Mar 1, 2007

Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov

Cardinal Giacomo Biffi, retired archbishop of Bologna, quoted Russian philosopher Vladimir Sergeyevich Solovyov’s "Three Dialogues on War, Progress and the End of History," during weeklong Spiritual Exercises attended by Pope Benedict XVI and members of the Roman Curia. 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," adding 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."

No cross

In his "Tale of the Antichrist" Solovyov foresees that a small group of Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants will resist and will say to the Antichrist: "You give us everything, except what interests us, Jesus Christ." For Cardinal Biffi, this narrative is a warning: "Today, in fact, we run the risk of having a Christianity which puts aside Jesus with his cross and resurrection." The 78-year-old cardinal said that if Christians "limited themselves to speaking of shared values they would be more accepted on television programs and in social groups. But in this way, they will have renounced Jesus, the overwhelming reality of the resurrection."

3 comments :

JayG said...

Background on ,Solovyov, from Michael Brown at SpiritDaily

Anonymous said...

In the 14th century, Saint John of the Cleft Rock quoted a prophecy to the effect that "twenty" centuries after the Incarnation of the Word, the Beast in its turn would become man. "About the year 2000 A.D., anti-Christ will reveal himself to the world," said St. John.

Anonymous said...

A relevant link:

http://beta1.catholicculture.org/commentary/articles.cfm?id=177