I am not sure whether many among us are aware of something important due to happen during these days in which we live. This small article is a humble attempt in that direction.
Blessed Virgin revealed to the seers during her apparition at Garabandhal (Spain) in 1961 that there will occur a great warning before the end days. It was also prophesied that after the warning a permanent sign will be visible in the pine woods of Garabandhal. Certain messages state that during this period a crucifx visible to all men and women will appear in the sky. We read the same thing in the gospel of Mathew: ‘Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and glory’ ( Mathew 24:30).
What we understand from the words of the seers is that the great warning will be the last opportunity for mankind to convert. Before explaining further, I should make one thing clear. Nowhere in the Bible it is stated that there will be a warning before end times. But the messages given to St Faustina refer to a day of great Divine Mercy. Fr Stefano Gobbi also describes an occasion of ‘Illumination of our Conscience’ in his messages contained in the famous book ‘To the Priests, Our Lady’s Beloved Sons’.
The purpose of this article is to give a brief idea about what the Garabandhal messages and Diary of St Faustina say about this great event. We would supplement them with visions and messages received by various persons across the globe since Garabandhal apparition, though their names (except that of Fr Stefano Gobbil) are not specifically mentioned here. I would like to remind the readers that to get a perfect idea about what we call ‘Great Warning’, it is essential that we go through the Scripture, teachings of the Church, messages of Our Lady to various persons as also prophecies of saints. As you would agree, a detailed study based on these sources is not within the purview of this small article.
We will start with the apparitions at Garabandhal. According to the seers, Great Warning is a kind of mystical encounter with Christ. Every living person on earth above the age of seven will have to undergo it. It will happen across the continents simultaneously and will last approximately fifteen minutes. During this supernatural experience each and every person will see the state of his soul as God sees them; hence the name ‘Illumination of Conscience’. It will a Last Judgement in miniature, but with one difference. Unlike the Last Judgement, Great Warning is the occasion for repentance and conversion and not punishment.
Though it will last for fifteen minutes only we will feel it like a much longer period of time. We will see two comets colliding at the beginning of the warning. The sky will turn red. Then a Crucifix will appear in the sky. It will be visible to every living person on earth. All lights in the sky will be extinguished at that time. The only light will be those great rays of light coming through the sacred wounds in the hands and legs of our Saviour Jesus Christ, where he was nailed to the cross. It is the time to seek refuge in the great mercy of God.
Irrespective of how big a sinner we are, this is the precious occasion to repent about them and ask for forgiveness from God. Many messages and apparitions stress the importance of being in a state of Grace before the actual event of Great Warning happens. This is because, a lot of people will die of shock during these fateful minutes of warning. They will be shocked to realize the gravity of their sins and how they offended God who is love. We should start praying for such unfortunate souls right now.
Great warning will be a super natural phenomenon. It can be seen in the atmosphere and experienced in spirit both simultaneously. But once that experience is over scientists and atheists will make futile attempts to explain them scientifically. The period immediately following the Great Warning will be a time of large scale conversions. Because, by then nobody will have any doubts in their minds about the existence of God or what Jesus achieved in cross for the mankind. People will flow to confessionals. It is the duty of those who are already in a state of grace to help them at that time.
We get more clarity about this phenomenon of Divine Mercy called ‘Great Warning’ from the Diary of St Faustina. It is available in book form under the title ‘ Divine Mercy in My Soul’. Jesus told Faustina:
Write this:
Before I come as the Just Judge, I am coming first as the King of Mercy. Before the day of justice arrives, there will be given to people a sign in the heavens of this sort:
All light in the heavens will be extinguished, and there will be great darkness over the whole earth. Then the sign of the cross will be seen in the sky, and from the openings where the hands and the feet of the Savior were nailed will come forth great lights which will light up the earth for a period of time. This will take place shortly before the last day ( Diary 83).
While I was saying the chaplet, I heard a voice which said, Oh, what great graces I will grant to souls who say this chaplet; the very depths of My tender mercy are stirred for the sake of those who say the chaplet. Write down these words, My daughter. Speak to the world about My mercy; let all mankind recognize My unfathomable mercy. It is a sign for the end times; after it will come the day of justice. While there is still time, let them have recourse to the fount of My mercy; let them profit from the Blood and Water which gushed forth for them ( Diary 848).
Let the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy. My daughter, write about My mercy towards tormented souls. Souls that make an appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to My compassion, but on the contrary, I justify him in My unfathomable and inscrutable mercy. Write: before I come as a just Judge, I first open wide the door of My mercy. He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice….( Diary 1146).
Today I heard the words: In the Old Covenant I sent prophets wielding thunderbolts to My People. Today I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart. I use punishment when they themselves force Me to do so; My hand is reluctant to take hold of the sword of justice. Before the Day of Justice I am sending the Day of Mercy. I replied, “O my Jesus, speak to souls Yourself, because my words are insignificant” ( Diary 1588).
This great event aptly called ‘ Illumination of the Conscience’ is described by Fr Stefano Gobbi also. It was through inner locutions that the Blessed Virgin instructed him about the coming days.
“The Holy Spirit will come, to establish the glorious reign of Christ and it will be a reign of grace, of holiness, of love, of justice and of peace. With His divine love, He will open the doors of hearts and illuminate all consciences. Every person will see themself in the burning fire of divine Truth. It will be like a judgment in miniature. And then Jesus Christ will bring His glorious reign in the world” ( Message No 383 dated 22 May 1988).
For those who expect the glorious second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and who are in a state of grace, warning will be an occasion of great joy. But they have a great duty; that of telling others that a day of Mercy is at hand before the day of Justice comes and that everybody should prepare for it by true repentance and conversion. This message should reach each and every person before warning takes place. Remember that Jesus has offered great promises to those who tell others about Divine Mercy. Equally important is that we should pray for those who might be in a state of mortal sin and die of shock at the event of Great Warning before being able to repent and convert to Jesus. It is a great act of mercy to pray for those who are in most need of Divine Mercy.
We do not know when the second coming of Jesus Christ is going to happen. We also do not know the timing of the Great Warning. We might find many people around us who are sceptical about the very possibility of a warning before second coming. Just ask them one question. Don’t they take an umbrella when there is the slightest chance of rain? We know it doesn’t rain everyday we take an umbrella. But it is wise and prudent to expect a rain anytime and keep an umbrella with us. It doesn’t cost much. ‘Let anyone who has an ear listen’.
As for us, the safest thing is to think that there will be a warning and “it is going to happen tomorrow”. In that way we will be able to prepare ourselves. We know that many among our near and dear are pretty ignorant about this impending great event. It is our duty to prepare them as well. But before that, we should prepare ourselves first.
‘This is the time to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which should be our spiritual worship’ ( Romans. 12:1). We should also keep our homes holy. A blessed home and blessed holy objects like crucifix, rosary, medals, scapular, candles and images and pictures of saints will help us in keeping ourselves and our homes in a state of grace and protect us from the attacks of the evil one which is getting aggravated by every passing day. Make sure that you have arranged everything – most important of all, Holy Water – beforehand.
May the unfathomable mercy of the Eternal Father envelope each one of us in these days of great Divine Mercy to be followed by the awesome day of Divine Justice.
