By REY FLORES
The British news tabloid The Daily Star published a report last week about a “clairvoyant” who predicts that on May 13, 2017, the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparition in Fatima, Portugal, World War III will start.
This same “messenger of God” claims to have also predicted President Trump’s victory in last year’s presidential election. He also predicts that World War III will end on October 13, 2017, the 100th anniversary of the last apparition in Fatima, but after much “devastation, shock and death.”
While we as Catholics are not to believe in clairvoyance, divination, and other supernatural dark arts, we do believe in the Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima and her very own words. “Russia will spread her errors throughout the world raising up wars and persecutions against the Church, the good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated.”
Our Lady of Fatima appeared to three shepherd children Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta on six occasions, and on her last visitation on October 13, 1917, she announced: “The war is going to end, and the soldiers will soon return to their homes.”
What do you think?
Given all of the saber-rattling going on from Kim Jong Un in North Korea, Vladimir Putin in Russia, the Chinese government and the United States — all making military maneuvers and calling special meetings — it’s hard not to wonder.
Interestingly, during the past few weeks, I have had a few strange dreams about World War III actually happening. In these dreams I sometimes find myself in a Gotham-like landscape of tall skyscrapers, watching as fighter jets of all kinds wreak havoc on both people and property down below.
I have also had dreams where I am running and seeking to hide from enemy soldiers who are chasing down any person they see. I have somehow managed to escape their capture — mainly by remembering in my dream that I am only dreaming and that the best way to escape is to wake up.
If you are anything like me, you might enjoy the big-budget disaster flicks like any old 1970s Irwin Allen film or more recent ones like Independence Day, Armageddon, or Cloverfield, all of which present apocalyptic scenarios where either nuclear weapons or alien invaders destroy the entire planet and kill people in multitudes.
I enjoyed movies like that more before 9/11 happened. This was when the World Trade Center was attacked and the twin towers collapsed in New York City, September 11, 2001. These were no longer special effects from Hollywood. This nightmare was all too real, when some real human beings trapped in that inferno got so desperate that they chose to jump to their deaths instead of either suffocating or burning to death.
If 9/11 wasn’t horrible enough, imagine it happening on a worldwide scale. I realize it’s hard to imagine that something like this can happen, but the reality of it all is that these nuclear weapons do exist and fallen human beings are in control of these weapons.
But, even if something big were to occur, I am trying to make sure that I can be the best person possible in every aspect of my life. What I should probably be asking myself is this: Why do I have to wait for the possibility of a cataclysm before I resolve to become a better person?
When we think of preparing for disasters, that shouldn’t mean just stocking up on clean water, non-perishables, and ammunition; it should primarily mean going to the sacraments and increasing your prayers and fasting.
Just the other day, I received some news that came unexpectedly. I will just say that all of a sudden I find myself with a lot of free time again. After sharing my woes with a few friends, one suggested that I go visit Jesus in adoration. I told her that I was almost embarrassed to do so because I had not visited Him in so long. What a shame that I only seek Him out when I am in need of His help, I added. She sweetly responded, “He needs you too. Adoration is for all of us sinners.”
How right she is! Perhaps this most recent setback in my life is not World War III, but whatever magnitude our misfortunes may be, there is always refuge in Him. In His wounds, in His hands, in His Most Sacred Heart, we will always find the safety and love of our Lord.
As for supposed prophecy about May 13, 2017 being the day that the world begins to end — let us not fret over that. The world ends every day for those who die on any given date.
Remain faithful to our Lord and His Commandments. There is no nuclear blast that could kill a clean and good soul.
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(Rey Flores is a Catholic writer and speaker and seeking his next professional opportunity. Contact Rey at reyfloresusa@gmail.com.)
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