The Three Days of Darkness

                                                 All Hell Let Loose

             I was very frightened to read what two mystics of the Church had prophesied in regard to the so-called three days of darkness. Sister Marie Dehenny de la Fraudrais (1819) and Marie Julie Jehannet (a Breton stigmatist who died in 1900) both recounted, in a rather detailed way, the apocalyptic catastrophe that would occur in that most horrendous and terrible moment of a future time. For three full days (which will be completely darkened), all hell will be set loose and the demons and evil spirits allowed to roam the earth to howl, scream, afflict and torment mankind. In 72 hours, according to the visionaries, three-fourths of the world's inhabitants will have perished.

         What is the reason for allowing such freedom of action and power to these diabolical beings? The mystics say that these events will take place when "the Sacrifice of the Mass is neglected and no longer celebrated". It does make sense. We, many times, tend to forget the power and benefits of the Holy Mass. It has been the Celebration of the Eucharist all over the world that has protected the Church and society from all sorts of harm (whether physical, climatic, natural, moral or spiritual) throughout the ages. Countries which have had the Mass celebrated on their soil have always been blessed with peace and prosperity. The Eucharist brings progress, culture, holiness and wisdom to a nation. It gives it a spiritual birth, regeneration and character.

        Jesus said:"If a town or family does not accept you, than that peace will leave them and return to you". The nations that have persecuted and destroyed the Catholic Church within their realms, or have left her through heresy and schism, have all regressed into ignorance, darkness, barbarism and vice. The Eucharist could not work its miracles amongst them since they no longer cared for the Mass. On the other hand, there are two historical incidents to prove what the Eucharist can and does do for a country.

       In the 16th century, Spain reached an unparalleled position of material wealth, power and prosperity never seen before in a nation. She was blessed by God for the generous response given in terms of vocations. No country, since the time of Christ, had so many priests celebrating the Mass as she did: one for every 700 individuals. In the 1950's, the USA was the second nation of history to nearing that number: one priest for every 1,200 individuals. In those years (and due to the zeal and fervor of Bishop Sheen), almost everyone went to daily Mass or made the Holy Hour. Those prayers and Masses were the real cause and reason for America's rise to greatness and prosperity.

       Now we see a decline in Mass attendance, vocations and the priesthood (many just leaving). If a nation loses its military leaders and officers, it will be extremely easy for an enemy to walk in and take over. If evil has grown and the devil acquired power without anyone holding him in check, it is because there are no Masses being attended or celebrated to keep him in his place. We have become powerless and weak before immorality, injustice and evil in the world precisely due to the abandonment of the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar.

        Now if we return to a state of grace, make it a point to attend daily Mass (as far as possible), invite others to come along and participate and encourage our priests to celebrate everyday, with zeal and holiness, we might get some good and positive results in our lives and in those of others. We will even delay or put off that terrible chastisement predicted by the mystics. If God does allow hell to open with the demons flying all over the earth, the reason would be to prove how essential and important His Holy Sacrifice really is.

        The mystics say the punishment will last three days, from Thursday to Saturday. Why not more days? I believe some Christians and priests might finally come to their senses after such an event and decide to celebrate a Mass on Sunday to send the demons back to hell. Now why do we have to force God to take such extreme measures to convince us that, as St. Paul says: "Our spiritual warfare is not against flesh and blood, but the very demons and principalities themselves?" Let us do take seriously our spiritual future and good and value this precious pearl called "Holy Mass".

Father Anthony Mellace