A response to Kelly Scoles’ letter:

I must apologize to Kelly this week for not fully responding to her letter. As odd as it may sound, world affairs have, in my opinion, and that of millions of Christians worldwide, suddenly become imminently menacing. Or so it is perceived by Catholic understanding of Marian apparitions today. Accordingly, long forewarned chastisements are said to be upon us, thought to instigate WWIII, plague, starvation, and unspeakable devastation of world civil and natural order. Some details in Xavier Reyes-Ayral’s new book “Revelations... “ attract one’s attention. It is the only complete history of Marian apparitions, from prophecies of La Fraudais, to Marie-Julie Jahenny (1850-1941). This particular apparition “was the most detailed and complete case ever studied in the annals of Marian apparitions’ history.” The message here, consistent with all Marian apparitions, is “...If men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one that has never been seen before...The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead.” In other words, our civilization has become so decadent that God’s mercy is finally turning to His justice. The messages are pleadings for conversion, not condemnation per se.
I am not an historian, especially of religious affairs, but I think most Christians today have a sense of being in what is commonly called the End Times. This idea is variously described in different Judeo-Christian denominations. “In Christianity, for example, these beliefs include expectations that Jesus will return to Earth after or amid a time of great turmoil” “In the United States, 39% of adults say they believe “we are living in the end times,” while 58% say they do not believe we are living in the end times, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.” pewresearch.org.
In addition, Black Americans (68%) are much more likely than Hispanic (41%), White (34%) and Asian (33%) Americans to believe humanity is living in the end times. And adults in Southern states (48%) are more likely to say this than those living in the Midwest (37%), Northeast (34%) or West (31%).

“Whenever some big catastrophe happens, you can be sure that someone will start talking about the “end times.” Both Catholics and Protestants do this. The difference mainly seems to be that Protestants start trying to chart out the apocalypse according to Daniel and Revelation, whereas Catholics try to chart it out based on various private revelations.” (1996-2023 Catholic Answers). These “revelations” or “apparitions” are private, not formal parts of church dogma, and belief in them is also a private choice. “Approved” apparitions are scrupulously studied before any may be found “worthy of belief.” Many approved apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Mother of Jesus) are centuries old traditions in the Church, which takes me back to this idea of the End Times.

Marion apparitions have occurred since the 18th century all over the world. From Xavier Reyes-Ayral’s recent book, “Revelations, The Hidden Secret Messages and Prophecies of the Blessed Virgin Mary” it’s said:
“Today, in 2022, the message of La Salette, La Fraudais, Tilly, Fatima, Garabandal, Akita and Medjugorje, and their secrets take a meaning of the greatest importance, as the admonitions brought forth by the Blessed Virgin Mary warn of a cataclysmic global disaster which has now become imminent.” Chastisements can be averted (if not entirely stopped, with prayer, fasting, and penance, (“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened”) as in Jonah’s Nineveh, according to the Church.

As a Catholic myself, I’m simply reporting on “approved” apparitions detailed in Xavier Reyes-Ayral’s exhaustive history on Marian messages and frightful global chastisements (which many churches expect) and now alleged to be imminent. Understandably, Xavier Relyes-Ayral’s 569-page book on this subject has attracted interest.

In short (if apocalyptic pronouncements can be shortened) the Russian-Ukrainian war is said to be the first stage of WWIII. Europe, especially France, will suffer (Paris destroyed - nuclear) and Benelux countries overrun by Russian-Muslim forces (later driven off). Little mention of China or U.S., except America unable to assist NATO. Unimaginable global devastation to occur; the Catholic Church will temporarily fall; “Rome will lose its faith and will become the Seat of the Anti-Christ;” food production and the world financial systems said to collapse. Other details of this prophesied chastisement are almost too unbelievable to report, so I won’t.

Those who may cheer at thoughts of a temporary demise of the Catholic Church should pause. If apparition messages prove true, all Christianity will be ravaged, the good with the bad.

So, has this frightening period of manifest chastisement arrived? All of these revelations are “admonitions”, not absolute condemnations. Whether many see this threat as true, merely probable, or just rubbish, the world needs to clean up its moral act. If Ukraine can’t win the war due to slow and unreliable support, Russia will run right through Europe, again - and China through Taiwan.

With these threats in mind, Kelly, all of the Congressional Budget disarray seems just suicidally stupid, and Congressional corruption will end our Republic with a whimper. Pray - it works.