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” (Lk. 21:34-36).
March 1st, 2007 at 7:55 pm
This one struck me hard also.
Cardinal Biffi’s thought that the anti-christ might be ideas, concepts or ideologies certainly explains how it has been that so many strange pagan movements have grown so quickly in the last century and have been able to wreak such death and destruction upon almost all cultures.
March 1st, 2007 at 10:54 pm
Great image from Signorelli’s “Deeds of the Antichrist”! It is on the dust jacket of my copy of Micheli’s “The Antichrist”.
I wonder whether you have read Michael O’Brien’s novel, “Father Elijah”. If you wonder how it could happen, O’Brien could make you a believer.
March 2nd, 2007 at 2:22 pm
He will be an ecologist? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Heaven forbid we should take care of the planet. He will be an ecumenist? OMGOSH…that we should seek to live in peace with others without compromising our own faith. A pacifist? Oh no, he won’t want us to go to war with each other! How are these things bad?
According to Christians anyone who is not Christian or not spreading the Christian message is an antichrist so yep, there have been millions. Christians have been saying the end is nigh for two thousand years now. The early Christians thought Jesus’ return was imminent, almost guaranteed to occur in their lifetime. In fact, Christ himself says that some of them would be alive when he comes again. Um..they’re all dead and gone and no Jesus. So..now what?
And I suppose if this all comes to nothing and we go another 1000 years with no Jesus coming back to damn all us pagans to Hell you’ll just say, “It was mitigated by enough prayer and suffering!” Uh huh..sure.
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:07 pm
I don’t know much about this subject. Have heard from various sources that he will come at a time of global calamity, economical & otherwise - & would be a man of peace, so long as everyone agreed with him…
What is known for sure?
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Rhaps - Not much is known except what the catechism says. Otherwise, I’m pretty sure it is Obama.
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Whoever the Antichrist is, do you suppose that he knows he is?
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Jack - Excellent question. I don’t know.
March 4th, 2007 at 9:31 am
“Born Again Pagan”–
For us to say that the antiChrist will be a pacifist and an ecologist and an ecumenicist does not mean that those things are bad and that anyone who espouses those things are bad–on the contrary, those are all very good things. I think the point is that the “antiChrist” will espouse those things as “gospel” over and above, and in lieu of, the Gospel of Christ.
Christians who follow the Gospel first will naturally include those things as they follow God’s commandments: to take care of the earth (”stewardship”), to work for the unity of the church (”ecumenism”) and to resist and oppose unjust wars (”thou shalt not kill”). Christ calls us to do these very things, among many others, but not to confuse those with our first and most important focus. The most important focus is Christ and our continually growing relationship with Him (each of us as an individual). Put this first and foremost, and then those things follow. As Jesus Himself tells us, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto thee.” And they are.
March 4th, 2007 at 9:43 am
I don’t think it’s Obama. I think it’s Oprah.
March 4th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Georgette: Yes, I know. I was being somewhat of a smart A which perhaps was missed. I myself am not Christian and therefore I do not care if someone rises to power who opposed the message of Christianity or placed other things equally alongside it or even above it. Christians think they are the only legitimate religion, I don’t think that so what do I care what some guy says about it? Granted I do not agree with any sort of bashing or ripping or persecuting anyone and I would stand by those Christians who were in the name of religious freedom and prolly even hide them in my home if it ever came to that. I would never compromise my own faith just because some guy says he God. How do I know? I will always support what I believe to be right and good and oppose that which is wrong. Of course, you and I will prolly disagree as to what is right and wrong. (: Still, if the bloodshed starts, you all are welcome in the pagan’s home. (: Take care.