Fragmenda

Scripture

Apocalypse 12–17

Apocalypse 12

The vision of the woman clothed with the sun and of the great dragon her persecutor.

1 

And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.

2 

And being with child, she cried travailing in birth: and was in pain to be delivered.

3 

And there was seen another sign in heaven. And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and on his heads seven diadems.

4 

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered: that, when she should be delivered, he might devour her son.

5 

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her son was taken up to God and to his throne.

6 

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, that there they should feed her, a thousand two hundred sixty days.

7 

And there was a great battle in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels.

8 

And they prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 

And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world. And he was cast unto the earth: and his angels were thrown down with him.

10 

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ: because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them before our God day and night.

11 

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of the testimony: and they loved not their lives unto death.

12 

Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.

13 

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman who brought forth the man child.

14 

And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the desert, unto her place, where she is nourished for a time and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

15 

And the serpent cast out of his mouth, after the woman, water, as it were a river: that he might cause her to be carried away by the river.

16 

And the earth helped the woman: and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

17 

And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

18 

And he stood upon the sand of the sea.


Apocalypse 13

Of the beast with seven heads and of a second beast.

1 

And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns: and upon his horns, ten diadems: and upon his heads, names of blasphemy.

2 

And the beast which I saw was like to a leopard: and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his own strength and great power.

3 

And I saw one of his heads as it were slain to death: and his death’s wound was healed. And all the earth was in admiration after the beast.

4 

And they adored the dragon which gave power to the beast. And they adored the beast, saying: Who is like to the beast? And who shall be able to fight with him?

5 

And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies: and power was given to him to do, two and forty months.

6 

And he opened his mouth unto blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven.

7 

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And power was given him over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.

8 

And all that dwell upon the earth adored him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb which was slain from the beginning of the world.

9 

If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10 

He that shall lead into captivity shall go into captivity: he that shall kill by the sword must be killed by the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 

And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth: and he had two horns, like a lamb: and he spoke as a dragon.

12 

And he executed all the power of the former beast in his sight. And he caused the earth and them that dwell therein to adore the first beast, whose wound to death was healed.

13 

And he did great signs, so that he made also fire to come down from heaven unto the earth, in the sight of men.

14 

And he seduced them that dwell on the earth, for the signs which were given him to do in the sight of the beast: saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make the image of the beast which had the wound by the sword and lived.

15 

And it was given him to give life to the image of the beast: and that the image of the beast should speak: and should cause that whosoever will not adore the image of the beast should be slain.

16 

And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand or on their foreheads:

17 

And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 

Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six.


Apocalypse 14

Of the Lamb and of the virgins that follow him. Of the judgments that shall fall upon the wicked.

1 

And I beheld: and lo a Lamb stood upon mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty-four thousand, having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads.

2 

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the noise of many waters and as the voice of great thunder. And the voice which I heard was as the voice of harpers, harping on their harps.

3 

And they sung as it were a new canticle, before the throne and before the four living creatures and the ancients: and no man could say the canticle, but those hundred forty-four thousand who were purchased from the earth.

4 

These are they who were not defiled with women: for they are virgins. These follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

5 

And in their mouth there was found no lie: for they are without spot before the throne of God.

6 

And I saw another angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the eternal gospel, to preach unto them that sit upon the earth and over every nation and tribe and tongue and people:

7 

Saying with a loud voice: Fear the Lord and give him honour, because the hour of his judgment is come. And adore ye him that made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of waters.

8 

And another angel followed, saying: That great Babylon is fallen, is fallen; which made all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

9 

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice: If any man shall adore the beast and his image and receive his character in his forehead or in his hand,

10 

He also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mingled with pure wine in the cup of his wrath: and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb.

11 

And the smoke of their torments, shall ascend up for ever and ever: neither have they rest day nor night, who have adored the beast and his image and whoever receiveth the character of his name.

12 

Here is the patience of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

13 

And I heard a voice from heaven, saying to me: Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. From henceforth now, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours. For their works follow them.

14 

And I saw: and behold a white cloud and upon the cloud one sitting like to the Son of man, having on his head a crown of gold and in his hand a sharp sickle.

15 

And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat upon the cloud: Thrust in thy sickle and reap, because the hour is come to reap. For the harvest of the earth is ripe.

16 

And he that sat on the cloud thrust his sickle into the earth: and the earth was reaped.

17 

And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18 

And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire. And he cried with a loud voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying: Thrust in thy sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vineyard of the earth, because the grapes thereof are ripe.

19 

And the angel thrust in his sharp sickle into the earth and gathered the vineyard of the earth and cast it into the great press of the wrath of God:

20 

And the press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a thousand and six hundred furlongs.


Apocalypse 15

They that have overcome the beast glorify God. Of the seven angels with the seven vials.

1 

And I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful: seven angels having the seven last plagues. For in them is filled up the wrath of God.

2 

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God:

3 

And singing the canticle of Moses, the servant of God, and the canticle of the Lamb, saying: Great and wonderful are thy works, O Lord God Almighty. Just and true are thy ways, O King of ages.

4 

Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and magnify thy name? For thou only art holy. For all nations shall come and shall adore in thy sight, because thy judgments are manifest.

5 

And after these things, I looked: and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.

6 

And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed with clean and white linen and girt about the breasts with golden girdles.

7 

And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden vials, full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

8 

And the temple was filled with smoke from the majesty of God and from his power. And no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.


Apocalypse 16

The seven vials are poured out. The plagues that ensue.

1 

And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels: Go and pour out the seven vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

2 

And the first went and poured out his vial upon the earth. And there fell a sore and grievous wound upon men who had the character of the beast: and upon them that adored the image thereof.

3 

And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea. And there came blood as it were of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

4 

And the third poured out his vial upon the rivers and the fountains of waters. And there was made blood.

5 

And I heard the angel of the waters saying: Thou art just, O Lord, who art and who wast, the Holy One, because thou hast judged these things.

6 

For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets: and thou hast given them blood to drink. For they are worthy.

7 

And I heard another, from the altar, saying: Yea, O Lord God Almighty, true and just are thy judgments.

8 

And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun. And it was given unto him to afflict men with heat and fire.

9 

And men were scorched with great heat: and they blasphemed the name of God, who hath power over these plagues. Neither did they penance to give him glory.

10 

And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast. And his kingdom became dark: and they gnawed their tongues for pain.

11 

And they blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their pains and wounds: and did not penance for their works.

12 

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon that great river Euphrates and dried up the water thereof, that a way might be prepared for the kings from the rising of the sun.

13 

And I saw from the mouth of the dragon and from the mouth of the beast and from the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs.

14 

For they are the spirits of devils, working signs: and they go forth unto the kings of the whole earth, to gather them to battle against the great day of the Almighty God.

15 

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16 

And he shall gather them together into a place which in Hebrew is called Armagedon.

17 

And the seventh angel poured out his vial upon the air. And there came a great voice out of the temple from the throne, saying: It is done.

18 

And there were lightnings and voices and thunders: and there was a great earthquake, such an one as never had been since men were upon the earth, such an earthquake, so great.

19 

And the great city was divided into three parts: and the cities of the Gentiles fell. And great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the indignation of his wrath.

20 

And every island fled away: and the mountains were not found.

21 

And great hail, like a talent, came down from heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God, for the plague of the hail: because it was exceeding great.


Apocalypse 17

The description of the great harlot and of the beast upon which she sits.

1 

And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven vials and spoke with me, saying: Come, I will shew thee the condemnation of the great harlot, who sitteth upon many waters:

2 

With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication. And they who inhabit the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her whoredom.

3 

And he took me away in spirit into the desert. And I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

4 

And the woman was clothed round about with purple and scarlet, and gilt with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of the abomination and filthiness of her fornication.

5 

And on her forehead a name was written: A mystery: Babylon the great, the mother of the fornications and the abominations of the earth.

6 

And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And I wondered, when I had seen her, with great admiration.

7 

And the angel said to me: Why dost thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and of the beast which carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

8 

The beast which thou sawest, was, and is not, and shall come up out of the bottomless pit and go into destruction. And the inhabitants on the earth (whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world) shall wonder, seeing the beast that was and is not.

9 

And here is the understanding that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, upon which the woman sitteth: and they are seven kings.

10 

Five are fallen, one is, and the other is not yet come: and when he is come, he must remain a short time.

11 

And the beast which was and is not: the same also is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into destruction.

12 

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom: but shall receive power as kings, one hour after the beast.

13 

These have one design: and their strength and power they shall deliver to the beast.

14 

These shall fight with the Lamb. And the Lamb shall overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings: and they that are with him are called and elect and faithful.

15 

And he said to me: The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples and nations and tongues.

16 

And the ten horns which thou sawest in the beast: These shall hate the harlot and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and shall burn her with fire.

17 

For God hath given into their hearts to do that which pleaseth him: that they give their kingdom to the beast, till the words of God be fulfilled.

18 

And the woman which thou sawest is the great city which hath kingdom over the kings of the earth.

Catechism

Catechism of St Pius X, On the Commandments of God and of the Church, Lesson 8, Questions 1-11

1 Q. What does the Seventh Commandment, Thou shalt not steal, forbid?

A. The Seventh Commandment, Thou shalt not steal, forbids all unjust taking and all unjust keeping of what belongs to another, and also every other way of wronging our neighbour in his property.

2 Q. What is meant by stealing?

A. It means taking another's goods unjustly and against the owner's will, that is to say, when he has every reason and right to be unwilling to be deprived of them.

3 Q. Why is it forbidden to steal?

A. Because a sin is committed against justice and an injury is done to another by taking or keeping against his right and will that which belongs to him.

4 Q. What is meant by another's goods?

A. Everything that belongs to him everything of which he has the ownership, or the use, or the custody.

5 Q. In how many ways can another's goods be unjustly taken?

A. In two ways: by theft and by robbery.

6 Q. How is theft committed?

A. Theft is committed by taking another's goods secretly.

7 Q. How is robbery committed?

A. Robbery is committed by taking another's goods openly and with violence.

8 Q. In what cases may another's goods be taken without sin?

A. When the owner consents or even when he unjustly refuses. Thus, one in extreme necessity may take another's goods without sin, provided that he takes only so much as is absolutely necessary to relieve pressing and extreme need.

9 Q. Is it only by theft and robbery that another can be injured in his property?

A. He can also be injured by fraud, usury, and any other act of injustice directed against his goods.

10 Q. How is fraud committed?

A. Fraud is committed in trade by deceiving another by false weight, measure and money or by bad goods; by falsifying writings and documents; in short, by deceit in buying and selling or in contracts in general, as well as by refusing to pay what is just and agreed upon.

11 Q. How is usury committed?

A. Usury is committed by exacting, without just title, an unlawful interest for money lent, thus taking an unfair advantage of another's need or ignorance.