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Hi Michael,
You wrote:
Good morning!
I have two questions today, if
you don't mind answering them.
- First, does the Catholic Church believe in the "tribulations" as some Protestant
groups do?
The reason I ask is, I am reading a book titled, Pierced By a Sword, and
it's a lot like the Left Behind series, but written from a Catholic perspective.
I'm not sure there is a firm Catholic stance on this. On the one hand,
we do not believe in the rapture as the Protestants do, when believers
are caught up in Heaven leaving unbelievers for seven years of tribulations.
We also tend to take Revelation less literally. Also Catholics would argue that some elements of Revelation, and other prophecies, were fulfilled in 70 A.D.,
so we would not expect them. On the other hand, there are plenty of prophecies
of tribulation which could be interpreted as pertaining to the End Times.
I guess the answer is that generally, Catholic interpretation does not
tend towards end-times tribulations, but it's not clear-cut. Perhaps one
of my colleagues would have something more enlightening to say.
You wrote:
- Second, I was confused by the Gospel reading yesterday (Matthew 25:1-13).
In the
version we heard in church yesterday, the Gospel talked about ten virgins going
out to meet the bridegroom. In an older version of the Gospel, it says the
virgins go out to meet the Bride and the bridegroom.
- Why was it changed?
- In yesterday's version, was the bridegroom going to marry all of these virgins?
The
older version makes more sense. And yes, I do realize it's a parable, not to be taken
literally.
I think the translation "bride and bridegroom" is the exception
rather than the rule. None of the translations I consulted have it.
The tradition was that the bride prepared herself, while the bridegroom
was away with his friends.
At some point, typically late, he decides it is time for the wedding to
begin, and makes a procession to meet the bride. So, the virgins are waiting,
in essence, with the bride for the bridegroom. When he arrives, of course,
the bride and bridegroom are together, and that is the moment they are
waiting for, but in point of fact, the bridegroom arrives alone.
Hope this helps,
Eric
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