Iran War started. Pray for Peace. And for Victory.

Garabandal also predicts a short but serious period of tribulation before the warning.

The warning happens when things are at their worst.

 

We will have to question the funding of all these media organisations who appoint themselves as spokesmen on our behalf.

E. Michael Jones’ recent filleting of Bill Donahue and his Catholic League is a case in point. If some of these organisations are receiving funding from similar sources as the US senators and congressmen, they could be compromised.

Hopefully, Crisis magazine is not compromised. A recent powerful article against Christian Zionism indicates it is sound, but it’s hard not to be paranoid.

 

As far as I can tell as an outsider there does seem to be a deep split between American Catholics on the Pope Leo/ Trump/ Iran thing.

It is so very,very sad.

Raymond Arroyo for instance and his Papal Posse , for whom I have the vary highest respect, support Trump and the War against the Pope. They are very influential and speak for many, many American Catholics.

In one sense they are right Pope Leo's theological understanding appears to be off. His seems to come from a Pacifist position rather than Just War theory which would be the Churches.

The Church has never taught that all wars are wrong as does Leo. This adds to the general confusion. Pope Leo would have had an authentic Catholic stance if he had said that it is an unjust war. But he did not say that.

 

LIVE on Shalom World: Holy Rosary for Peace presided Over by Pope Leo XIV from St. Peter’s Basilica, uniting the faithful worldwide in prayer for peace, healing, and hope.
11.50am (ET) 4.50pm (BST)

 

That is very true. The logic of the Pope’s pacifism is that Iran should not have defended itself.

There is a very distinct possibility that people like Raymond Arroyo are guilty of the heresy of ‘Americanism’, in which their Catholicism is ultimately secondary to the ‘exceptionalist’ environment in which it is formed. This ‘exceptionalism’ is increasingly revealing itself to be a variant of the ‘choseness’ declared by Jewish Supremacists (there are righteous Jews who interpret this choseness as a duty to help others less fortunate, but it is still an unintentionally supremacist perversion of true Charity).

This Americanism is further shown by the insular view that the US can assume control of a religion that extends all over the Earth. These people think they are the only ones that matter. Fortunately, Iran seems to have taught them a sharp lesson on that subject.

 

Those who failed to recognize the possible forerunner of the Antichrist—whether in Donald Trump or anyone else—despite the obvious inconsistency, harsh rhetoric, and moral ambiguity, might consider stopping the habit of retroactively justifying their choice. It becomes unconvincing when one keeps inventing new reasons why the decision was “actually right.” That often reflects not clarity, but the struggle of a disturbed conscience unwilling to admit error. A more honest path would be this: to name the pride, the lack of discernment, and the ignored inner warnings—and to have the courage to confess this before God in holy confession. Repentance carries more weight than endless self-defense.

Those who listened to their conscience might have quietly chosen a lesser-known but upright and devout candidate—or even cast a blank ballot. They likely slept better afterward. What this time reveals is simple: we do not need loud “saviors,” but devout, prudent—almost saintly—leaders. Recognizable not by power, but by humility, a call to prayer, conciliatory speech, and genuine care. Such leaders may come only after a purification. For now, we seem destined to pass through confusion. And the responsibility does not lie only with “others,” but with all of us who ignored warnings and persuaded ourselves too easily.

 

No you are too harsh in your assessment. It comes from a sense of moral or spiritual superiority which finds its roots in a form of spiritual pride or holier than thou kind of attitude. I got it right and you got it wrong, I could have told you so, and this type of assessment is very troubling.

Plus it is intellectually lazy.

 

I think some people forget that Our Lady appeared precisely in the year of the Bolshevik Revolution, and that this was a direct sign of an evil that would arise in Russia, spread to Western nations, and remain in its place of origin until its conversion. Catholic prophecies speak about the conversion of Russia, but there is not a single clear indication that this has already occurred.

As I have pointed out several times here on the forum, Vladimir Putin opposed, in 2023, a call from the Russian Orthodox Church to completely ban abortion in his country and, to justify his position, he used the same Western argument that banning it would increase maternal mortality. I would like to know why this is widely ignored in the context of the prophecies about the conversion of Russia.

Likewise, many people ignore that George W. Bush took several pro-life measures during his two terms, even going so far as to restrict funding for embryonic stem cell research because of this. This is more or less equivalent to restricting, today, vaccines associated with abortion. Even so, we are not required to believe that the United States was converted to the Immaculate Heart during his presidency, nor to support his military operation in Iraq.

What similarly astonishes me is that the Orthodox Church has adopted a glorification of tyrannical Russian leaders such as Joseph Stalin and Vladimir Putin, to the point that it resembles a kind of pagan pantheon infiltrated within the Church. This is a clear attack on the First Commandment and a partial fulfillment of prophecies about the Antichrist, which constitutes a falsification of the coming—and at the same time present—Kingdom of God.

The Bible says that, if possible, Satan would deceive even the elect, and if there are Catholics, weary of oppression from Western governments, who fall so easily for Russian propaganda, this makes Putin a more sophisticated instrument of deception than most Western leaders. The closest comparison I see to this is Donald Trump in his second term.

If the prophesied invasion of Europe does occur, it will be an instrument of conversion for both the West and Russia itself. Therefore, it is useless to create a false dichotomy between two blocs fighting for global domination, since Catholics would not be safe under the auspices of either. In Russia’s case, the false rhetoric of a “holy war” adopted by Putin and Patriarch Kirill does not remove the guilt of those who support his imperialist war.

The false claim that Ukraine is an artificial state always points toward the end goal of a Russian vassal state fully integrated into the national, cultural, and—paradoxically—religious legacy of the Soviet Union, even though this would mean erasing the Catholic cultural identity of that nation under attack.

 

Catholic Just War teaching (CCC 2309) sets out five conditions that must all be fulfilled:

• grave harm caused by the aggressor
• exhaustion of all peaceful means
• reasonable chance of success
• proportional use of force
• legitimate authority

If even one condition is missing, a war is not considered morally just in Catholic teaching. In discussions about modern conflicts, it is therefore often asked whether proportionality and a genuine commitment to peaceful solutions are truly met. These criteria apply universally to all states and parties involved, including Iran as well as Western nations. Catholic moral theology applies a single consistent standard rather than double standards.
In this context, Pope Leo XIV emphasizes that God “does not hear the prayers of those who wage war,” echoing the biblical prophetic tradition (Isaiah 1:15). This highlights that violence without repentance undermines the moral integrity of prayer. The Church therefore calls all sides equally to conversion and peace, evaluating every use of force according to the same moral principles.

 

You have described my situation exactly. It is a burden that is with me always but I am giving it to the Blessed Mother for her intentions, trusting she will intervene with them even at the last moment.

 

One can only choose from what’s on offer and not voting doesn’t prevent one or other undesirable from gaining power. In some cases, it is valid and entirely licit to opt for the lesser of two evils and it’s not a sin to make a mistake when one has made a genuine effort at establishing the facts, bearing in mind the very limited fact-gathering resources of the average citizen compared to those possessed by the people who are willing to deceive.

It is best to swallow one’s pride and admit one has made a mistake when one realises it. That is the position of most on here.

 

Very thought provoking analysis Luan. Much food for thought here. This running to Putin or to Trump makes me think of Jesus saying "many Christ's will appear and if they say to you he is here or he is there do not be deceived.." ( I am paraphrasing His words) No earthly leader can be trusted implicitly in any age but especially in this tormented period of history. At the last election I struggled to know what to do. I had decided not to vote since both candidates seemed beyond troubling. But finally--after the seemingly miraculous survival of the assassination attempt--I decided to go with Trump. Now I am left wondering if that was a massive psy opt. I guess we will never know until heaven. But most Americans looked at the democrats and their candidate and said No Way. And now here we are. We got a " bait and switch" and must endure these next few years in prayer and penance--if God permits us a few more years.

 

In a nutshell--exactly.

 

The accusation of “spiritual pride” misses the point. This is not about superiority, but about responsibility and formation of conscience. Dismissing criticism as “pride” avoids the real issue. True humility means seriously examining one’s own decisions—and, where necessary, being willing to admit error and repent. This is the real spiritual danger: without practiced examination of conscience, without openness to correction, and without repentance, the ability for discernment is lost. It must be cultivated, so that one may receive the grace to distinguish truth from deception. Without this, people become vulnerable to strong personalities, simple narratives, or political movements—and are therefore less able to recognize deeper deceptions when they arise. And more than that: it leads to a self-constructed political narrative, which may justify one’s position but ultimately stands in tension with—if not directly against—theological and religious truth, even suppressing it. Christian tradition is clear: self-justification, stubbornness, and pride block inner refinement. Only humility, examination, and conversion open the way to truth.

 

Your point that we won’t know until Heaven is a very valid one. But, we will know. Indeed, sheep and goats will all know. What a day will be Judgement Day! Very few (and I certainly won’t be among them) will not be shamed and embarrassed, but there are going to be some ‘spectaculars’. Our newly-resurrected jaws are going to be dropping to our newly-resurrected toes! It will be a long day. May very many make it.

 

On another site I came across a link to a video by a former member of the IDF, whose name I can’t recall, who has left Israel and Judaism ( he is a jazz musician). He says that what now possesses Israel is older, deeper and more malignant than Zionism. He says that Zionism is a secular ideology which was the motivation throughout the establishment of Israel and the ‘48, ‘67 and ‘73 wars, but that the ideology now is more like the Zealotry of the first century. Essentially, it is a religious worldview, Talmudic in form. It fits with other Jewish writers on the subject such as Israel Shahak and Israel Shamir (also a member of the IDF and now a Christian).

The Iranians, despite the justice of their position, also hold an apocalyptic worldview, and both sides have it in common that they are gravely in error.

We definitely stand in great need of protection, from Christ and His Mother.

 

Your point is partly valid: in Catholic moral theology, it can be permissible in certain cases to choose the “lesser evil,” provided one does not directly support evil but seeks to limit greater harm. However, responsibility remains: even a well-intentioned decision can be objectively wrong. What matters then is not justification, but recognition. Even Apostle Peter made a grave mistake—but he repented deeply. He did not blame circumstances; he examined himself. That is the standard. And it is also true: some people did discern more clearly and chose differently. That shows discernment was possible—even under difficult conditions.
Regarding the U.S. system:
A blank or invalid ballot is generally not counted as a valid vote and does not affect the majority outcome. In practice, it functions as abstention rather than influencing the result.

It can be a legitimate act of conscience—but it does not replace the duty of serious moral discernment.

 

Your point about Judgment Day carries a real and sobering truth—but it’s not the whole picture. According to the reported apparitions of Garabandal apparitions, there is foretold a Warning—an illumination of conscience—granted before the final judgment. In that moment, each person will see their soul as God sees it: their sins, their failures, their missed graces—clearly and unmistakably. So it is not entirely correct to say that we will only know in Heaven. There is, if these prophecies hold, a profound act of mercy beforehand: a chance to know now, to be corrected, to repent while there is still time. Blessed indeed are those who do not need such a dramatic intervention—those who already examine their conscience, recognize their faults, and turn back through repentance and confession. They will not be taken by surprise, because they have already begun to live in the truth.
The real tragedy would not be the shock of recognition—but to receive such grace and still refuse it. So yes, Judgment Day will be immense. But even before that, there may come a moment when the veil is lifted—and the question will no longer be what is true, but whether one is willing to respond to it.

 

As crazy as it may sound, I think it is a very good sign that the world is moving toward such religion-based motives...even if they're in error. Jesus said he would vomit the lukewarm out of His mouth. For so long now we've lived in a humanistic, "rational" world that leaves God entirely out of the equation, but in recent years the tide has turned, and people are seeking religion. God may be able to work more with a zealous but deceived Jew than He can with someone who believes this world and its pleasures are all there is.

Lifesite News recently featured an interview with a Muslim woman who received visions of Jesus and Mary that caused her conversion to Catholicism. Jesus didn't begin appearing to her when she was a secular, Muslim-in-name-only woman of the world. He came to her after she became a devout, practicing Sunni Muslim.

On a side note, this woman is not against the war with Iran. She says the Muslim world is not good...that the same Muslim men who pray multiple times a day and fast and seem so much more devout than the West, are actually living double lives and commiting all of the same sins as the Western world, including having boy sex slaves and attacking and raping their own Muslim women.