Preliminary remarks
After recently exploring the topic of self-deception and some common deceptions in the world and in the Church, it is now appropriate to begin a series of meditations on the Antichrist and the spirit through which he will act. I have already addressed this topic in several publications, and in 2020 I wrote a series of reflections that will now serve as my foundation. This topic is becoming increasingly relevant, as the anti-Christian spirit is operating on a massive scale in the world and even within the Church. Some might argue that it would be better to focus on the positive aspects of the Gospel. However, one does not exclude the other. Sacred Scripture frequently speaks of Satan and of powers hostile to God, and it exhorts the faithful to prepare for spiritual combat. Therefore, these topics cannot be overlooked. What matters is that we do not address them in a sensationalist way or stir up an unhealthy fascination with darkness.
Those who prefer a meditation on the daily reading or Gospel can find the respective links at the end of the text. Please note that some of these meditations were written several years ago and may occasionally refer to topics that are no longer relevant today.
I will begin this series on the Antichrist with a quote from St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444). This Doctor of the Church fought against the heresies of Arianism and Nestorianism. We ask him to accompany us throughout this series.
“Therefore, prepare yourself, O man. If you know the signs of the Antichrist, it is not enough to merely remember them; you must also share them with those around you. If you have a child, do not hesitate to teach them. If you are a teacher, prepare your spiritual children so they do not mistake the false for the true, for this mystery is already at work.”
Introduction
Speaking about the Antichrist is no easy matter, for in this figure—who, according to many reliable testimonies, is to appear at the End of Time—the “mystery of lawlessness” (cf. 2 Thess 2:7) will be fully revealed. Therefore, the Antichrist will pose a threat to the entire world.
Anti-Christian figures are not always as easy to identify as those dictators who caused so much desolation and destruction in past centuries. Even in those cases, however, most people were unable to identify those deceivers from the beginning. Rather, they recognized them as enemies of humanity only when their evil deeds became all too evident.
For this reason, vigilance is required. Above all, Christians—who know the voice of their Shepherd—should be able to discern what comes from their Lord and what does not. But this distinction is not always simple, because Satan can present himself as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14). Therefore, the spirit of discernment must unmask him clearly. As Catholics, we normally expect the shepherds of the Church to warn us of these dangers, but, unfortunately, this happens less and less often.
Sacred Scripture speaks of many antichrists who have appeared. For example, the Apostle Saint John writes in his letter:
“Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us.“ (1 John 2:18-19)
This passage speaks of “antichrists” in the plural and seems to refer to them broadly. They may be, for example, false teachers who spread erroneous doctrines, confusing and seducing the faithful.
Another verse from Saint John’s letters seems to confirm this interpretation: “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.“ (2 John 1:7)
If we reflect on these passages, we can see that throughout history there have been many movements opposed to the teachings of the Gospel: philosophical schools that contradicted revealed truth; political systems of domination; ideologies; post-Christian religions and cults…
The anti-Christian presence can, so to speak, “take on flesh” in specific individuals; but we can also speak of an “anti-Christian spirit” that manifests itself, for example, in certain currents of thought.
In this series, we will frequently use the term “anti-Christian spirit,” which will help us better understand its influence on the world and the Church and identify it properly.
Let us conclude this first meditation today with one more quote from St. Cyril:
“In addition to so many other things, he [saint Paul] also foretold that false Christs and false teachers would appear who would introduce pernicious heresies, denying our one Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, and that many would lend an ear to their impieties and blaspheme against the splendor of the truth. Therefore, when such people appear, we must not allow ourselves to be deceived or seduced by their pernicious doctrines.”
Meditation on the Reading of the Day: https://en.elijamission.net/the-path-of-the-righteous-is-straight/
Meditation on the Gospel of the Day: https://en.elijamission.net/my-burden-is-light/