rest and consolation.<\/strong><strong>\u2026. In His first coming Our Lord came in our flesh and in our weakness; in this middle coming He comes in spirit and power; in the final coming He will be seen in glory and majesty\u2026 <\/strong>\u2014St. Bernard, <em>Liturgy of the Hours<\/em>, Vol I, p. 169<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Thus, said Pope St. John XXIII, this present time&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>\u2026<em>prepares<\/em>, as it were, and consolidates the path toward that unity of mankind <em>which is required as a necessary foundation<\/em>, in order that the earthly city may be brought to the resemblance of that heavenly city where truth reigns, charity is the law, and whose extent is eternity<\/strong>. \u2014POPE JOHN XXIII, Address at the Opening of the Second Vatican Council, October 11th, 1962; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.papalencyclicals.net\/vatican2.htm\">www.papalencyclicals.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva, sans-serif; color: #000080;\"><strong>According to the Lord, the present time is the time of the Spirit and of witness, but also a time still marked by &#8220;distress&#8221; and the trial of evil which does not spare the Church and ushers in the struggles of the last days. It is a time of waiting and watching.<\/strong> <\/span>\u2014<em>Catechism of the Catholic Church,\u00a0<\/em>n. 672<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<p align=\"LEFT\">BUT WHAT IF THEY&#8217;RE WRONG?<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">So <em>what if <\/em>an era of peace were <em>not<\/em> part of the last times, when according to the prophet Isaiah, all the nations will stream to the Lord&#8217;s house during a time of peace? <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_6');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_6');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_6\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[6]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_6\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. Isaiah 2:2-4<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_6').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_6', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> For didn&#8217;t Jesus say that the gospel must be\u00a0preached &#8220;to all the nations&#8221; before the end (Matt 24:14)\u2014something both St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict said is still very much a work in progress?<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>The mission of Christ the Redeemer, which is entrusted to the Church, is still very far from completion. As the second millennium after Christ\u2019s coming draws to an end, an overall view of the human race shows that this mission is still only beginning and that we must commit ourselves wholeheartedly to its service.<\/strong> \u2014POPE JOHN PAUL II, <em>Redemptoris Mission<\/em>, n. 1<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>There are regions of the world that are still awaiting a first evangelization; others that have received it, but need a deeper intervention; yet others in which the Gospel put down roots a long time ago, giving rise to a true Christian tradition but in which, in recent centuries\u2014with complex dynamics\u2014the secularization process has produced a serious crisis of the meaning of the Christian faith and of belonging to the Church.<\/strong> \u2014POPE BENEDICT XVI, First Vespers of the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, June 28th, 2010<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">The above expectations are, of course, part of our Sacred Tradition and do indeed seem to have yet to reach their ultimate fulfillment.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span class=\"text\"><span style=\"color: #000066; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: small;\"><strong>This eschatological coming could be accomplished at any moment, even if both it and the final trial that will precede it are &#8220;delayed&#8221;. <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><em>\u2014Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 673<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span class=\"text\">St. Peter further illuminates what must come &#8220;until the time for establishing all that God spoke&#8221; is fulfilled.<br \/>\n <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span class=\"text\"><span style=\"color: #000066; font-family: Trebuchet MS;\"><strong>The glorious Messiah\u2019s coming is suspended at every moment of history until his recognition by &#8220;all Israel&#8221;, for &#8220;a hardening has come upon part of Israel&#8221; in their &#8220;unbelief&#8221; toward Jesus. St. Peter says to the Jews of Jerusalem after Pentecost: &#8220;Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that <em>times of refreshing<\/em> may come <em>from the presence of the Lord<\/em>, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive <em>until the time<\/em> for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.&#8221;<sup>\u00a0<\/sup> <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"text\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u2014<em>CCC, n.674<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">So, are these &#8220;times of refreshing&#8221; to be understood as Heaven\u2014or are\u00a0they rather referring\u00a0to an era of peace? Without the eschatological light that the &#8220;era of peace&#8221; brings, it is hard to understand how exactly there will be &#8220;times of refreshing&#8221; that will include the Jewish people. Also, how will the Gospel be preached to the ends of the earth creating one flock, under one Shepherd, <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_7');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_7');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_7\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[7]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_7\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. John 10:16<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_7').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_7', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> without there being some kind of &#8220;new Pentecost&#8221; that enables the Kingdom of God to reach the coastlands&#8230; given that the world is now becoming pagan again?<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>We cannot calmly accept the rest of humanity falling back again into paganism<\/strong>. \u2014Cardinal Ratzinger (POPE BENEDICT XVI), <em>The New Evangelization, Building the Civilization of Love<\/em>; Address to Catechists and Religion Teachers, December 12, 2000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">The &#8220;era of peace,&#8221; as explained especially by the saints and mystics of this past century, certainly sheds new light and understanding in this regard. However, <em>what if<\/em> they are wrong?<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Our Lady of Fatima promised that, &#8220;<em>in the end&#8221; <\/em>her &#8220;<em>Immaculate Heart will Triumph and the world will be granted a period of peace<\/em>.&#8221; One author suggests that &#8220;in the end&#8221; refers to &#8220;the end of the world.&#8221; However, this makes little sense since Our Lady was clearly stating that, after all her requests were fulfilled, that is, &#8220;in the end&#8221;, the world will be granted a &#8220;period&#8221; of peace. Eternity is not a period. It is eternity.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Others have suggested that the &#8220;period of peace&#8221; has already happened with the collapse of the Soviet Union and end of the &#8220;Cold <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/berlin-wall-torn-down.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"232\" height=\"310\" align=\"right\" hspace=\"2\" \/>War.&#8221; However, that is a rather myopic viewpoint since, following the fall of the Berlin wall were the genocides in Rwanda, former Yugoslavia, and the Sudan; then there&#8217;s the plague of pornography and no-fault divorce that has ravaged families; this has been followed by the rise of violent crime and dramatic increase in teenage suicide and STD&#8217;s; and of course, what kind of peace has there been in the womb as now one billion\u00a0babies have been brutally slaughtered there through abortion? <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_8');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_8');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_8\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[8]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_8\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifesitenews.com\/news\/breaking-researchers-estimate-1-billion-abortions-globally-over-past-100-ye\">LifeSiteNews<\/a><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_8').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_8', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> It would seem that the &#8220;period of peace&#8221; is yet to come. For to be sure, we have <em>not <\/em>heeded Our Lady&#8217;s requests, which amount to conversion back to God.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Another author asserts that the statements made by the pontiffs of the last century regarding a &#8220;time of peace and justice&#8221; refer solely to the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time and definitive establishment of the eternal Kingdom of God in a New Heavens and a New Earth. While I have demonstrated in my<a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/dear-holy-father-he-is-coming\/\"> letter to the Holy Father<\/a> how the popes statements are consistent with Sacred Tradition from the times of the Early Church Fathers regarding an authentic &#8220;era of peace&#8221; <em>within<\/em> the boundaries of time, <em>what if <\/em>the popes were referring to Heaven?<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Then, I would have to say, the language chosen by the pontiffs is strange, if not contradictory, to say the very least. For example, when Pope Benedict XVI called the youth to be &#8220;prophets of this new age&#8221; that is coming, he said to them:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>Empowered by the Spirit, and drawing upon faith\u2019s rich vision, a new generation of Christians is being called to<em> help build a world in which God\u2019s gift of life is welcomed<\/em>, respected and cherished\u2026 <\/strong><strong>Dear young friends, the Lord is asking you to be prophets of this new age..<\/strong>. \u2014POPE BENEDICT XVI, Homily, World Youth Day, Sydney, Australia, July 20th, 2008<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">If this refers to Heaven, as some suggest, then it may come as a surprise to others that Heaven is still under construction; that we are going to have to &#8220;help build a world in which God&#8217;s gift of life is welcomed.&#8221; I was under the impression that, in Heaven, the gift of life was already welcomed. However, this statement makes more sense if it is understood as a triumphant period of Christianity in the world that emerges after this present culture of death has been crushed beneath Our Lady&#8217;s heel\u2014the &#8220;triumph of the Immaculate Heart.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">In 1957 in his<em> Urbi et Orbi <\/em>Easter address, Pope Pius XII stated:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>But even this night in the world shows clear signs of a dawn that will come, of a new day receiving the kiss of a new and more resplendent <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/factory.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"227\" height=\"179\" align=\"left\" hspace=\"2\" \/>sun&#8230; A new resurrection of Jesus is necessary: a true resurrection, which admits no more lordship of death&#8230; In individuals, Christ must destroy the night of mortal sin with the dawn of grace regained. In families, the night of indifference and coolness must give way to the sun of love. In factories, in cities, in nations, in lands of misunderstanding and hatred the night must grow bright as the day, <em>nox sicut dies illuminabitur, <\/em>and strife will cease and there will be peace<\/strong>. \u2014<em>Urbi et Orbi<\/em> address, March 2nd, 1957; <a href=\"http:\/\/w2.vatican.va\/content\/pius-xii\/it\/messages\/urbi\/documents\/hf_p-xii_mes_19570421_urbi-easter.html\">vatican.va<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">So <em>what if <\/em>there is to be no &#8220;era of peace&#8221; and this refers to the state of Heaven, as one author suggests? Then Catholics may find it strange that there will be &#8220;factories&#8221; in eternity. However, the theology of an &#8220;era of peace&#8221; fits in perfectly with Pius XII&#8217;s words that, after the death of Antichrist, there will be what St. John calls a &#8220;first resurrection&#8221; in which the saints will reign with Christ during an era of peace, a &#8220;thousand years.&#8221; <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_9');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_9');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_9\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[9]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_9\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. Rev 20:1-6<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_9').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_9', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>Now\u2026 we understand that a period of one thousand years is indicated in symbolic language.<\/strong> \u2014St. Justin Martyr,<em> Dialogue with Trypho<\/em>, Ch. 81, <em>The Fathers of the Church<\/em>, Christian Heritage<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">As I explained in my letter to the Holy Father, the approved mystics of the 20th century have spoken about this destruction of &#8220;the night of mortal sin&#8221; when &#8220;the dawn of grace&#8221; is regained. What is regained is the &#8220;gift&#8221; to live in the Divine Will that Adam and Eve, as well as Mary, the New Eve, enjoyed, according to Servant of God Luisia Picarretta. <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_10');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_10');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_10\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[10]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_10\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/prophecy-popes-and-picarretta\/\">Popes, Prophecy, and Picarretta<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_10').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_10', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> This is a state of mystical union with God that will prepare the Church so that Jesus&#8230;.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: Courier New; font-size: small;\">&#8230;might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish\u2026 (Eph 5:25, 27)<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em><strong>It is a union of the same nature as that of the union of heaven, except that in paradise the veil which conceals the Divinity disappears\u2026 <\/strong><\/em>\u2014Venerable Conchita, cited in <em><a href=\"https:\/\/danieloconnor.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/06\/the-crown-and-completion-of-all-sanctity.pdf\">The Crown and Completion of All Sanctities<\/a>, <\/em>by Daniel O\u2019Connor, p. 11-12; nb. Ronda Chervin, <em>Walk with Me, Jesus<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>The essential affirmation is of an intermediate stage in which the risen saints are still on earth and have not yet entered their final stage, for this is one of the aspects of the mystery of the last days which has yet to be revealed<\/strong>. \u2014Cardinal Jean Dani\u00e9lou, S.J., theologian, <em>A History of Early Christian Doctrine Before the Council of Nicea<\/em>, 1964, p. 377<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">This mystery is simply the <em>mystery of love <\/em>flowering in the Church.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: Courier New,Courier,mono; font-size: small;\">If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Fathers commandments and remain in his love. (John 15:10)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">To live in the Divine Will of God is such a close state of union that, although it is not the perfection of Heaven,<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/sdo-nasa-sun.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"231\" height=\"167\" align=\"right\" hspace=\"2\" vspace=\"0\" \/> it draws Heaven down into the soul such that even the &#8220;hidden faults&#8221; of the person are consumed in the fire of divine love\u2014just as a celestial object that draws too close to the sun is consumed by its heat without ever touching the sun&#8217;s surface.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: courier new,courier;\">Love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Pet 4:8)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">It is precisely this lack of understanding of mystical theology that has led many commentators to presume that any notion of a stage in history where the Church is groomed by the Holy Spirit into a preliminary state of perfection is therefore &#8220;millenarianism.&#8221; <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_11');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_11');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_11\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[11]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_11\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf.\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/millenarianism-what-it-is-and-is-not\/\">Millenarianism: What it is and is Not<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_11').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_11', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">However, Pope Benedict XVI explained it so well:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>&#8230;we recognize that \u201cheaven\u201d is where the will of God is done, and that \u201cearth\u201d becomes &#8220;heaven&#8221;\u2014i.e., the place of the presence of love, of goodness, of truth and of divine beauty\u2014only if on earth the will of God is done.<\/strong> \u2014POPE BENEDICT XVI, General Audience, February 1st, 2012, Vatican City<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Again, Jesus\u00a0said, <em>&#8220;the kingdom of heaven is near.&#8221;<\/em> In fact, one could rightly say that the &#8220;era of peace&#8221; has already begun in the hearts of some of the faithful, for that is precisely where the Kingdom of God is to be found within the &#8220;living stones&#8221; of the Church.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">This &#8220;gift of living in the Divine Will&#8221; that Luisa prophesied <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_12');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_12');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_12\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[12]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_12\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-coming-new-and-divine-holiness\/\">The Coming New and Divine Holiness<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_12').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_12', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script>\u00a0will come about in a &#8220;new era&#8221; (many other notable mystics such as Venerable Conchita, Martha Robin, St. Hannibal, Maria Esperanza, etc. spoke explicitly of this &#8220;new era&#8221;) and might be what led Pius X to cry out:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>Oh! when in every city and village the law of the Lord is faithfully <em><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/confession4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"259\" align=\"left\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"2\" \/><\/em>observed, when respect is shown for sacred things, when the <em>Sacraments<\/em> are frequented, and the ordinances of Christian life fulfilled, there will certainly be <\/strong><strong>no more need for us to labor further to see all things restored in Christ\u2026 And then? Then, at last, it will be clear to all that the Church, such as it was instituted by Christ, must enjoy full and entire liberty and independence from all foreign dominion\u2026 All this, Venerable Brethren, We believe and expect with unshakable faith. <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u2014POPE PIUS X, <em>E Supremi<\/em>, Encyclical \u201cOn the Restoration of All Things\u201d, n.14, 6-7<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">But <em>what if <\/em>there is to be no such temporal &#8220;era of peace&#8221;? Then Pius X&#8217;s words are a pipe dream (though these words were written in an Encyclical letter, which is a magisterial\u00a0teaching\u00a0of the Church.) For he refers to a time of peace and liberty &#8220;when the Sacraments are frequented.&#8221; There&#8217;s your clue: the Sacraments belong to the <em>temporal<\/em> order, not Heaven;\u00a0they will cease in eternity since Jesus will then be physically and eternally present and united to His Mystical body. Thus, this time of peace he is referring to cannot refer to Heaven, but to a momentous hour in the future.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>When it does arrive, it will turn out to be a solemn hour, one big with consequences not only for the restoration of the Kingdom of Christ, but for the pacification of\u2026 the world. We pray most fervently, and ask others likewise to pray for this much-desired pacification of society.<\/strong> \u2014POPE PIUS XI,<em> Ubi Arcani dei Consilioi \u201cOn the Peace of Christ in his Kingdom\u201d<\/em>, December 23, 1922<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">But still,\u00a0<em>what if <\/em>there was to be no &#8220;era of peace&#8221;? Then Pius XI&#8217;s reference to a solemn &#8220;hour&#8221; is a strange way to describe the eternal state of beatitude. Furthermore, would it not be redundant to say that this &#8220;hour&#8221; will bring about the &#8220;much-desired pacification of society&#8221; if he is referring to Heaven? &#8220;Pacification&#8221;? It&#8217;s a baffling understatement if it refers to the eternal Kingdom.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">However, if one were to apply the proper theology of an &#8220;era of peace&#8221; according to the Early Church Fathers, then Pius X&#8217;s and XI&#8217;s words make perfect sense. They are the prophetic hope of a coming<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/dawn.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"273\" height=\"190\" align=\"right\" hspace=\"2\" vspace=\"0\" \/> &#8220;period of peace&#8221; that will establish the &#8220;kingdom of God&#8221; to the coastlands, and which &#8220;we believe and expect with unshakable faith.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>S<\/strong><strong>o, the blessing foretold undoubtedly refers to <em>the time of His Kingdom<\/em><\/strong>\u2026 <strong>Those who saw John, the Lord\u2019s disciple, [tell us] that they heard from him how the Lord taught and spoke about these times\u2026<\/strong> \u2014St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Church Father (140\u2013202 A.D.); <em>Adversus Haereses<\/em>, Irenaeus of Lyons, V.33.3.4,<em> The Fathers of the Church<\/em>, CIMA Publishing<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Here, St. Irenaeus, giving us a <em>rare <\/em>testimony of the direct development of St. John&#8217;s Apocalypse, is speaking of a coming &#8220;time&#8221; when the Kingdom of God will reign on earth in a new mode\u00a0<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_13');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_13');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_13\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[13]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_13\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-coming-new-and-divine-holiness\/\">The Coming New and Divine Holiness<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_13').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_13', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script>\u2014that is, the will of God will reign <em>&#8220;on earth as it is in heaven.&#8221;<\/em> Blessed John Paul II also employed temporal terminology in this regard:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>May there dawn for everyone the <em>time<\/em> of peace and freedom, the <em>time<\/em> of truth, of justice and of hope.<\/strong> \u2014POPE JOHN PAUL II, Radio message, Vatican City, 1981<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Again, the language chosen here refers to a &#8220;time&#8221;. Consider Paul VI&#8217;s prophetic words:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>These African martyrs herald the dawn of a new age. If only the mind of man might be directed not toward persecutions and religious conflicts but toward a rebirth of Christianity and civilization!<\/strong> \u2014<em>Liturgy of the Hours,<\/em> Vol. III, p. 1453, Memorial of Charles Lwanga and Companions<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">&#8220;Christianity&#8221; and &#8220;civilization&#8221; are terms that we use to refer to both the spiritual and temporal order. Heaven will not be the rebirth of Christianity but the <em>wedding<\/em> of Christians with Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom. The term Christianity will in fact become obsolete in Heaven since it is a description we use to denote the Church from the various religions in the temporal order. Again, if Paul VI was referring to Heaven, then it is stretching the lexicon of eschatology as we know it.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>With a heart trustfully open to this vision of hope, I implore from the Lord an abundance of the Spirit&#8217;s gifts for the whole Church, so that the &#8220;springtime&#8221; of the Second Vatican Council can find in the new millennium its &#8220;summertime,&#8221; that is to say its full development.<\/strong> \u2014POPE JOHN PAUL II, General Audience, September 23rd, 1998; <a href=\"https:\/\/w2.vatican.va\/content\/john-paul-ii\/en\/audiences\/1998\/documents\/hf_jp-ii_aud_23091998.html\">vatican.va<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Here again, without the theology of an &#8220;era of peace&#8221;, the Holy Father&#8217;s statement seems an odd way to say &#8220;Heaven.&#8221; Rather, the &#8220;summertime&#8221; of the Second Vatican Council is precisely the realization of that general preliminary Christian perfection for which John XXIII called the council in the first place:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>The task of humble Pope John is to \u201cprepare for the Lord a perfect people,\u201d which is exactly like the task of the Baptist, who is his patron and from whom he takes his name. And it is not possible to imagine a higher and more precious perfection than that of the triumph of Christian peace, which is peace at heart, peace in the social order, in life, in well-being, in mutual respect, and in the brotherhood of nations.<\/strong> \u2014POPE JOHN XXIII, <em>True Christian Peace, <\/em>December 23rd, 1959; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.catholicculture.org\/culture\/library\/view.cfm?recnum=3231\">www.catholicculture.org<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">In my writing, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/faustina-and-the-day-of-the-lord\/\">Faustina, and the Day of the Lord<\/a>,<\/em> the &#8220;summertime&#8221; referred to here would correspond to the &#8220;midday&#8221; of the &#8220;day of the Lord.&#8221; Here again, we see two differing schools of thought: one, is that the &#8220;day of the Lord&#8221; is the last 24 hour day on earth. But according to the early Church Fathers, their teaching\u2014which is consistent with the pope&#8217;s vision of a dawning new era\u2014is that the &#8220;day of the Lord&#8221; is an <em>era<\/em> of peace and justice.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>\u2026this day of ours, which is bounded by the rising and the setting of the sun, is a representation of that great day to which the circuit of a thousand years affixes its limits. <\/strong>\u2014Lactantius, <em>Fathers of the Church:<\/em> <em>The Divine Institutes, Book VII, <\/em>Chapter 14, <em>Catholic Encyclopedia; <\/em><a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.newadvent.org\/fathers\/07017.htm\">www.newadvent.org<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">And again,<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>Behold, the Day of the Lord shall be a thousand years.<\/strong> \u2014Letter of Barnabas, <em>The Fathers of the Church, <\/em>Ch. 15<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">RENEWING OUR HOPE IN HIS COMING<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">While it is certainly permissible for Catholics to hold either position regarding what occurs on the &#8220;day of the Lord&#8221; since the Church has made no definitive pronouncement, what seems objectionable to me are those who do not permit others to propose the theological possibility of an &#8220;era of peace.&#8221; Both Cardinal Ratzinger himself, while head of the CDF, and a\u00a0theological commission in 1952 that compiled\u00a0<em>The Teaching of the Catholic Church,\u00a0<\/em>have put forth\u00a0magisterial statements <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_14');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_14');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_14\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[14]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_14\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. Inasmuch as the cited\u00a0work bears the Church\u2019s seals of approval, i.e., the\u00a0<em>imprimatur\u00a0<\/em>and the\u00a0<em>nihil obstat,<\/em>\u00a0it is an exercise of the Magisterium.\u00a0 When an individual\u00a0bishop grants\u00a0the Church\u2019s official\u00a0imprimatur, and neither the Pope nor\u00a0the body of\u00a0bishops oppose the conferral of this seal, it is an exercise of the ordinary Magisterium.<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_14').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_14', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> to the effect that an &#8220;era of peace&#8221; is still very much open to the realm of possibility, that there could still be&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>\u2026a hope in some mighty triumph of Christ here on earth before the final consummation of all things. Such an occurrence is not excluded, is not impossible, it is not all certain that there will not be a prolonged period of triumphant Christianity before the end. <\/strong><\/span><strong style=\"font-size: small;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/crush-satans-head_000.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"218\" height=\"205\" align=\"left\" hspace=\"5\" vspace=\"2\" \/>If before that final end there is to be a period, more or less prolonged, of triumphant sanctity, such a result will be brought about not by the apparition of the person of Christ in Majesty but <em>by the operation of those powers of sanctification which are now at work, the Holy Ghost and the Sacraments of the Church.<\/em><\/strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0\u2014<em>The Teaching of the Catholic Church: A Summary of Catholic Doctrine<\/em>, The MacMillan Company, 1952, p. 1140<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">It is puzzling to me why otherwise faithful Catholics have chosen to ignore these magisterial statements.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Some authors wish to explain the coming &#8220;new Pentecost&#8221;, the &#8220;period of peace&#8221; promised at Fatima, and &#8220;springtime&#8221; or &#8220;summertime&#8221; of Christianity as concomitant with the final coming of Jesus at the end of time.\u00a0I personally believe these positions are a strange way to simply say &#8220;Heaven&#8221; and simply do not explain the temporal context in which these prophetic words have been made. Furthermore, they neglect entirely the early Church Fathers, patrisitic and resourcement theology, the approved apparitions of Mary, and the powerful testimony and teachings of many approved contemporary mystics. <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_15');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_11105_1('footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_15');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_15\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[15]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_15\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/is-jesus-really-coming\/\">Is Jesus Really Coming?<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_15').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_11105_1_15', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script>\u00a0Nonetheless, since the question remains open, the most important thing is to keep such theological debates in a spirit of charity and mutual respect.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">The reality is that the preparations for the Day of the Lord are the <em>same<\/em>, whether they contain a triumphant period of sanctity or not. The reason is that, every day, at any moment, anyone of us could come face to face with our Creator. Most of you reading this will likely enter your particular judgment before God within 50 years or less. And so the need to remain in a &#8220;state of grace,&#8221; in a place of mercy and forgiveness towards others, and as a servant wherever you are, is imperative. This can be achieved by the grace of God through a life of prayer, penance, participation in the Sacraments, and above all, trust in God&#8217;s love and mercy.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">For ultimately, what comes will come&#8230;<em> and it will come <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/like-a-thief-in-the-night\/\">&#8220;like a thief in the night.&#8221;<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><em>First published May 1st, 2013<\/em><\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">RELATED READING:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><em><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-popes-and-a-dawning-new-age\/\">The Popes, and the Dawning Era<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-coming-new-and-divine-holiness\/\">The Coming New and Divine Holiness<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/new-holiness-or-new-heresy\/\">New Holiness&#8230; or New Heresy?<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/preparing-for-reign\/\"><strong><em>Preparing for Reign<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/how-the-era-was-lost\/\"><em>How the Era was Lost<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/creation-reborn\/\"><em><strong>Creation Reborn<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/faustina-and-the-day-of-the-lord\/\"><strong>Faustina, and the Day of the Lord<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/two-more-days\/\"><strong><em>Two More Days<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-last-judgments\/\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The Last Judgments<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-coming-resurrection\/\"><strong><em>The Coming Resurrection<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fb-like\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/what-if-2\/\" data-send=\"true\" data-width=\"450\" data-show-faces=\"true\" data-action=\"recommend\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/donations\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Supportbtnbeige\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Supportbtnbeige.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"112\" height=\"48\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/Songs.html\">www.markmallett.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>Click below to translate this page into a different language:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/translations\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"WorldFlags\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/WorldFlags.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"183\" height=\"163\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"speaker-mute footnotes_reference_container\"> <div class=\"footnote_container_prepare\"><p><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_label pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_11105_1();\"><h5>Footnotes<\/h5><\/span><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button\" style=\"display: none;\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_11105_1();\">[<a id=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_11105_1\">+<\/a>]<\/span><\/p><\/div> <div id=\"footnote_references_container_11105_1\" style=\"\"><table class=\"footnotes_table footnote-reference-container\"><caption class=\"accessibility\"><h5>Footnotes<\/h5><\/caption> <tbody> \r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_1');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>1<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/dear-holy-father-he-is-coming\/\">Dear Holy Father&#8230; He is Coming!<\/a><\/em><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_2');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>2<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/millenarianism-what-it-is-and-is-not\/\">Millenarianism: What it is and is Not<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>and the Catechism [CCC} n.675-676<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_3\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_3');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>3<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/faustina-and-the-day-of-the-lord\/\">Faustina, and the Day of the Lord<\/a><\/em><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_4\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_4');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>4<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Homily, Fatima, Portugal, May 13th, 2010<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_5\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_5');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>5<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Matt 3:2<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_6\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_6');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>6<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. Isaiah 2:2-4<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_7\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_7');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>7<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. John 10:16<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_8\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_8');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>8<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifesitenews.com\/news\/breaking-researchers-estimate-1-billion-abortions-globally-over-past-100-ye\">LifeSiteNews<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_9\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_9');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>9<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. Rev 20:1-6<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_10\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_10');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>10<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/prophecy-popes-and-picarretta\/\">Popes, Prophecy, and Picarretta<\/a><\/em><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_11\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_11');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>11<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf.\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/millenarianism-what-it-is-and-is-not\/\">Millenarianism: What it is and is Not<\/a><\/em><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_12\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_12');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>12<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-coming-new-and-divine-holiness\/\">The Coming New and Divine Holiness<\/a><\/em><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_13\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_13');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>13<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-coming-new-and-divine-holiness\/\">The Coming New and Divine Holiness<\/a><\/em><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_14\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_14');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>14<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. Inasmuch as the cited\u00a0work bears the Church\u2019s seals of approval, i.e., the\u00a0<em>imprimatur\u00a0<\/em>and the\u00a0<em>nihil obstat,<\/em>\u00a0it is an exercise of the Magisterium.\u00a0 When an individual\u00a0bishop grants\u00a0the Church\u2019s official\u00a0imprimatur, and neither the Pope nor\u00a0the body of\u00a0bishops oppose the conferral of this seal, it is an exercise of the ordinary Magisterium.<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_11105_1_15\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_11105_1_15');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>15<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/is-jesus-really-coming\/\">Is Jesus Really Coming?<\/a><\/em><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> function footnote_expand_reference_container_11105_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_11105_1').show(); jQuery('#footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_11105_1').text('\u2212'); } function footnote_collapse_reference_container_11105_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_11105_1').hide(); jQuery('#footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_11105_1').text('+'); } function footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_11105_1() { if (jQuery('#footnote_references_container_11105_1').is(':hidden')) { footnote_expand_reference_container_11105_1(); } else { footnote_collapse_reference_container_11105_1(); } } function footnote_moveToReference_11105_1(p_str_TargetID) { footnote_expand_reference_container_11105_1(); var l_obj_Target = jQuery('#' + p_str_TargetID); if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } } function footnote_moveToAnchor_11105_1(p_str_TargetID) { footnote_expand_reference_container_11105_1(); var l_obj_Target = jQuery('#' + p_str_TargetID); if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } }<\/script>","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What&#8217;s around the bend? &nbsp; IN an\u00a0open\u00a0letter to the\u00a0Pope, [1]cf. Dear Holy Father&#8230; He is Coming! I outlined\u00a0to His Holiness the theological foundations for an &#8220;era of peace&#8221; as opposed to the heresy of millenarianism. [2]cf. 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