Beware the Catholic Prophecy Industrial Complex

Despise not prophecies. But prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

–1 Thessalonians 5:20-21

Some of our Catholic pals believe only the first sentence of this important reference from 1 Thessalonians. They would prefer to just pay lip service to that second condition, where St. Paul exhorts us to test prophecies. We should guard firmly against that reckless habit, for even the backwards Russians know the wisdom of doveryay, no proveryay (trust, but verify).

Let’s remember this critical concept as we approach October 2023, which some “prophetic voices” believe will be a massive turning point for humanity. They’re all but calling the “end times” as we approach the month where we commemorate Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of the Rosary, and other legitimate apparitions. In this post, I’d like to warn readers about a dangerous phenomenon, which I call the Catholic Prophecy Industrial Complex.

What is The Catholic Prophecy Industrial Complex?

The Catholic corner of the Internet has a small but influential syndicate of “prophecy chasers” who believe and propagate EVERY possible apparition, including obviously awful ones, like Medjugorje. They love attention, make YouTube click-bait titles to harvest “views,” which they no doubt use for monetization. There are a few of these groups/individuals, such as Countdown to the Kingdom.

They specialize in dubious apparitions and prophecies related to the end times, “the warning” or “illumination of conscience.” In short, they’ve developed an economic advantage by delivering prophecy content to anxious Catholics. It’s a distortion of the spiritual act of mercy – to counsel the doubtful (since many timid folks have a wavering faith these days).

This includes a heavy emphasis on the semi-believable Garabandal apparitions and every other minor prophecy, approved or not, from the past century or so. Despite what these prophecy hustlers claim, this enormous volume of prophecies confuses Catholics more than it encourages them to persevere in the faith. Say what you will about Garabandal and Medjugorje, it took the prophecy merchants forever to disavow even the insane ramblings of Fr. Michel Rodrigue (a rebuked “mystic” from Canada).

Finally, the prophecy chasers have devised a Catholic version of the moronic “Rapture,” whenever they carry on about the fast-approaching Illumination of Conscience. One article isn’t enough space to refute every prophecy or apparition here (there’s a billion of them), but I’ll clarify some of the more recent absurdities.

First Problem: Excessive Modernism Among Prophecy Chasers

In the above video, the interview guest is Mark Mallett, a dedicated prophecy enthusiast, and yet another professional Catholic trying to sell a bunch of stuff. He’s also a contributor to Countdown to the Kingdoms. Here are a few highlights from his interview with Fr. Heilman and Doug Barry.

A well-tuned ear will detect lots of modernism from Mallett. Everything is Vatican 2 this, World Youth Day that. He enjoys using all the jolly Vatican 2 lingo, mentioning “separated brethren” and “signs of the times” multiple times. These are modernist calling cards, popular among the happy-clappy, charismatic folks.

Mallett, who claims to be a prophet himself, receives spiritual direction from a layman (author Michael D. O’Brien), which is a modernist innovation. You can’t discern prophecy with a layman advisor (nor can you be sure of possessing the Gift of Tongues). Many modern Charismatic Catholics engage in dangerous and rogue practices like these.

Mallett also compares criticism of “Pope Francis” to an act of schism. In his view, it’s fine to believe every fantastic legend about warnings and illuminations. However, you mustn’t question the most massive heretic in history, who might be one of dozens of antipopes to afflict the Church. Heavens to Betsy, never do that.

While there should be unity when things are certain, liberty when they’re doubtful, and charity always, we should shun anything evil and manipulative (see: antichurch).

I will, however, concede that Mallett makes a few decent observations, including a criticism of calling specific dates during prophetic predictions. With that in mind, let’s investigate the latest and greatest October Doomsday Prophet.

October Doomsday Prophet: The Mysterious Fr. Oliveira

So, if you watched the video with Fr. Heilman, Doug Barry, and Mark Mallett, you probably heard their extensive discussion of an anonymous Brazilian priest, Fr. Oliveira. Of course, the first red flag involves his anonymity, which I’ll return to in a moment. What about all his stupendous predictions?

This priest predicts several specific dates for events, which even Mallet criticizes. He’s enjoyed substantial popular approval after supposedly predicting Pope Benedict XVI would die around Christmas of 2022. Alas, as this interview shows, he’s predicted other things that have not come true.

In the vision (March 12, 2020) he saw the future that would take place in the year 2022, and below the number he saw military personnel begin to assemble. The military officers acted as if they were hiding, in a secret meeting.

Then he saw a great fire at the top of the terrestrial globe. The priest believed this was a sign that there was a catastrophe in the northern hemisphere.

Then he saw the president of Russia pointing at the globe and laughing. And he interpreted that Russia will show malice towards the world. He saw the president of Russia pointing his finger, saying: “I told you. I warned you.”

Of course, none of that sensational business happened in 2022. Arctic fires aren’t that unusual, and the “I told you” part is a vague reference to the Russia/Ukraine conflict (which was well on the way before Oliveira’s predictions).

He supposedly received a message from the Blessed Virgin on June 17, 2023, forecasting many October tribulations. She allegedly told him that there would be new natural catastrophes, physical ailments, military conflicts, and spiritual evils. Granted, this ground-breaking prophecy sounds like business as usual since 2020. What would be new about this?

The prophecy continues to say that “this period will not come with a bang.” That’s because it won’t be anything novel, making the prophecy conveniently vague/safe, offering an easier opportunity for the prophet chasers to say they called it. I’ll explain how this scam works in my section on Miss Cleo, of fraudulent memory.

Fr. Oliveira also weakens his case by claiming the October chastisement will be “gradual and will spread slowly throughout the world.”

Folks, we’ve already been through the gradual spread. The errors of Russia have done exactly that (for decades) after the popes’ obstinate refusal to consecrate that country to Our Lady.

Then, we should wonder why this “prophet” insists on hiding like someone in the Witness Protection program. Why would you hide if you were a seer or visionary? When have the approved apparitions of Our Lord or Our Lady told seers to seek anonymity upon going public with their visions?

Also, let us recall Holy Scripture and what would become of those who hide their faith or neglect to shout it from the rooftops. Catholicism is a faith of martyrs, who tell the truth, and then die for it (if necessary). We don’t hide.

The next clue about this shadowy fellow involves the state of Catholicism in Brazil. Fr. Oliveira’s home country is arguably the least orthodox Catholic country on the planet. It’s the same place where bishops administer Holy Communion to Muslim Sheikhs, among other abominations. All things being equal, although weirder things have happened, Brazil isn’t the most fertile ground for a visit from the Blessed Virgin.

Later in the interview, Mallett mentions this priest’s perceived holiness. We’re told that all the folks who follow him believe he’s the “real deal.” Yes, this is a criterion to consider, but so what? Rev. Jim Jones’s followers thought that, too (they drank the proverbial Kool-Aid).

This guy, Marshall Applewhite, had a “cult” following and scared people with end times talk, too. Those folks enjoyed it so much that they commit suicide with him (thinking they were entering “heaven’s gate”). There’s no shortage of spiritual charlatans, nowadays (Catholic or otherwise).

Miss Cleo – Call Her Now For a Free End Times Reading

Here’s a good rule of thumb: As soon as you think a con artist can’t fool you, you’re about to be taken to the cleaners by one.

Does anybody remember Miss Cleo, the lapsed Catholic, who pretended to read people’s fortunes with Tarot Cards?

“Call me now for your free reading!”

Although Miss Cleo appeared harmless, bubbly, and ridiculous, she was intelligent enough to con people with natural strategies, passing herself off as a psychic. These so-called “fortune tellers” rely on many ordinary investigative techniques to acquire what they know about people. They make either “hot readings” or “cold readings,” referring to whether they gained additional information before meeting their clients. Most of the time, they can find at least something and spin a psychic vision out of it.

You could, for instance, convince someone that you know their future after sneaking around their Facebook profile and learning about them. Anyone could accomplish this with a modicum of gumshoe skills and practice. There are many other ordinary ways to present oneself as a psychic with “secret information.”

Why am I wasting space talking about Miss Cleo and con artists?

This could be what the “seers” are doing since the chances of a miserable October are rather obvious and predictable. These events don’t require a special gift of prophecy to determine. If you’re a meteorologist with access to sophisticated storm-tracking instruments, it’s not terribly impressive to predict a hurricane will hit an area within two days.

Here’s another example from Fr. Oliveira’s mess. According to him, Our Lady said “They will impose a single religion. People will turn against one another over the single religion, and persecutions will come even within families.”

Well, wait a second. We’ve already had that, too (folks dis-invited from Thanksgiving over the death jab). This stems from what we call the “Covid Religion.” It’s easy for a con artist to fabricate a message like this since there’s a high probability of a scamdemic renewal, which the Great Reset evildoers have already signaled. That’s where folks will once again receive the same old persecutions (and probably a few new ones) for disobeying the evil empire’s public health mandates.

It wouldn’t have been that difficult to fabricate such a prediction in August 2023 (or even June if you take his word for it).

Medjugorje – The King of Ridiculous Apparitions

The alleged Medjugorje apparitions are undoubtedly the most bizarre and fallacious apparitions in modern times. They’re also a common favorite of the Catholic Prophecy Industrial Complex.

Almost any traditionalist with an ounce of sense knows these are nonsense; even the modernist antichurch won’t go anywhere near them. You can, for example, watch this interview to see Patrick Coffin and E. Michael Jones rip it to shreds. I’m puzzled over why Catholics should “pilgrimage” and seek healing at a notorious place for demonic activity and swindling.

Nevertheless, the non-discerning eyes of the Catholic Prophecy Industrial Complex reference this apparition, anyway. You don’t have to take my word for it. Browse through the prophecy-chaser websites (like Countdown to the Kingdom), and see for yourself.

While you’re there, try searching for “Malachi Martin,” a far more credible resource regarding the superior prophecies from Our Lady of Fatima. You’ll find nothing. Martin, make of him what you will, doesn’t merit their attention (since the Jesuits have smeared his reputation), whereas the hyper-dubious Medjugorje nonsense does.

Do proponents of the Medjugorje fantasy (a lucrative financial racket) deserve your consideration regarding the “October End Times” buzz?

The Sin of Curiosity

Once again, it’s essential to understand the perils of becoming absorbed by “end times” speculation and prophecy research. The prophecy hustlers inevitably lure people into wasting untold hours attempting to reconcile the (often incompatible) fragments of modern prophecy. That’s one crucial reason the Holy See has taken a cautious approach with their approval.

We should always beware the sin of curiosity. While a well-ordered pursuit of licit knowledge is virtuous, it’s sinful to chase after hidden truths with either evil motives, or by neglecting one’s duties. On the extreme side of this, scripture details the sorrowful legacy of King Saul, who consulted a witch’s services, and was shut off entirely from dreams, priests, and prophecy.

Let us avoid this problem by taking a more temperate digestion of prophecy, especially when we struggle to separate the good from the bad.

“Despite Not Prophecies, You Meanie!”

Does this mean you must love all the fake ones?

Doesn’t Our Lord devote lots of time to warning us about false shepherds and imposters? Isn’t that one of the most common New Testament teachings?

Then, we should expect better scrutiny than this 90% acceptance rate (or higher) from the prophecy profiteers.

How to Evaluate Prophecies

Let it be a consolation to know that there is a Catholic rulebook to help distinguish true/false prophecies. Although we can’t render an official judgment of apparitions, we can use the Church’s criteria to make heads or tails of them. We can eliminate several phony supernatural events even if the rightful authorities stop doing their jobs and go gay (since that’s been known to happen).

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has criteria for evaluating these superphenomena. Yes, there are ways to test prophecies, which we can tentatively apply to alleged cases, even if the ineffective curia (hijacked by sex perverts) won’t do its job. This CDF guidelines offer many important considerations:

• Whether the seer attempts any material gain from their visions.
• The psychological capacity of the seer (honesty; docility to superiors, etc.)
• Willingness to return to a normal life (not showboat for untold years).
• No presence of manifest errors.
• No grave sins committed during the events.
• Absence of psychological disorders (psychopathy, schizophrenia, etc.).

So, the next time you come across a new prophecy, although you can’t officially judge it, you can form your conscience with these factors. We saw, for instance, how the infamous Bayside, NY visions earned their rejection since the messages contradicted Church teaching. Then, there are other “seers” who can’t tell whether they’ve seen supernatural spirits or just schizophrenic delusions/hallucinations. Finally, others are chock full of modernist bunk, logical inconsistencies, and sleight of hand.

So, Will October 2023 Be Miserable & Apocalyptic?

Yes, because you don’t need prophesies to predict October will probably be “hell on wheels.” Simple observation shows us the Deep State intends to reinvigorate the COVID scam once the temperature decreases and people resume heavy sneezing. Plus, it’s the four-year anniversary of Pocket Mama, something they may seek to commemorate elaborately (ushering in plenty of obvious consequences).

Then the most ominous misery is none other than the Synod on Synodality, which is predicted to unleash many well-anticipated heresies and further pollute Church discipline. I’m confident it will not be an enjoyable October, and don’t require visions or locutions to determine that.

Avoid the Fascination with Abomination

Today, many Catholics suffer from “fascination with abomination.” This is a serious mental infliction wherein the sufferer can’t stop researching and investigating hidden, occult, supernatural, or prenatural matters. In Catholic Land (the superficial and obnoxious digital Catholic-sphere), you’ll find click-bait topics like “the demons,” “end times prophecy,” “Old Testament giants,” and so forth.

While these are relevant subjects, and Catholics should possess some baseline knowledge, it’s easy to over-indulge. Then you become easier prey for demonic manipulation. The evil spirits feast on folks who spend all their time chasing after dangerous knowledge. I also contend this is a significant problem when we don’t remain busy with more worthwhile spiritual activities.

Of course, someone might say . . . 

“You must not think this is serious! We could die in October! These apparitions just want you to pray the Rosary more! Are you against that?!”

Well, sanctimonious modernist, if you check the record, you’ll see that I call for folks to do that at the end of almost EVERY blog post. Best of all, we don’t need bizarre “apparitions” for reminders. We should just do it, anyway.

So, without further ado, here’s what you should do (this month, October, and every other time).

• Penance!
  • This week is the Ember Week for autumn. Have you done any fasting (no meat on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday)? Have you skipped any meals, foregone alcohol or sweets, or deprived yourself of amusements?
• Spiritual Education
  • Spiritual education and the virtue of studiosity are essential for parsing out truth from “fake news.” In fact, this is the virtue that remedies excessive curiosity with demons, visions, divination, and other outlets of hidden knowledge.
  • If you’d like to pursue a daily routine, and truly master the Science of the Saints, then I always recommend St. Alphonsus Liguori’s daily meditations.
• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
  • Unlike many of the modern “seers” and “visionaries,” who don’t discern a religious life very often, you can devote at least 15 minutes a day to adoring the Blessed Sacrament.
• Pray the Rosary
  • . . . 15 decades, every single day, as Our Lady of Fatima (an overwhelmingly approved apparition) told us.

There’s a lot more to this topic, but I’d like to keep it somewhat brief. Email me if you’d like to learn more or request a “Part 2” article.