Has the Time Come?

The announced resignation of Benedict XVI triggered two unbelievable events and more speculation.

*  Just a few hours after Benedict's announcement a lightning bolt struck the top of St. Peters Basilica sending shock waves through the Vatican, stunning even the most ardent skeptic and reminding many of the message of La Salette which in part says, "With the first lightening blow of His sword, the mountains and all nature will remember with dread, because the disorders and crimes of men are piercing the vault of the heavens."  Does this sign mark the beginning of the period as stated by Sister Lucy of Fatima that God will chastise the world in a terrible manner?   According to Our Lady of La Salette "God will strike in an unparalleled manner."  Our Lady of Fatima told Lucy on July 13, 1917 that various nations will be annihilated.  On October 13, 1973 Our Lady of Akita told Sister Agnes Katusko Sasagawa that "if men do not  repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity.  The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead!"  

*  The Vatican announced that Emeritus Benedict would wear white.  This statement solves a great mystery.  In one of her writings published by the Vatican in "The Message of Fatima" Sister Lucy describes either her vision or a vision of her cousin Jacinta that a 'Bishop dressed in white', "we had the impression it was the Holy Father, passes through a big city half in ruins and he prayed for the souls of corpses he met on the way. He was killed by a groups of soldiers."  Scholars of Fatima have always wondered why she just didn't say the Holy Father.  This question has been answered.  In the early 20th Century St. Pius X had a very similar vision  "I saw one my successors with the same name taking in flight over the bodies of his brethren."  Emertius Benedict XVI name is Joseph Ratzinger, St. Pius X name was Giuseppe Sarto.  Both have the same first name.  If this prophecy is true it will have to be fulfilled soon considering the age and health of Emeritus Benedict.

*  The prophecy of St. Malachy which the Church says is a forgery, is an extremely accurate list of 112 short, cryptic phrases in Latin briefly describing the Roman Catholic popes beginning in the year 1143.  Emertius Benedict XVI was number 111 on the list meaning that there is only one pope remaining.  The last sentence of the centuries old prophecy says,

"In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there shall reign Peter the Roman who will  feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven hilled city will be destroyed and the terrible judge will judge the people."

It was reported in a 1901 article written by Thomas Philalethe that Our Lady told Melanie Calvat one of the recipients of the La Salette message, that Pastor Angelicus would be the last pope to witness the splendor of the Church.  If this is true, it would seem that Our Lady  had authenticated the prophecy by employing the Latin phrase used in the prophecy to describe Pius XII.

There are three Cardinals as I understand it that fit the description of Peter the Roman.  The most prominent is Cardinal Bertone the present Secretary of State.  Many Cardinals in the past in his position have been elected pope.  He has 'Pirtro' in his name and he is from Romano, Italy.  In my opinion it would be hard to believe that he will be elected.  If only a majority of votes were needed he might have made it but with 2/3 required he is really is a long shot since he was made a number of enemies in his current office.

A second Cardinal is African Peter Turkson who is socialist with strong Marxist leanings and who does not believe in the ten commandments.

The third Cardinal is Peter Erdo of Hungry, who has written on and studied the Romani ethnic group of Central and Eastern Europe, will be the next pope.

Homer Sweeney