The beauty of nature reminds us that we have been placed here by God to "cultivate and keep" this "garden" that is the earth (cf. Genesis 2:8-17).
If men lived in peace with God and with each other, the earth would truly resemble a "paradise." Unfortunately, sin ruined this divine project, generating divisions and bringing death into the world. This is why men cede to the temptations of the evil one and make war against each other. The result is that in this stupendous "garden" that is the world, there open up circles of hell.
War, with the mourning and destruction it brings, has always been rightly considered a calamity that contrasts with God's plan. He created everything for existence and, in particular, wants to make a family of the human race. In this moment it is not possible for me to not return to a significant date in history: August 1, 1917 -- almost exactly 90 years ago -- my venerable predecessor, Benedict XV, published his celebrated "Nota Alle Potenze Belligeranti" (Note to the Warring Powers), asking them to put an end to the First World War (cf. ASS 9 [1917], 417-420).
As that huge conflict raged, the Pope had the courage to affirm that it was a "useless bloodbath." This expression of his left a mark on history. It was a justified remark given the concrete situation in that summer of 1917, especially on the front here in this part of northern Italy. But those words, "useless bloodbath," have a larger, prophetic application to other conflicts that have destroyed countless human lives.
Precisely these very lands in which we presently find ourselves, which in themselves speak of peace and harmony, have been a theatre in the First World War, as many testimonies and some moving songs of the Alps still recall. These are events not to be forgotten! Share
2 comments:
good day emvidal,
have you heard about the prophecies of st. malachy? his prophecies tells us that benedict xvi is second to the last pope. what are your thoughts about this?
yours,
mark jose
Yes, mark jose, I have heard of St Malachy and his prophecies. I think they are interesting but like anything of that nature, if one chooses to interest oneself in them, they are only to believed in with human faith, and not put on the level of revealed truths and doctrines.
Being that "St Malachy" wrote in prophetic language, it is sometimes difficult to interpret the prophecies until after the events have unfolded.
Fr Kramer says that there may be many popes to follow the destruction of Rome, but perhaps they will no longer reign from Rome, but from Jerusalem, where the Church began. All total speculation. Only God knows how many Popes there will be, since only He knows when the world will end.
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