Catholics/Three Days of Darkness

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 7/22/2009


Question
Fr, I am a born and raised Catholic.  Recently, I've been hearing a lot about the "Three Days of Darkness."  I remember hearing my mother mention this when I was really young, but nothing else.  What does the Church say about this?  I've never heard any of my Parish priests mention this before so I was wondering if this was maybe and "urban legend" or if this is really going to happen.  Thank you in advance.

Answer
Hi, Jamie:
Thaks for the question.
If your Parish Priest has never mentioned this, then you must be hearing about it from some other source?
The Church has not made a definitive statement on the matter, and most probably will not; nevertheless, it would pertain to the end times, and the return of Christ again on the last day.
I can only recommend and encourage you to be ready by living your Faith in Jesus Christ in communion with the Catholic Church to be ready for the day and the hour which nobody knows.  The coming of Christ again is not urban legend - it is a historical teaching of the Catholic Church.  The specifics of the "Three Days of Darkness" are not part of defined teaching.  Just be certain that you are ready, watching, and waiting when the Bridegroom returns.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

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A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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