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Has Matthew 24:14 Been Realized?

'Definitely Yes'

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"Jesus left the temple area and was going away, when his disciples approached him to point out the temple buildings. He said to them in reply, "You see all these things, do you not? Amen, I say to you, there will not be left here a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down." As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, "Tell us, when will this happen, and what sign will there be of your coming, and of the end of the age?"

Jesus said to them in reply, "See that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many. You will hear of wars and reports of wars; see that you are not alarmed, for these things must happen, but it will not yet be the end. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be famines and earthquakes from place to place.

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All these are the beginning of the labor pains. Then they will hand you over to persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. And then many will be led into sin; they will betray and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and deceive many; and because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
(Mt 24:4-13)

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come
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The Rule of Measure

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Matthew 24:14 is held by the Church as one of the conditions precedent that must occur prior to the end of the age of Satan, and the Second Coming of Jesus. (1) It is worthy of emphasis that Matthew's verse calls for the Gospel 'to be preached throughout the world'. This is the 'yardstick' or 'meterstick' to be employed; and although it is clearly stated, many fail to understand it. It does not state that the seeds of the Gospel must take root and blossom, necessarily; but only that the Gospel be preached throughout the world.

Also, key to understanding the meaning of this verse is the sense in which it was stated. In "Free From All Error: Authorship, Inerrancy, Historicity of Scripture, Church Teaching, and Modern Scripture Scholars Chapter 4: The Plural Senses of Scripture" (2), Fr. William G. Most discusses the senses of Scripture. He teaches the following in respect of the 'literal sense':

"First, we need to clarify the expression 'literal sense'. It is not a crude, fundamentalistic way of understanding that treats the ancient writer as if he were a twentieth century American, as if one were to say: "Genesis speaks of six days. That means six times twenty-four hours. "No, the literal sense is what the ancient writer really meant to convey." (3)

Furthermore, in the text of Matthew 24:14 the Greek word, oikoumene is used and translated as world. Scholars hold that it is used in a literal (historical) sense. They hold that it is used here to mean the world of the old Roman Empire. Indeed, certain Greek to English dictionaries state its meaning as: "land, i.e. the (terrene part of the) globe; specially, the Roman empire:--earth, world."

It is also worthy of emphasis that for purposes of the satisfaction of Matthew 24:14 only, at any particular time it is irrelevant whether the Church is engaged in an ongoing evangelization effort, or whether any significant part of the world is in the state of non-belief. Once again, it is the cumulative effort of preaching the Gospel throughout the "world" that is the measure.(4) The Catholic Church teaches that it "exists in order to evangelize" (5), and that it is the primary responsibility of the bishops to assure that the Gospel is preached throughout the world. Furthermore, in 2 Thes. 2, St. Paul speaks of the Great Apostasy or falling away from the faith. Jesus told us in Luke's Gospel: "When the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Lk 18.8). Satan never sleeps. Clearly, the Church will be involved in some evangelization effort when the Son of Man returns.

Please reread this section once again for clarity before proceeding.

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Fidei Depositum

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In October 1992, H.H. Pope John Paul II issued his Apostolic Constitution FIDEI DEPOSITUM On the Publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church Prepared Following the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council.

Therein he stated the following under the heading: 'Doctrinal Value of the Text':

"The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved 25 June last and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church's faith and of Catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, Apostolic Tradition and the Church's Magisterium. I declare it to be a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion and a sure norm for teaching the faith. May it serve the renewal to which the Holy Spirit ceaselessly calls the Church of God, the Body of Christ, on her pilgrimage to the undiminished light of the kingdom!"

"…This catechism is given to them that it may be a sure and authentic reference text for teaching catholic doctrine…"

There can be no doubt from the words of this order of the Pope, that the Catechism of the Catholic Church is a true catechism of the Catholic Faith.

With that in mind, let us take a look at what H.H. Pope John Paul II states in the Catechism with respect to Sacred Scripture:

102 "Through all the words of Sacred Scripture, God speaks only one single Word, his one Utterance in whom he expresses himself completely:(64)

You recall that one and the same Word of God extends throughout Scripture, that it is one and the same Utterance that resounds in the mouths of all the sacred writers, since he who was in the beginning God with God has no need of separate syllables; for he is not subject to time."(65)

103 "For this reason, the Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord's Body. She never ceases to present to the faithful the bread of life, taken from the one table of God's Word and Christ's Body." (66)

104 "In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, "but as what it really is, the word of God".(67) "In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them."(68)

105 "God is the author of Sacred Scripture. "The divinely revealed realities, which are contained and presented in the text of Sacred Scripture, have been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit."(69)

"For Holy Mother Church, relying on the faith of the apostolic age, accepts as sacred and canonical the books of the Old and the New Testaments, whole and entire, with all their parts, on the grounds that, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they have God as their author, and have been handed on as such to the Church herself."(70)

106 "God inspired the human authors of the sacred books. "To compose the sacred books, God chose certain men who, all the while he employed them in this task, made full use of their own faculties and powers so that, though he acted in them and by them, it was as true authors that they consigned to writing whatever he wanted written, and no more."(71)

107 "The inspired books teach the truth. "Since therefore all that the inspired authors or sacred writers affirm should be regarded as affirmed by the Holy Spirit, we must acknowledge that the books of Scripture firmly, faithfully, and without error teach that truth which God, for the sake of our salvation, wished to see confided to the Sacred Scriptures."(72)

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Sacred Scripture

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Thus we have seen by order of the Pope via Fidei Depositum, that which the Catholic Church has always taught: that Sacred Scripture, in its entirety, is the inerrant Word of God.

With that in mind, let us turn to Sacred Scripture and see what has been said by God with respect to the satisfaction of Matthew 24:14.

 

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work (2 Tm 3:16-17)

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. (1 Th 2:13)

"And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation…And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen." (Mk 16:15-20)

"And you who once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before him, provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister." (Col 1:21-23)

"But they have not all obeyed the gospel; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?". So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." (Rom 10:16-18)

 

It is worthy of emphasis that the word oikoumene that was used in Matthew 24:14 and translated as world; is the same word used in Romans 10:18 and translated as world.

 

Consider the second Chapter of Luke's gospel, which states: "In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child." (Lk 2:1-5)

The corresponding footnote in the New American Bible For Catholics reads: "Caesar Augustus: the reign of the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus is usually dated from 27 B.C. to his death in A.D. 14. According to Greek inscriptions, Augustus was regarded in the Roman Empire as "savior" and "god," and he was credited with establishing a time of peace, the pax Augusta, throughout the Roman world during his long reign. It is not by chance that Luke relates the birth of Jesus to the time of Caesar Augustus: the real savior and peace-bearer is the child born in Bethlehem. The great emperor is simply God's agent who provides the occasion for God's purposes to be accomplished. The whole world: that is, the whole Roman world: Rome, Italy, and the Roman provinces."

Simple logic would dictate that the Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, could make a decree with respect to only the world under his dominion at that time. Clearly, that would be the world of the Roman Empire, only.

It should be emphasized that the Greek word used for 'world' in Luke 2:1-5 is oikoumene. The very same word used in Matthew 24:14 and Romans 10:16-18, discussed above.

Again, we see the word oikoumene used to refer to the Roman world during the trial of St. Paul in chapter 24 of the Acts of the Apostles, which states: "For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes." (Acts 24:5)

 

Thus, we have the requirement of Matthew 24:14 established by God; and subsequently, we have the Word of God stating clearly that Matthew 24:14 has been realized. ..

 

To be sure, we need not proceed any further in this matter, but let's consider additional information with respect to this issue.

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Fathers and Doctors of the Church

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St. Irenaeus, Father of the Church (130-202 A.D.)

"For, after our Lord rose from the dead, [the apostles] were invested with power from on high when the Holy Spirit came down [upon them], were filled from all [His gifts], and had perfect knowledge: they departed to the ends of the earth, preaching the glad tidings of the good things [sent] from God to us, and proclaiming the peace of heaven to men, who indeed do all equally and individually possess the Gospel of God." (Adversus Haereses, Book III Chapter 1)

"Even as Esaias saith, "The children of Jacob shall strike root, and Israel shall flourish, and the whole world shall be filled with his fruit. "The fruit, therefore, having been sown throughout all the world, she (Jerusalem) was deservedly forsaken, and those things which had formerly brought forth fruit abundantly were taken away; for from these, according to the flesh, were Christ and the apostles enabled to bring forth fruit." (Adversus Haereses, Book IV Chapter 4)

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Tertullian, Father of the Church (circa 2nd and 3rd centuries)

"Take care, however, lest those whom you call the third race should obtain the first rank, since there is no nation indeed which is not Christian. Whatever nation, therefore, was the first, is nevertheless Christian now." (To the Nations, Book I Chapter 8)
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St. John Chrysostom, Father & Doctor (347-407A.D.)

"Therefore He added moreover, 'And this gospel shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all nations, and then shall the end come,' of the downfall of Jerusalem.

For in proof that He meant this, and that before the taking of Jerusalem the gospel was preached, hear what Paul saith, 'Their sound went into all the earth;' and again, 'The gospel which was preached to every creature which is under Heaven.' And seest thou him running from Jerusalem unto Spain? And if one took so large a portion, consider what the rest also wrought. For writing to others also, Paul again saith con-coming the gospel, that 'it is bringing forth fruit, and growing up in every creature which is under Heaven.'

But what meaneth, 'For a witness to all nations?' Forasmuch as though it was everywhere preached, yet it was not everywhere believed. It was for a witness, He saith, to them that were disbelieving, that is, for conviction, for accusation, for a testimony; for they that believed will bear witness against them that believed not, and will condemn them. And for this cause, after the gospel is preached in every part of the world, Jerusalem is destroyed, that they may not have so much as a shadow of an excuse for their perverseness. For they that saw His power shine throughout every place, and in an instant take the world captive, what excuse could they then have for continuing in the same perverseness? For in proof that it was everywhere preached at that time, hear what Paul saith, 'of the gospel which was preached to every creature which is under Heaven.'

Which also is a very great sign of Christ's power, that in twenty or at most thirty years the word had reached the ends of the world. 'After this therefore,' saith He, 'shall come the end of Jerusalem.' For that He intimates this was manifested by what follows. (Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, HOMILY LXXV.)

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Fr. William G. Most

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The late Father William G. Most was one of the world's premier theologians of our time. Fr. Most minced no words in stating that Matthew 24:14 has been realized.

In Chapter 5: "Multiple Fulfillment" of his writing entitled: "Free From All Error: Authorship, Inerrancy, Historicity of Scripture, Church Teaching, and Modern Scripture Scholars" (6) Fr. Most even used the satisfaction of Matthew 24:14 as an example of multiple fulfillment of prophecy. In it he states:

"A remarkable phenomenon appears in a number of places in Scripture. Oddly, it has been little noticed by scholars. It seems that prophecies can have more than one fulfillment…"

A specially interesting probable case of multiple fulfillment comes in the mysterious chapter 24 of St. Matthew. At the start, the disciples ask Jesus for the signs of two things: the fall of Jerusalem, and of the end of the world. Commentators are far from agreement on interpreting the rest of the chapter. Some have tried to divide it so as to have some parts refer to one question, others to the other. But a careful analysis reveals that practically all of the signs given were actually fulfilled before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D… ."

Matthew predicts that "this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come" (24:14). The language is well adapted to multiple fulfillment, for the Gospel was indeed preached throughout most of the Mediterranean world before the fall of Jerusalem. St. Paul himself told the Romans (15:23) that he no longer had a place to preach in the eastern Mediterranean. Before the ultimate end, the Gospel will reach absolutely all parts of the globe."

Fr. Most addresses the satisfaction of Matthew 24:14 further in another of his writings entitled: Eschatology (7) . Paragraph 424 reads:

1. The Gospel must be preached everywhere: This is clear from Matthew 24:14: "This Gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, in testimony to all peoples, and then will come the consummation." Has that been done today? It seems definitely yes."

As we can see, Fr. Most is very clear on the matter. In one instance, he submitted the satisfaction of Matthew 24:14 as an example of multiple fulfillment prophecy, and in another he even used the adverb, 'definitely' for emphasis. [Refer to the Biography of Fr. William G. Most at Footnote (8) below.]

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The Many Imprimaturs

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Fr. Stefano Gobbi received messages from the Blessed Mother from 1973-1997 (25 years). Many of her messages speak of the first evangelization, the world becoming pagan again, and of the second evangelization. His messages carry several Imprimaturs including Imprimaturs of three Cardinals, several Archbishops, and several Bishops. The three Cardinals in question are: the late Cardinal Echeverria of Ecuador, Cardinal Vidal of the Philippines and Cardinal Mikai of Thailand.

While the Imprimatur is not a declaration of authenticity of the messages being received from Our Lady, it does assure the reader that the messages are FREE FROM DOCTRINAL ERROR - i.e. they do not contain anything, which is contrary to the Catholic faith or morals.

A number of Our Lady's messages to Fr. Gobbi speak of the first evangelization having occurred, and the gospel having been preached throughout the world, already.

That is to say, that the above mentioned cardinals, archbishops and bishops have issued their Imprimaturs in respect of it being true that the first evangelization has occurred; or stated differently, that Matthew 24:14 has been realized. We shall visit a few of her messages to Fr. Gobbi later herein.

  

Thus far we have seen that Matthew 24:14 has indeed been satisfied by examining Sacred Scripture; Sacred Scripture together with Pope John Paul II's Fidei Depositum and the Catechism of the Catholic Church; the teachings of the Fathers and Doctors, the words of the internationally acclaimed theologian, Fr. William G. Most, and the Imprimaturs of several Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops rendered in respect of Fr. Stefano Gobbi's messages which speak repeatedly of the first evangelization having occurred.

Now, let us address the arguments of dissidents from a different approach.

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The New World

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There are some who would suggest that Matthew 24:14 refers to the entire globe, and in St. Mark's Gospel and St. Paul's Epistles the Holy Spirit was only referring to the world that was known to the human writers at that time. Thus, these people contend, contrary to Sacred Scripture and contrary to the teachings of the Church with respect to Sacred Scripture, that Matthew 24:14 has not been realized.

Clearly, this notion ignores the fact that Sacred Scripture is the inerrant Word of one author, the Creator of the world. Stated differently, it was the Creator who established the requirement of Matthew 24:14, and it was the Creator, acting through St. Paul and St. Mark, who stated that such requirement had been realized to His satisfaction.

Once again, the word, oikoumene, was used by God in establishing Matthew 24:14 and the same word, oikoumene, was used by God in Romans 10:18 declaring that the requirement had been satisfied.

As we discussed above, the sense in which words are used in Sacred Scripture is key to their understanding and fulfillment. Proponents of this notion, would do well to consider the words of certain of the Church Fathers who said:

"And if those also who follow heresies venture to avail themselves of the prophetic Scriptures; in the first place they will not make use of all the Scriptures, and then they will not quote them entire, nor as the body and texture of prophecy prescribe. But, selecting ambiguous expressions, they wrest them to their own opinions, gathering a few expressions here and there; not looking to the sense, but making use of the mere words. For in almost all the quotations they make, you will find that they attend to the names alone, while they alter the meanings; neither knowing, as they affirm, nor using the quotations they adduce, according to their true nature.

But the truth is not found by changing the meanings (for so people subvert all true teaching), but in the consideration of what perfectly belongs to and becomes the Sovereign God, and in establishing each one of the points demonstrated in the Scriptures again from similar Scriptures…" (St. Clement of Alexandria; The Stromata, Book VII)

"But here some one perhaps will ask, Since the canon of Scripture is complete, and sufficient of itself for everything, and more than sufficient, what need is there to join with it the authority of the Church's interpretation? For this reason,--because, owing to the depth of Holy Scripture, all do not accept it in one and the same sense, but one understands its words in one way, another in another; so that it seems to be capable of as many interpretations as there are interpreters…Therefore, it is very necessary, on account of so great intricacies of such various error, that the rule for the right understanding of the prophets and apostles should be framed in accordance with the standard of Ecclesiastical and Catholic interpretation." (St. Vincent Lerins; Commonitory for the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith, Ch. II).

"…Since the literal sense is that which the author intends, and since the author of Holy Writ is God, Who by one act comprehends all things by His intellect, it is not unfitting, as Augustine says (Confess. xii), if, even according to the literal sense, one word in Holy Writ should have several senses." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Prima Pars, Sacred Doctrine, Article 10)

"…we are not entitled to such license, I mean that of affirming what we please; we make the Holy Scriptures the rule and the measure of every tenet; we necessarily fix our eyes upon that, and approve that alone which may be made to harmonize with the intention of those writings." (St. Gregory of Nyssa; On Virginity, Ch. 24)

"If you believe what you like in the Gospel and reject what you do not like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself." (St. Augustine)

  

For the sake of this argument, let us turn to the pronouncements of Pope John Paul II in respect of the preaching of the Gospel in the 'New World'.


ECCLESIA IN OCEANIA

The following are only a few of the relevant excerpts from Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Exhortation, ECCLESIA IN OCEANIA promulgated on November 22, 2001. There are several more of the same nature which we have not listed here in the spirit of brevity. H.H. Pope John Paul II states, therein:

"Missionaries brought the Gospel to the original inhabitants of Oceania, inviting them to believe in Christ and find their true home in his Church…

That was the goal of the Synod, and it is the goal of the new evangelization to which the Spirit is summoning the whole Church…

The present generation of Christians is called and sent now to accomplish a new evangelization among the peoples of Oceania, a fresh proclamation of the enduring truth evoked by the symbol of the Southern Cross…

He is for ever the Word made flesh for all the world; he is the Gospel that was brought to Oceania; and he is the Gospel that now must be proclaimed anew…

They [the Bishops of Oceania] were aware that new circumstances in that vast region present great challenges, and that the time is ripe for a re-presentation of the Gospel to the peoples of the Pacific, so that they may hear the word of God with renewed faith and find more abundant life in Christ…

..The kerygma is God's word proclaimed in order to set humanity right with God through faith in Christ. We see the power of the kerygma at work in the first community in Jerusalem. 'They devoted themselves to the Apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers' (Acts 2:42). This is the essence of the Church's life, the fruit of the first evangelization. Adherence to Jesus Christ comes through believing his word proclaimed by the Church. Saint Paul asks, 'How can people preach unless they are sent?' (Rom 10:15); and indeed Christ sent his Apostles whose 'voice went out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world'.. ..(Ps 19:5). As 'witnesses of divine and Catholic truth', the missionaries in Oceania traveled over land and sea, passed through deserts and floods, and faced great cultural difficulties in accomplishing their remarkable work. Inspired by this story of the Church's birth in Oceania, the Synod Fathers felt the need for a new and courageous preaching of the Gospel in our own day…

To conclude this Apostolic Exhortation, I invite you to join me in turning to the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother of the Church, who is so revered throughout Oceania. Missionaries and immigrants alike brought with them a deep devotion to her as an integral part of their Catholic faith; and since that time, the faithful of Oceania have not ceased to show their great love for Mary. She has been a wondrous helper in all the Church's efforts to preach and teach the Gospel in the world of the Pacific. In our time, she is no less present to the Church than she was at Pentecost, gathered with the Apostles in prayer (Acts1:14). With her prayer and presence, she will surely support the new evangelization just as she supported the first. In times of difficulty and pain, Mary has been an unfailing refuge for those seeking peace and healing…"

 

ECCLESIA IN AMERICA

The following are only a few of the relevant excerpts from Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Exhortation, ECCLESIA IN AMERICA promulgated on January 22, 1999 in Mexico City, Mexico. There are several more of the same nature which we have not listed here in the spirit of brevity. Note: In ECCLESIA IN AMERICA the Pope refers to the combined North, Central and South Americas, as one 'America' or the one 'Continent'. H.H. Pope John Paul II states, therein:

"Rejoicing in the faith received and praising Christ for this immense gift, the Church in America has recently celebrated the fifth centenary of the first preaching of the Gospel on its soil…

The evangelization of America is not only a gift from the Lord; it is also a source of new responsibilities. Thanks to the work of those who preached the Gospel through the length and breadth of the continent, countless sons and daughters have been generated by the Church and the Holy Spirit…

On October 12, 1992, the very day marking the five hundredth anniversary of the first evangelization of America, I spoke at the opening of the Fourth General Assembly of the Latin American Bishops in Santo Domingo

I asked that the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops reflect on America as a single entity, by reason of all that is common to the peoples of the continent, including their shared Christian identity and their genuine attempt to strengthen the bonds of solidarity and communion between the different forms of the continent's rich cultural heritage. The decision to speak of 'America' in the singular was an attempt to express not only the unity which in some way already exists, but also to point to that closer bond which the peoples of the continent seek and which the Church wishes to foster as part of her own mission, as she works to promote the communion of all in the Lord…

As the Church throughout America prepared to commemorate the five hundredth anniversary of the first evangelization of the continent, when speaking to the Council of Latin American Bishops in Port-au-Prince (Haiti), I had said: 'The commemoration of the five hundred years of evangelization will achieve its full meaning if it becomes a commitment by you the Bishops, together with your priests and people, a commitment not to a re-evangelization but to a new evangelization — new in ardor, methods and expression'…

To the extent that these goals are reached, there will emerge an ever increasing dedication to the new evangelization of America

Throughout the continent, from the time of the first evangelization, the presence of the Mother of God has been strongly felt, thanks to the efforts of the missionaries. In their preaching, 'the Gospel was proclaimed by presenting the Virgin Mary as its highest realization. From the beginning — invoked as Our Lady of Guadalupe — Mary, by her motherly and merciful figure, was a great sign of the closeness of the Father and of Jesus Christ, with whom she invites us to enter into communion'.

The appearance of Mary to the native Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac in 1531 had a decisive effect on evangelization. Its influence greatly overflows the boundaries of Mexico, spreading to the whole Continent. America, which historically has been, and still is, a melting-pot of peoples, has recognized in the mestiza face of the Virgin of Tepeyac, 'in Blessed Mary of Guadalupe, an impressive example of a perfectly inculturated evangelization'. Consequently, not only in Central and South America, but in North America as well, the Virgin of Guadalupe is venerated as Queen of all America.

With the passage of time, pastors and faithful alike have grown increasingly conscious of the role of the Virgin Mary in the evangelization of America. In the prayer composed for the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops, Holy Mary of Guadalupe is invoked as 'Patroness of all America and Star of the first and new evangelization…

The greatest gift which America has received from the Lord is the faith which has forged its Christian identity. For more than five hundred years the name of Christ has been proclaimed on the continent…

The burning desire to invite others to encounter the One whom we have encountered is the start of the evangelizing mission to which the whole Church is called. This mission has become particularly urgent today in America, five hundred years after the first evangelization…

Let everyone join in the prayer of the Successor of Peter, invoking Christ who is 'the way of conversion, communion and solidarity in America':

We thank you, Lord Jesus,
because the Gospel of the Father's love,
with which you came to save the world,
has been proclaimed far and wide in America

as a gift of the Holy Spirit
that fills us with gladness…"

  

Note that in ECCLESIA IN OCEANIA, the Pope spoke of the first community of Jerusalem and the "fruit of the first evangelization [of the world]", and with reference to Romans 10:15-18 Pope John Paul II stated clearly in his own words: "and indeed Christ sent his Apostles whose "voice went out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world".

Also significant is that fact that the Pope spoke at length about Our Lady of Guadalupe in ECCLESIA IN AMERICA. The first indication of the special role that Our Lady would play in the evangelization of America, came in 1492 in the naming of Columbus' ships: the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina. Further, with their first step upon American soil, Columbus and his crew knelt and prayed the Salve Regina. The names of Columbus' ships translate into English as: "Saint Mary paints little woman". Only a few years later in 1531, Our Lady fulfilled that message by appearing to Juan Diego on Tepeyac, and miraculously painted her image upon his tilma.

The citations above indicate clearly that Pope John Paul II not only considers the New World as having received its first evangelization; but in referring to Romans 10:15-18 and his statement which followed, he stated clearly that the world has already received its first evangelization, as well....That is to say, that the Pope clearly and overtly stated in a written Apostolic Exhortation that Matthew 24:14 has been realized. .

Certainly, the above information is more than enough to demonstrate that Matthew 24:14 has been realized, but there is even more. We have the word of the Mother of God on it. This writing began with Our Lord providing the following message #533 to me to write about:

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Message #533 to Fr. Stefano Gobbi (9)

Santiago (Dominican Republic); December 8, 1994

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

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Apostles of the Last Times

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.The Blessed Virgin Mary said:

"You find yourself here, my little son, to hold a cenacle with the bishops, priests and faithful of my Movement, on this day when the Church celebrates the solemnity of my Immaculate Conception.

The Most Holy Trinity has filled my entire being with this singular privilege, because I was destined to be the Mother of the Word, become man in my most pure womb.

In view of my divine maternity, I have been preserved from original sin and from every shadow of personal sin, and I have been filled with grace and holiness.

Because I am the Mother of Jesus, I have been intimately associated in the mystery of His work of redemption, as Co-redemptrix, and have thus become true Mediatrix of Grace between you and my Son Jesus.

Beneath the Cross, through the Will of my Son, I have become Mother of all of you, and in the Cenacle with the Apostles I have participated as Mother in the birth of the Church.

My motherly task is that of leading the Church along the way of its evangelization. And so I have always been at the side of each of my children who, through two thousand years, have brought the announcement of the Gospel to every part of the world.

Precisely on this day, you are celebrating here the five hundredth anniversary of the beginning of the evangelization of all this great continent of America.

After nearly two thousand years since the first announcing of the Gospel, humanity has again become pagan. I am the Mother of the Second Evangelization. Mine is the task of forming the apostles of the second evangelization. During these years, I have formed you with particular care and through the gift of my words, to be the apostles of these last times.

Apostles of the last times, because you must announce to all, to the very ends of the earth, the Gospel of Jesus, in these days of the great apostasy. In the great darkness which has descended upon the world, spread the light of Christ and of his divine truth.

Apostles of the last times, because you must give to all the very life of God, by means of grace which you communicate with the sacraments of which you are the ministers. And thus you spread the fragrance of purity and of holiness in these times of great perversion.

Apostles of the last times, because you are being called to bring down the dew of the merciful love of Jesus upon a world parched by the inability to love and menaced more and more with hatred, violence and war.

Apostles of the last times, because you must announce the closely approaching return of Jesus in glory, who will lead humanity into the new times, when at last there will be seen new heavens and a new earth.

Proclaim to all His forthcoming return: 'Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!'" (Rv 22:20)

End of message.

 

  

Why does the Pope repeatedly use the word, 'NEW' in referring to the current evangelization needed i.e. the NEW Evangelization? (while he does call for a new methodology and approach, it is clearly much more than that) The answer lies in the words of Our Blessed Mother above:

"And so I have always been at the side of each of my children who, through two thousand years, have brought the announcement of the Gospel to every part of the world --- After nearly two thousand years since the first announcing of the Gospel, humanity has again become pagan. I am the Mother of the Second Evangelization. Mine is the task of forming the apostles of the second evangelization."

Clearly, we see such NEW or Second Evangelization contemplated in Our Lady's message above.

Additionally, in a number of her messages through Fr. Gobbi, the Blessed Mother refers specifically to Pope John Paul II calling for the second evangelization. Two such occurrences are found in her messages #468 Go and Evangelize & #523 My Immaculate Heart Will Triumph:

"Go as apostles of the second evangelization, to which the first of my beloved sons, Pope John Paul II, is urgently calling you. Go and evangelize." (#468)

"It is you who must be the instruments of this general return. It is you who must be the apostles of this second evangelization, so strongly requested by my Pope. Thus, by means of you, my Immaculate Heart will triumph." (#523)

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The Second Pentecost

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With the initiation of the second evangelization being made by Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, how might the second realization of Matthew 24:14 occur ultimately? Consider the following words of the Blessed Mother of God through Fr. Gobbi (10) :

 

#383 - The Holy Spirit Will Come - May 22, 1998

"The Time of the Second Pentecost has come."

 

#501 - A Cause of My Great Sorrow - Sept. 15, 1993; Toyko, Japan

"…I am the Mother of all these pagans as well, a Mother who is concerned and anxious for their salvation. I nurture seeds of life and goodness in their hearts. I help them to observe that Law which the Lord has engraved in the depths of each man. I stir up in their minds a desire for the truth, and thus lead them gently to the encounter with my Son Jesus. Their full and total adhesion to the Gospel will be an extraordinary work of my Immaculate Heart…"

 

#521 - Come, Holy Spirit - May 22, 1994

"…Come Holy Spirit.

A new and universal effusion of the Holy Spirit is necessary to arrive at the new times, so longed for. It is necessary that the second Pentecost come quickly. It can come to pass only in the spiritual cenacle of my Immaculate Heart. For this reason, I renew today the invitation to all the Church to enter into the cenacle which the heavenly Mother has prepared for you for the final times. You are able to enter through the act of consecration to my Immaculate Heart.

I request that this consecration, asked by me with such anxious insistence, be made by the bishops, the priests, the religious and the faithful. And let it be made by all in order to shorten the time of the great trial which has now arrived.
..

The Holy Spirit will then bring you to an understanding of the whole and entire truth.

The Holy Spirit will cause you to understand the times through which you are living.

The Holy Spirit will be light upon your way and will make you courageous witnesses of the Gospel in the dreadful hour of the great apostasy.

The Holy Spirit will bring you to grasp that which I will make manifest to you concerning what is contained in the still sealed Book.

The Holy Spirit will give His perfect witness to the Son, by preparing hearts and souls to receive Jesus who will return to you in glory.

Come, Holy Spirit.

Come by means of the powerful intercession of my Immaculate Heart. My hour is the hour of the Holy Spirit. The Triumph of my Immaculate Heart will coincide with the great prodigy of the second Pentecost.

A new fire will come down from heaven and will purify all humanity, which has again become pagan. It will be like a judgement in miniature, and each one will see himself in the light of the very truth of God…"

 

#546 - Tongues of Fire - June 4, 1995

--- Tongues of fire will come down upon you all, my poor children, so ensnared and seduced by Satan and by all the evil spirits who, during these years, have attained their greatest triumph. And thus, you will be illuminated by this divine light, and you will see your own selves in the mirror of the truth and the holiness of God. It will be like a judgement in miniature, which will open the door of your heart to receive the great gift of divine mercy.

And then the Holy Spirit will work the new miracle of universal transformation in the heart and the life of all: sinners will be converted; the weak will find support; the sick will receive healing; those far away will return to the house of the Father; those separated and divided will attain full unity.

In this way, the miracle of the second Pentecost will take place. It will come with the triumph of my Immaculate Heart in the world.

Only then will you see how the tongues of fire of the Spirit of Love will renew the whole world, which will become completely transformed by the greatest manifestation of divine mercy…".

 

#574 The Second Pentecost - May 26, 1996

"You too, gathered today in prayer in the spiritual cenacle of my Immaculate Heart, prepare yourselves to receive the prodigious gift of the second Pentecost.

--- The second Pentecost will come to bring this humanity --- which has again become pagan and which is living under the powerful influence of the Evil One --- back to its full communion of life with its Lord who has created, redeemed and saved it.

Miraculous and spiritual tongues of fire will purify the hearts and the souls of all, who will see themselves in the light of God and will be pierced by the keen sword of His divine truth."

"…The second Pentecost will descend upon all the nations which are so divided by egoism and particular interests, by antagonisms which often set them one against the other…"

.

.

  Summary

.

Therefore, we have the following indicating that Matthew 24:14 has indeed been realized: 

A.

John Paul II's Apostolic Constitution, FIDEI DEPOSITUM and his order re: the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which confirms that Sacred Scripture is the inerrant Word of God.

B.

The Word of God in Sacred Scripture stating clearly that the requirement of Matthew 24:14 has been realized. Furthermore, in the case of Matthew 24:14 the word, oikoumene, was used to establish the requirement, and the same word, oikoumene, was used in Romans 10:18 indicating that such requirement has been satisfied.

C.

The teachings of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church which state that Matthew 24:14 has been realized.

D.

The statements of Fr. William G. Most, internationally-acclaimed theologian and priest: 'It seems, Definitely Yes'.

E.

The Imprimaturs of several Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops in respect of Fr. Stefano Gobbi's messages from Our Lady, which speak of the first evangelization having been made, the world having become pagan again, and the second evangelization to come.

F.

In respect of the New World, the words of Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Exhortation, ECCLEISIA IN OCEANIA, stating that the Gospel has been preached throughout Oceania.

G.

In respect of the New World, the words of Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Exhortation, ECCLEISIA IN AMERICA, stating that the Gospel has been preached throughout the Americas.

H.

The words of Pope John Paul II : "…indeed Christ sent his Apostles whose voice went out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world".

I.

The words of the Blessed Virgin in her message #533 to Fr. Gobbi (Imprimaturs) in which she states: "And so I have always been at the side of each of my children who, through two thousand years, have brought the announcement of the Gospel to every part of the world."

J.

The words of the Blessed Virgin in the above messages in which she speaks of the forthcoming, Second Pentecost, when everyone on Earth will experience a judgement in miniature, and then even the Pagans will know her Son.

 

Marana tha!

Come, Lord Jesus!

 

  

Prepared with the grace of God
By Ben J. Verdina, August 2003 (edited September, 2016)
abbacub2000@aol.com

  .

An Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary 

I, (your name), a faithless sinner-- renew and ratify today in thy hands, O Immaculate Mother, the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before.

In the presence of all the heavenly court I choose thee this day, for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God, in time and in eternity. Amen.

  

An Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Abyss of Mercy and Source of every grace and blessing, I consecrate and unite myself to You without exception or reserve - all that I am and all that I have, both temporal and spiritual, past present and future, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your Mother.

I leave myself entirely at Your disposal with complete confidence in Your Mercy and Love and I beg You to look upon this offering of my nothingness before You and to use me for Your own glory, for the honor of Your Mother and for the salvation of souls. Help me to seek You alone in all things. Hide me in the shelter of Your Most Sacred Heart and be my only Consolation and Refuge.

Grant me the graces I need to joyfully accept Your Cross daily, to lead a holy life and to die a holy death in Your service. Help me to trust completely in Your Mercy and Love and never to fear to humbly throw myself before the infinite Ocean of mercy which is Your Most Sacred Heart, especially at those times when I may fail in my faithfulness in Your service. Through this weak and miserable instrument, may Your Mercy, Love, glory and power shine forth. Above all, set my poor heart on fire with the Flame of Love which burns in Your Most Sacred Heart, and teach me how to return love for Love. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on me - for I place all my trust in You.

 

How To Save Your Children

During one of the cenacles which Fr. Gobbi held in the United States, he was urged by many concerned people to ask Our Lady specifically what could be done to save the youth from the seductions of the world which were leading many of them astray and causing them to leave the Church. Our Lady gave Fr. Gobbi this definite and final solution to console the parents who are so concerned about the salvation of their children:

Pray the Rosary !

Every time you pray the Rosary say: "With this Rosary I bind all my children to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.".

In doing so, Our Lady promised "to see to their souls.".

 

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come; before you I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate! Despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

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Footnotes

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(1)

We can not over emphasize that this is not referring to the end of the world, but the end of an evil age -- the age of Satan. Say the 'Glory Be' prayer slowly and concentrate on the words.

(2)

Free From All Error: Authorship, Inerrancy, Historicity of Scripture, Church Teaching, and Modern Scripture Scholars; Chapter4:  The Plural Senses of Scripture by Fr. William G. Most

(3)

For additional information, refer to The Senses of Scripture by Bob Stanley, and Summa Theologica, by St. Thomas Aquinas.

(4)

An interesting question arises with respect to the evangelization efforts of the certain Protestant denominations during the last 500 years. While their teachings contain significant errors, to the extent that their preaching the Good News throughout the world contains the fundamental truths consistent with the Catholic Faith, to what extent do such efforts count towards the satisfaction of Matthew 24:14? Rather than attempt to address this difficult question, this writing will not contemplate any such Protestant evangelization.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states in paragraph 838: "The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter. Those who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church.

With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord's Eucharist." In Ad Gentes, the Second Vatican Council stated: "Catholics should cooperate in a brotherly spirit with their separated brethren, among to the norms of the Decree on Ecumenism, making before the nations a common profession of faith, insofar as their beliefs are common, in God and in Jesus Christ, and cooperating in social and in technical projects as well as in cultural and religious ones."

For additional information on the Catholic Church's position on ecumenism, refer to Dominus Iesus and To Protect the Faith.

(5)

Apostolic Exhortation, Ecclesia In Africa, Pope John Paul II; September 14, 1995.

(6)

Free From All Error: Authorship, Inerrancy, Historicity of Scripture, Church Teaching, and Modern Scripture Scholars; Chapter 5 Multiple Fulfillment, by Fr. William G. Most;

(7)

Eschatology, by Fr. William G. Most; Par. 424

(8)

Complete Biography of Fr. William G. Most :

Fr. Most held doctorates in both classical languages and theology. For over 40 years, beginning in the 1940's, he taught undergraduates at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Then at the end of the 1980's, while in his own mid-70's, Fr. Most moved to northern Virginia to take a position on the faculty of the Notre Dame Institute, a Pontifical institute offering a Masters Degree in religious studies.

He was the author of twelve scholarly and popular books and a host of articles covering such topics as grace, Scriptural interpretation, the role of Mary in the redemption, and many other topics, Fr. Most was internationally recognized as one of the premier faithful Catholic theologians of our time. His theological breakthroughs on difficult questions regarding grace, free will and the prerogatives of Mary are already legendary.

Fr. Most died in January of 1999 at the age of 84. He had spent well over sixty of those years in direct, active and faithful service to the Church for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

The MOST Theological Library

(9)

Fr. Gobbi received messages from Our Lady from 1973 - 1997 …... (25 years). His messages carry IMPRIMATURS from 3 Cardinals, several Archbishops, and several Bishops of the Catholic Church. The three Cardinals in question are: the late Cardinal Echeverria of Ecuador, Cardinal Vidal of the Philippines and Cardinal Mikai of Thailand.

While the Imprimatur is not a declaration of authenticity of the messages being received from Our Lady, it does assure the reader that the messages are FREE FROM DOCTRINAL ERROR - i.e. they do not contain anything, which is contrary to the Catholic faith or morals.

Collectively, the messages speak of the rise of Antichrist very soon, and Jesus to return soon thereafter to set up His Kingdom in the era of peace on Earth.  This will be the FIRST RESURRECTION  (Rev. 20:4-5 Thy kingdom come on Earth, as it is in Heaven.).  He will return in spirit and reign during the era of peace in the Holy Eucharist (not in the flesh).  The era of peace will not last 1,000 years, as time will then have been suspended.  After the end of the era of peace will come the SECOND RESURRECTION of all humans, and Jesus will return a 3rd time for the Final Judgement.

(10)

Additional information on these topics can be found in the book:

To the Priests, Our Lady's Beloved Sons, By Fr. Stefano Gobbi; The Marian Movement of Priests, National Headquarters USA, P.O. Box 8, St. Francis Maine, USA 04774-0008; Tel: 207-398-3375; IMPRIMATURS.

The following is a word concordance with respect to the two topics:

The Second Evangelization: 451 h, 454 f, 455 f, 467 h, 467 i, 468 c, 468 i, 468 o, 474 t, 487 h, 514 b, 522 i, 523 g, 525 f, 533 h, 557 l

The Second Pentecost: 294 p, 302 e, 310 b, 310 g, 316 i, 330 B, 343 d, 355 b, 381 e, 383 a, 383 a, 404 c, 426 b, 426 l, 427 l, 427 l, 428 b, 428 c, 428 d, 428 f, 434 h, 448 e, 450 c, 496 e, 496 h, 496 p, 505 e, 521 d, 521 h, 521 o, 536 j, 546 c, 546 i, 546 k, 558 g, 562 k, 573 i, 573 k, 574 b, 574 c & d, 574 e, 574 f, 574 g, 574 h, 574 i, 584 k, 586 h & I

(64)

Heb 1:1-3.

(65)

St. Augustine, En. in Ps. 103, 4, 1: PL 37, 1378; cf. Ps 104; Jn 1:1.

(66)

Cf. DV 21 (hereinafter, DV refers to the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation DEI VERBUM as promulgated by Pope Paul VI)

(67)

I Thess. 2:13; cf. DV 24.

(68)

DV 21.

(69)

DV 11.

(70)

DV 11; cf. Jn 20:31; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pt 1:19-21; 3:15-16.

(71)

DV 11.

(72)

DV 11.

 

 

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Recommended Reading

.
At the Yahoo Era Of Peace web site:

#70

Global Evangelization - The Warning - Fr.Gobbi

#193

The New Pentecost - Fr. Gobbi

#194

New Pentecost to Occur Soon - Fr. Doucette

#95

Fr. Gobbi: Eucharistic Reign of Jesus & 2nd and 3rd Comings

#100

More on the Eucharistic Reign of Jesus

#196

New Era About to Begin - Fr. Doucette

 


At the Call To Holiness web site:

Iniquity With Divine Retribution at the Dawn of the Era of Peace – A Summary Guide to the Tribulation

After the Warning

 

The Era of Peace

 

  .

We respectfully recognize and accept the final authority regarding apparitions, locutions and prophecies presently being reported around the world rests with the Holy See and the Magisterium of Holy Mother Church to whose judgment we humbly and obediently submit.

 

 .

 For Additional Information On This and Related Topics Go To:

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/era-of-peace/info

. .

To subscribe to era-of-peace email group for updates, send an email to:

era-of-peace-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

 

 

This writing is available on the Internet at

www.call2holiness.org

 

 .

Also, read the following writings posted at the above mentioned web site:

Iniquity With Divine Retribution at the Dawn of the Era of Peace – A Summary Guide to the Tribulation

After The Warning

Tribulation Update

Thank You For Having Responded To My Call

Sky Signs

Ben's Calling

The Statues of Our Lady Are Crying For Our Help

Prayers of Consecration & Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Heaven and Earth Are Uniting – Fr. Gobbi

Ave Maria: Coredemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate

Supreme Authority of the Pope Until Death or Abdication

The Myth of the Pre-Tribulational Rapture

To Protect the Faith

Both Faith and Good Works Required

The Catechism and the "Term" Coredemptrix

Ecclesiastical Masonry: The Beast Like a Lamb

Tribulation Protection: The Blood of the Lamb

Scripture Alone? Is Half of the Story Sufficient?

Has Matthew 24:14 Been Realized? 'Definitely Yes'

To the Refuges on Wings of Eagles

Must the Reconstruction of the Temple of Jerusalem Precede the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

The Abomination of Desolation

The Era of Peace

The Original Prayer to St. Michael

Mary, Queen and Queen Mother

How to Identify the Antichrist

The Whore of Babylon

The Mark of the Beast

Upon This Rock

 .

"When you find in Holy Scripture anything you did not believe before, believe it without doubt."

St. Augustine

 .

 

  

 

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