The Remnant Faithful: A Case Study of Contemporary Apocalyptic Catholicism

Sociology of Religion, Summer, 2001 by Amy Luebbers

Though perhaps varying in degree about Leary and doomsday particulars, the more literal belief in the End remained. Prophets serve as an important source of legitimacy of beliefs and a tool for understanding the link between the Bible as a base of their belief system.

Prayerful Activism of the Holy Elite

Those that follow various apocalyptic Catholic visionaries regard themselves sharing in a special knowledge about the chastisement and redemption of the world (Zimdars-Swartz 1991:184, cited in Cuneo 1997b:178). The Remnant Faithful presented here have two special duties during the End Times: possible martyrdom and praying for conversions.

A few believers maintained "the Anti-Christ will bring a false hope in a time of crisis, and people will blindly follow." "Two-thirds of the people will follow him," commented one believer, leaving only one-third of the world not to succumb to the Anti-Christ's one-world Godless leadership. As one respondent stated, "I mean, if I die in the defense of my faith, or if I am imprisoned, I'll be in my glory," quickly adding, "The worst thing would be to live and have to continue to suffer." Fortunately, this suffering may be lessened through prayer.

The Virgin Mary told Leary, "You are in the world, but you cannot be of the world," (Leary, VII:231), petitioning the faithful to exist in the world in a state of prayerful activism. Conversions are often attributed to the power of the Holy Elite, or Mary's "prayer warriors." I asked some participants what the relationship is "between people like you and me and these forces in the world?" One individual, offering a good representation of what was commonly expressed said, "Prayer. Prayer is probably the only thing. Prayer and to convert people's hearts to see the bad and maybe what they're doing. I don't know, it's a grip that's on everybody." They believe society is largely unaware or complacent about the Evils of the world, and that the conversion of people's hearts and souls to God through prayer is how this spiritual war can be won. For instance, as antiabortionists, believers often pray for the unborn souls as well as the conversion of those who are involved in aborting them, rather than participating in violent measures against clinics or those who enter.

"The more people pray, the more the world has a chance of changing," said one, and others noted "... Mary said that prayer can move mountains, can stop wars...." John stated, "I'm not about to go out with a Bible and stand on the corner and preach, but I do believe that I could go to mass everyday, go to rosaries at night, pray during the day, fast, and other things, because this is what Mary has asked us to do to help change the world." It is the duty of the Holy Elite to call upon God through prayer to influence others. Carolyn also confirms this duty to "save souls," reflecting,

I think that we're living the Book of Revelation at this point in time, at least part of it. I don't think God is finished with us yet. I don't think we're experiencing the end of the world. I think we're experiencing the end of life and society as we now know it. I'm hoping and praying that this Evil will end. I think at some point God will put a stop to Satan and all the nonsense that is proliferating on the earth today. I think our duty is to be concerned for our souls... each and every one of us has a duty to save our own soul, and at the same time, then, to pray for all the other souls.