“There will be a great darkness over the whole earth.”

Are we living in the “great darkness” that Jesus told St. Faustina about? Many people think of the light in the sky, the sun will be extinguished. But, I think of the prevalence of sin and evil as a great darkness. I think of the widespread apostasy as darkness. I think of the lack of faith in men’s souls as darkness. I think of violence and war as darkness. I think of terrorism and beheadings as darkness. I think of the horrible atrocities of the militant Islamists as darkness. I think of the corruption of morals as darkness.

Yes, when the sun goes down, there is darkness, and many of us have had or have fear of darkness, but there is darker darkness than the lack of light. Does the message of Jesus to Faustina necessarily mean what we think it means, that the sun will go dark as some believe “for three days?” Or can it be totally spiritual? We are indeed living in darkness and I would dare to say these are the new dark ages or maybe darker ages. Evil is spread far and wide and most people accept it as normal and others just put up with it as something they have no power to change.

Every day I pray that the “King of Mercy” will send the “great sign in the heavens” to enliven the consciences of all people. Then all of our woes, all of our evils will be corrected by the divine hand and this world will be transformed into a garden of God’s love.

“Before I come as a just judge, I am coming first as “King of Mercy”! Let all men now approach the throne of my mercy with absolute confidence! Some time before the the last days of final justice arrive, there will be given to mankind a great sign in the heavens of this sort: all the light of the heavens will be totally extinguished. There will be a great darkness over the whole earth. Then a great sign of the cross will appear in the sky. From the openings from where the hands and feet of the savior were nailed will come forth great lights – which will light up the earth for a period of time. This will happen before the very final days. It is the sign for the end of the world. After it will come the days of justice! Let souls have recourse to the fount of my mercy while there is still time! Woe to him who does not recognize the time of my visitation.” (Diary 83)