The Antichrist
“Children, it is the final hour; just as you heard that the antichrist was coming, so now many such antichrists have appeared. This makes us certain it is the final hour.” 1 John 2:18
Cardinal Biffi, who is giving the papal Lenten retreat, spoke on the antichrist, suggesting he may now be walking amongst us. (See Wikipedia.) The Cardinal just might be the highest ranking prelate since the Apostle John to say such a thing - publicly at least.
“The Antichrist is the reduction of Christianity to an ideology, instead of a personal encounter with the Savior, says the cardinal directing the retreat which Benedict XVI is attending.
Cardinal Giacomo Biffi, retired archbishop of Bologna, delivered that message during a meditation Tuesday, drawing on the work of Russian philosopher Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov.
The cardinal’s meditation came during the weeklong Spiritual Exercises being attended by the Pope and members of the Roman Curia. The retreat ends this Saturday. The Holy Father suspended his usual meetings, including the general audience, in these days.
According to Vatican Radio’s summary of his preaching, the cardinal explained that “the teaching that the great Russian philosopher left us is that Christianity cannot be reduced to a set of values. At the center of being a Christian is, in fact, the personal encounter with Jesus Christ.”
Quoting the work “Three Dialogues on War, Progress and the End of History,” Cardinal Biffi told his listeners that “the Antichrist presents himself as pacifist, ecologist and ecumenist.”
“He will convoke an ecumenical council and will seek the consensus of all the Christian confessions, granting something to each one. The masses will follow him, with the exception of small groups of Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants,” he said.
The cardinal added that Solovyov says in that work: “Days will come in Christianity in which they will try to reduce the salvific event to a mere series of values.” - Zenit News
We know figures throughout history have taken the form and character of the antichrist, Stalin and Hitler being recent examples. In our day, the spirit of antichrist is omnipresent, which many bloggers unwittingly point out in some of their expose of Church affairs. (Why does Cardinal Mahoney come to mind?) Cardinal Biffi stated, “The Antichrist is the reduction of Christianity to an ideology, instead of a personal encounter with the Savior.” That is pretty much what is taught in Catholic schools and universities, isn’t it? The spirit of the antichrist has indeed permeated our culture and infiltrated our Church. Ask any trad.
Now many will want to try to figure out who he may be, if indeed he is amongst us. Gerald jokingly identified Al Gore when posting about the subject - read, “I Knew It! Al Gore Is The Antichrist”.
I think the antichrist is supposed to be a man of great intelligence, so that eliminates Gore. Another person suggested Tom Cruise, since his Scientolgist elders claim he is the new Jesus. Considering our culture’s infatuation with celebrity, he could be, I suppose. He’s way better looking than Gore, I like that.
I’d be more apt to suggest Barack Obama. He came out of nowhere, and is running for president. Oprah loves him, and she has most of the women in America as devotees. (I think she’s kind of a goddess in their eyes.)
Whomever he turns out to be, his reign will only last for about 3 years.
The catechism and scripture presents clear teaching about the coming of the Antichrist. Even if the signs are there, the ability to see and understand the signs will require good catechises accompanied by a genuine spiritual life. Most of society will be preoccupied with material success, comfort, and their personal well being and therefore incapable of comprehending the events happening before their eyes, much less understanding the direction the world is headed. (Are we not like that today?) Having said that, it is good to consider what Our Lord warned: “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth” (Luke 21:34-36).