Oklahomily - Saint Patrick's Prophetic Promises, Part 2

Consider that several saints and seers have reported seeing a great flooding of coastal areas, particularly in Europe. For instance, Father Balthassar Mas, who lived in the 17th Century, said, “I saw a land swallowed up by the sea and covered with water. But afterwards I saw that the sea receded little by little, and the land could be seen again. The tops of the towers in the city rose again above the water and appeared more beautiful than before, and I was told that this land was England.” (1)

It doesn’t take much of a leap of logic to figure that if England were flooded in some catastrophic event, it would likely involve some spill-over to Ireland. Nothing in Saint Patrick’s prophecy specifically limits the sea rise to only Ireland.

Science in today’s headlines provides us with an alternative interpretation. There is much talk that the glaciers and ice at the poles are melting furiously, and that this could lead to a rise in sea level anywhere from 3 ft. to 40 ft., depending upon the “experts” talking. Arguing against this interpretation however is the fact that the rise in sea level would be slow enough to allow the English and Irish (as well as everyone else on the world’s coasts) to move. So there would be no escaping the Antichrist after all.

There are also legitimate prophecies - and a host of questionable ones - telling of a comet hitting an ocean some time well before the tribulation and Antichrist. A comet, or asteroid, might well be enough to flood the Emerald Isles, among other places.

Consider the words of Saint Hildegard, a German mystic and nun born in 1099 A.D. and blessed with an abundance of knowledge imparted to her supernaturally. Investigated by Pope Eugenius, Hildegard was found to be credible and worth listening to, which apparently a host of archbishops, popes and a king or two. Among her friends was Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. She wrote:

“By its tremendous pressure the comet will force much out of the ocean and flood many countries, causing much want and many plagues. All coastal cities will live in fear, and many of them will be destroyed by tidal waves …”

No Catholic is required to believe in any particular private prophecy, not even the ones from saints like Patrick and Hildegard. Prophecy is sent to us as a spiritual gift to forewarn us and strengthen our faith so that we might steer as prudent a course as possible when we recognize the signs of those particular times. Yet prophecy by itself has no power to save: only through grace of Jesus Christ and the sacraments of His Church are we saved and sustained in faith.

We need not heed prophecy for salvation, but even the scriptures recommend we pay attention to it. Saint Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 14, says prophecy is given “to build up the Church.” In 1Thessalonians, chapter 5, he says that we should “despise not prophetic utterances. Test everything, retain what is good.” This process is discernment.

There is a beautiful prayer attributed to Saint Patrick, popularly called his “Breast Plate.” A section of it I reproduce for you now, because if one should pray this with sincerity, particularly around this time of his feast, it could not help but prepare you for anything the future has in store. The excerpt:

I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.

Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,

That I may receive abundant reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop [deck],
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.