#2—The Three Great Signs of the End, According to the Council of Trent
The purpose of The Katechōn is to present a new universal theory of history informed by the pure fountain of Sacred Scripture, the Church Fathers, the Saints, and the teaching of the Church that can help us have eyes to see and ears to hear in the midst of these apocalyptic times.
The Council of Trent (1545-1563)
The Council of Trent was held from 1545-1563, and was the Catholic Church’s response to the various protestant heresies that had risen since Fr. Martin Luther’s revolution in 1520.
In order to better catechize the faithful against the errors that were being propagated, the Council decreed that a catechism be drafted[1]:
That the faithful may approach the sacraments with greater reverence and devotion of mind, the holy council commands all bishops that not only when they are themselves about to administer them to the people, they shall first, in a manner adapted to the mental ability of those who receive them, explain their efficacy and use, but also they shall see to it that the same is done piously and prudently by every parish priest, and in the vernacular tongue, if need be and if it can be done conveniently, in accordance with the form which will be prescribed for each of the sacraments by the holy council in a catechism, which the bishops shall have faithfully translated into the language of the people and explained to the people by all parish priests.
This Catechism was edited under the guidance of St. Charles Borromeo, and published in 1566 by a decree of St. Pope Pius V. Pope Leo XIII recommended what he called “that golden book known as the Catechism of the Council of Trent, or Roman Catechism” for all seminarians. He observed, “Noted for both the abundance and accuracy of its teaching and for elegance of style, this catechism is a precious summary of the whole of theology, dogmatic and moral.”[2]
It is therefore fitting that The Roman Catechism be considered one of the best sources on Catholic teaching.
With respect to the end times, it teaches there are three principal signs that will precede the return of Christ[3]:
The Sacred Scriptures inform us that the general judgment will be preceded by these three principal signs: the preaching of the Gospel throughout the world, a falling away from the faith, and the coming of Antichrist. This gospel of the kingdom, says our Lord, shall be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all nations, and then shall the consummation come. [Matt. 24:14] The Apostle also admonishes us that we be not seduced by anyone, as if the day of the Lord were at hand; for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed [2 Thess. 2:3], the judgment will not come.
Thus, the three principal signs are:
The Gospel is preached throughout the world;
The Great Apostasy; and
The unveiling of Antichrist.
The question then becomes, of these three signs, have any taken place? And if so, which ones?
Of these three, we are absolutely certain the third sign (the unveiling of Antichrist) has not yet taken place; and virtually certain that the first sign (the preaching of the Gospel throughout the world) has. In this globalized age, not only are there no more places to discover, but the internet has expanded the reach of information into literally every corner of the globe. It is also noteworthy that Our Lord in both Matthew 24:14 and Mark 13:10, as well as Luke 24:47 (which only implicitly refers to the end times) says the Gospel shall be preached throughout the world—not necessarily accepted.
This means that with respect to the end times, we must determine whether the second sign (the Great Apostasy) has taken place, or is perhaps occurring right now—a topic that will occupy many future posts.
But suffice it to say, we believe we are likely in the final stages of the Great Apostasy right now.
—Ignatius de Montfort
REFERENCES
[1]The Council of Trent, Twenty-Fourth Session: Decree Concerning Reform (Ch. 7); Rev. H.J. Schroeder, trans., The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent (Charlotte, NC: TAN Books, 2011), 199-200.
[2]Pope Leo XIII, Depuis le Jour: On the Education of the Clergy (§23) (September 8, 1899).
[3]The Roman Catechism: The Catechism of the Council of Trent (Part I, Article VII, “Circumstances of the Judgment”); John A. McHugh, O.P., Charles J. Callan, O.P., trans., The Catechism of the Council of Trent for Parish Priests (Rockford, IL: TAN Books and Publishers, Inc., 1982), 84.