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David
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
I've been Protestant and who is now reconsidering my faith.
I heard that Benedict XVl (the current Pope) is the second to last Pope.
David
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Is Pope Benedict XVI, the current Pope, the second to last Pope? }
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and in a similar question:
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Charbel Makhlouf wrote:
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Hi guys,
- Is the prophecy of St. Malachy true, about the 112 pope?
Charbel
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Is the prophecy of St. Malachy true, about the 112 pope? }
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Mike replied:
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Dear David,
I have two points:
- Our Lord in the Scriptures tell us:
| 32 "But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come. (Mark 13:32-33) RSV |
I would follow the Gospels and the Words of Our Lord, Himself. Like my colleague Eric has said in the past, people should see their physical death in this world as the end of the world, because it is when each of us has our Particular Judgment — basically, our one on one with the Lord, Jesus Himself.
- Even if your friends were correct, and Pope Benedict was the second to last Pope.
- Does this mean we should throw away our Christian obligation to spread the Gospel by word and deeds, so we can store up food and drink?
Our Lord tells us right in the Scriptures:
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Matthew 6:26-27 |
He gives all Christians their marching orders in the Scriptures:
18 And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.
Matthew 28:18-20 |
I used to run a free program that sent Catechisms to seeking Protestants and non-Christians but no longer have the financial or operational means to do this anymore. Nevertheless, if you wish to go deeper, consider buying a cheap copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to learn everything we believe as Catholics.
Hope this helps,
Mike
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Eric replied:
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David —
This comes from the so-called Prophecies of St. Malachy.
Reliable scholars consider these to be spurious, though admittedly it's fun to think about.
Eric
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Eric replied:
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Charbel,
Most scholars consider it a forgery. It is marvelously accurate up to a certain point and time and then gets vague. There is no evidence for its existence for several hundred years after it was allegedly written.
I wouldn't put a lot of stock in it.
Hope this helps,
Eric
[Related Posting]
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