The Church Under Attack

by Paolo Reyes

On October 13, 1884, after celebrating Mass in the Vatican Chapel together with a few Cardinals and members of the Vatican staff, Pope Leo XIII suddenly stood still at the foot of the altar. For about 10 minutes, the Pope, as if in a trance, stood motionless, his face ashen white. Immediately after, he went to his office and composed the prayer to St. Michael with instructions that it be said after all Low Masses everywhere.

When asked what happened, Pope Leo XIII explained that when he was about to leave the foot of the altar, he heard two voices talking - one kind and gentle, the other harsh and arrogant. He heard the following conversation:

The arrogant voice of Satan boasting to Our Lord: "I can destroy your Church." The gentle voice of Our Lord: "You can? Then go ahead and do so." Satan: "To do so, I need more time and more power."

Our Lord: "How much time? How much power?” Satan: "75 to 100 years, and a greater power over those who will give themselves over to my service." Our Lord: "You have the time, you will have the power. Do with them what you will."

The 20th century has witnessed the fulfillment of this prophecy - world wars, the spread of atheism, the general decline of faith and morals. More significantly, the Catholic Church, whom Satan has boasted he can destroy, is battered and bruised - priestly scandals, declining vocations, deep divisions and discord within the hierarchy, declining mass attendance...the list of problems goes on and on.