Ven. Bartholomew Holzhauser (17th Century)

The fifth period of the Church, which began circa 1520,

• wilfend with the arrival of the Holy Pope and of the power-

fill Monarch who is called Help From God because he will restore everything [in Christ].

The fifth period Is one of affliction, desolation, hu miliation, and poverty for the Church. Jesus Christ will purify His people through cruel wars, famines, plague, epi demics, and other horrible calamities. He will also afflict and weaken the Latin Church with many heresies. It is a period of defections, calamities and extermination. Those Christians who survive the sword, plague and famines, will be few on earth. Nations will fight against nations, and will be desolated by internecine dissensions.

Are we not to fear, during this period, that the Moham medans will come again, working out their sinister schemes against the Latin Church?

During this period, many men will abuse of the freedom of conscience conceded to them. It is of such men that Jude, the Apostle, spoke when he said: These men blaspheme

whatever they do not understand; and they corrupt what ever they know naturally as irrational animals do.

During this unhappy period, there will be laxity in di vine and human precepts. Discipline will suffer. The Holy Canons will be completely disregarded, and the Clergy will not respect the laws of the Church. Everyone will be carried away and led to believe and to do what he fancies, accord ing to the manner of the flesh.