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| Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich - prophecies for our times? |
These prophecies were made by 1820 by Anna Catherine Emmerich, a stigmatized Augustinian nun who bore the wounds of Jesus on
her body and who lived many years solely on the Holy Communion until
she died. She was given many visions of our Blessed Lord and Lady including
their earthly lives, printed into books. The following prophecies
were recorded in The Life of Anne Catherine Emmerich (1870) by Rev. Carl Schmoeger,
C.SS.R.
In many cases the similarities with the post-Vatican II traumas suffered by the Church are striking.
1. "Among the strangest things that I saw, were long
processions of bishops. Their thoughts and utterances were made known to
me through images issuing from their mouths. Their faults towards religion
were shown by external deformities ... I saw what I believe to be nearly
all the bishops of the world, but only a small number were perfectly sound.
I also saw the Holy Father - God-fearing and prayerful. Nothing left to
be desired in his appearance, but he was weakened by old age and by much
suffering. His head was lolling from side to side, and it dropped onto
his chest as if he was falling asleep ...Then I saw that everything pertaining
to Protestantism was gradually gaining the upperhand, and the Catholic
religion fell into complete decadence. Most priests were lured by the glittering
but false knowledge of young school-teachers, and they all contributed
to the work of destruction. In those days, Faith will fall very low, and
it will be preserved in some places only, in a few cottages and in a few
families which God has protected from disasters and wars."
This seems to be an allusion to the last months of the pontificate of Benedict XVI and the Vatileaks scandal.
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| Pope emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis |
2. "I saw also the relationship between two popes ... I saw how baleful
would be the consequences of this false church. I saw it increase in size;
heretics of every kind came into the city of Rome. The local clergy grew
lukewarm, and I saw a great darkness... I had another vision of the great tribulation. It seems to me that
a concession was demanded from the clergy which could not be granted. I
saw many older priests, especially one, who wept bitterly. A few younger
ones were also weeping. But others, and the lukewarm among them, readily
did what was demanded. It was as if people were splitting into two camps." This could (hopefully not) refer to a future situation between popes Francis and Benedict XVI, or perhaps another era when two popes will be living at the same time. Interestingly, the prophecy does not consider any of the popes as being an anti-pope.
3. "I saw that many pastors allowed themselves to be taken up with
ideas that were dangerous to the Church. They were building a great, strange,
and extravagant Church. Everyone was to be admitted in it in order to be
united and have equal rights: Evangelicals, Catholics, sects of every description.
Such was to be the new Church ... But God had other designs. ... I saw again the new and odd-looking church which they were trying
to build. There was nothing holy about it ... People were kneading
bread in the crypt below ... but it would not rise, nor did they receive
the body of our Lord, but only bread. Those who were in error, through
no fault of their own, and who piously and ardently longed for the Body
of Jesus were spiritually consoled, but not by their communion. ... I saw deplorable things: they were gambling, drinking, and talking
in church; they were also courting women. All sorts of abominations were
perpetrated there. Priests allowed everything and said Mass with much irreverence.
I saw that few of them were still godly... All these things caused me much
distress." One is inclined to think that the prophecy refers to abuses by priests on minors, ecumenism implemented erroneously and abuses in the Novus Ordo Missae.
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| Jesus saying Holy Mass |
4. "I had a vision of the holy Emperor Henry. I saw him at night
kneeling alone at the foot of the main altar in a great and beautiful church
... and I saw the Blessed Virgin coming down all alone. She laid on the
altar a red cloth covered with white linen. She placed a book inlaid with
precious stones. She lit the candles and the perpetual lamp. Then came
the Saviour Himself clad in priestly vestments. He was carrying the chalice
and the veil. Two angels were serving Him and two more were following ...
Although there was no altar bell, the cruets were there. The wine was as
red as blood, and there was also some water. The Mass was short. The Gospel
of St. John was not read at the end.
When the Mass had ended, Mary came up to Henry, and she extended her right
hand towards him, saying that it was in recognition of his purity. Then
she urged him not to falter. Thereupon I saw an angel, and he touched the
sinew of his hip, like Jacob. Henry was in great pain; and from that day
on he walked with a limp ..." This is quite difficult to understand. But the interesting part is related to the fact that Jesus celebrated a Tridentine Mass without the last part, or else a Novus Ordo Missae in Latin - otherwise Blessed Emmerich would have mentioned the fact that it was in a vulgar tongue.
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| Thunder hits St. Peter's - the last day of Benedict XVI's pontificate. |
5. "I saw the Church
of St. Peter and an enormous number of people working to demolish it. At
the same time I saw others repairing the Church. The demolishers took
away large pieces; they were, above all, sectarians and apostates, in
the majority. In their destructive work these people seemed to follow
certain orders and a certain rule. I saw with horror, that among them
were Catholic priests. I saw the Pope praying, surrounded by false
friends who frequently, did the contrary of what he had ordered." Could be a reference to the current situation whereby Pope Francis will attempt to reform the Roman Curia after Vatileaks.
6. "In the centre of
Hell I saw a dark and horrible-looking abyss, and into this Lucifer was
cast, after being first strongly secured with chains; thick clouds of
sulphurous black smoke arose from it's fearful depths and enveloped his
fearful form in the dismal folds, thus effectually concealing him from
every beholder. God Himself had decreed this; and I was likewise told,
if I remember right, that he will be unchained for a time fifty or sixty
years before the year of Christ 2000. The dates of many other events
were pointed out to me which I do not now remember, but a certain number
of demons are to be let loose much earlier than Lucifer, in order to
tempt men, and to serve as instruments of divine vengeance." The timing here is particular, 1940 - 1950 coincides with the Second World War but, more importantly, with the following dates:
- 1942: Pope
Pius XII assigned a project for liturgical
codification to Benedictine Father Pio Alfonzo, a liturgist who taught
at the College of the Propaganda and advised the Sacred Congregation of
Rites. Fr. Alfonzo's "General Norms," however, was not acted upon at
that time.
- 1946: in an audience with
Carlo Cardinal Salotti, Prefect for the Congregation of Rites, Pius
XII instructed Salotti to begin a study of the general reform of the
liturgy. In the same year Pius XII determined that a Commission for General
Liturgical Restoration be established to consider that nature and
substance of a general reform of the liturgy and offer concrete
proposals.
- 1948: Pius XII selected the members of the
Commission. Father (later Cardinal) Ferdinando Antonelli, OFM, was
named General Director and Fr. (later Archbishop) Annibale Bugnini was named
Secretary.
