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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Future Worldwide Persecution	John	Sunday, February 17, 2013
Question: Hi, Brother Ignatius - Like all of us, I was shocked at the news of our dear Pope Benedict's resignation which will take effect on 28 February. I am aware the selection of the new pope is under the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit. I am also aware St Malachy's 'Prophecy Of The Popes' is a forgery and one should not take it seriously. Irrespective of whether or not the next Pope is going to set the stage for the 'end' and pave the way for the antichrist, the Catechism Of The Catholic Church definitely states the reign of the antichrist (and the ensuing worldwide persecution of the Church) is a reality (cf. paragraphs 675-677). This may mean that once again, the Church will have to go underground (as we did during the first three hundred years of the Church era). I must confess the concept of this makes me nervous and apprehensive - I don't know if I will be able to stand firm and endure and remain faithful under persecution. I sincerely want to - but I am weak and am all too well aware of my frailties and sins. I definitely don't want to deny my Lord - but I fear I may do so if faced with the prospect of persecution, suffering and martyrdom. I'm not brave. I will definitely need God's supernatural grace to endure what's coming. Please forgive me if I appear melodramatic. However, I'm being honest and admit that I need God's grace and help to remain faithful to the end. One encouraging thought, though, is this. Whatever we have to go through for the Lord, the Lord will see to it that we have the grace to endure. I don't know if you've heard of a Dutch lady by the name of Corrie Ten Boom, who suffered under Nazi persecution during World War II. I always remember a statement she made - viz. that God always provides the grace for anything we have to go through. I look forward to hearing from you, Brother Ignatius Ignatius. Please pray for me! God bless you - JOHN
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC Dear John: Just a note: please do not use ALL CAPS in the subject line or in the text. I changed your subject line according. In the Internet world that is consider shouting. We do not need to shout the subject. There is nothing to fear. As our Holy Father John Paul II always said, "Be Not Afriad!" Whatever persecution we must face, God will give us the grace to handle it at the time that we need. He will not give that grace in advance as we sit here talking about it. But, when the time comes that grace will come. It always has to all Christians from all times. God is not a liar. He keeps his promises. There are three promises that relate directly to this issue: (1 Cor 10:13) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Read that again. God will not allow any temptation to even come into your life unless you can handle it. He will always give you a way to escape the temptation. God promises this and He is not a liar. All you have to do is to accept this promise. Roman 8:35, 37-38 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hallelujah. What a beautiful promise (Romans 8:18, 28) I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. No matter what happens to us, God will bring something good from it. He can bring goodness out of evil; he can give us sweet lemonade from the lemons in our lives. Be not afraid! God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Future Worldwide Persecution

John

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Question:

Hi, Brother Ignatius -

Like all of us, I was shocked at the news of our dear Pope Benedict's resignation which will take effect on 28 February. I am aware the selection of the new pope is under the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit. I am also aware St Malachy's 'Prophecy Of The Popes' is a forgery and one should not take it seriously. Irrespective of whether or not the next Pope is going to set the stage for the 'end' and pave the way for the antichrist, the Catechism Of The Catholic Church definitely states the reign of the antichrist (and the ensuing worldwide persecution of the Church) is a reality (cf. paragraphs 675-677). This may mean that once again, the Church will have to go underground (as we did during the first three hundred years of the Church era).

I must confess the concept of this makes me nervous and apprehensive - I don't know if I will be able to stand firm and endure and remain faithful under persecution. I sincerely want to - but I am weak and am all too well aware of my frailties and sins. I definitely don't want to deny my Lord - but I fear I may do so if faced with the prospect of persecution, suffering and martyrdom. I'm not brave. I will definitely need God's supernatural grace to endure what's coming.

Please forgive me if I appear melodramatic. However, I'm being honest and admit that I need God's grace and help to remain faithful to the end. One encouraging thought, though, is this. Whatever we have to go through for the Lord, the Lord will see to it that we have the grace to endure. I don't know if you've heard of a Dutch lady by the name of Corrie Ten Boom, who suffered under Nazi persecution during World War II. I always remember a statement she made - viz. that God always provides the grace for anything we have to go through.

I look forward to hearing from you, Brother Ignatius Ignatius. Please pray for me!

God bless you -
JOHN

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC

Dear John:

Just a note: please do not use ALL CAPS in the subject line or in the text. I changed your subject line according. In the Internet world that is consider shouting. We do not need to shout the subject.

There is nothing to fear. As our Holy Father John Paul II always said, "Be Not Afriad!"

Whatever persecution we must face, God will give us the grace to handle it at the time that we need. He will not give that grace in advance as we sit here talking about it. But, when the time comes that grace will come. It always has to all Christians from all times.

God is not a liar. He keeps his promises. There are three promises that relate directly to this issue:

(1 Cor 10:13) No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Read that again. God will not allow any temptation to even come into your life unless you can handle it. He will always give you a way to escape the temptation. God promises this and He is not a liar. All you have to do is to accept this promise.

Roman 8:35, 37-38 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hallelujah. What a beautiful promise

(Romans 8:18, 28) I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.

No matter what happens to us, God will bring something good from it. He can bring goodness out of evil; he can give us sweet lemonade from the lemons in our lives.

Be not afraid!

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum