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Recently, I have seen write-ups on a number of Catholic
websites on Nostradamus, and, what they call,
his catholic prophecies
about the end times and the Church. In other
books, they mentioned that he said the Catholic
Church would fall.
My questions are:
Is Nostradamus considered a true prophet
by the Church?
A friend said a true prophet of God must
be completely correct in his predictions.
Is
this true?
Was Nostradamus wrong on anything he said?
Will the Church fall or can it fall in the
future?
Thank you for any help you could offer me on
these questions.
Anonymous
{
Is Nostradamus
considered a true prophet by the Church and can the Church fall in the future? }
Richard replied:
Dear Anonymous,
Thanks for your note. Here's a start toward answering your questions:
2115 God can reveal the future to his prophets or to other saints. Still, a sound Christian attitude consists in putting oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it. Improvidence, however, can constitute a lack of responsibility.
2116 All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to unveil the future. (cf. Deuteronomy 18:10; Jeremiah 29:8) Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.
What is the Church's stance on Nostradamus?
Was he excommunicated?
Did
he profess his Catholic Faith?
Here's an answer by Warren H. Carroll, Ph.D. on March 1, 1999:
Nostradamus was a French astrologer of Jewish origin, who however claimed
to be a Catholic. He wrote a book of alleged prophecies in 1555. This
book was condemned by the Vatican, but not until after his death. The
Church has always condemned astrology. To my knowledge he was not excommunicated,
probably due to resistance by the young kings of France in his time and
their mother, Catherine de Medici, who were much taken with him.
— Dr.
Carroll
And in another answer on the EWTN site,
writer Karl Keating observes (April 25, 1998):
"Nostradamus isn't even mentioned in the massive Catholic Encyclopedia,
which suggests the Church hasn't paid much attention to him and certainly
hasn't taken his prophecies seriously."
— Karl Keating
On the general subject of the ultimate destiny of the Church and the return
of Christ, let me refer you to the Catechism: paragraphs
668 — 682.
I hope this helps.
God bless you!
Richard Chonak
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