Post-Revelation Prophets

[Archbishop 10-K]

Answer and post your definition of "prophet," or any examples of post-Biblical prophets (saints, popes, whatever.) Also, if anyone has any definitive Church teaching on this, please bring it up.


My personal understanding: A prophet is a person who receives genuine visions from God. Although until someone can convince me otherwise, I hold the opinion that John was the last prophet.

It seems that in the Old Testament, a prophet was a formal, anointed office. True, false?

[voiciblanche]

The definition of a prophet is a mouthpiece of God.

There have been people that acted as a mouthpiece of God since St. John the Apostle, therefore their have been prophets.

As far as people receiving in-depth visions of the future and preparing the Jews for the birth of Christ, no. The birth of the Messiah was approximately 2,000 years ago, so obviously His birth is no longer being predicted.

But, as a mouthpieces of God, there's definitely prophets around.

[Dave]

Public revelation ended with the death of St. John. So obviously there can be no more prophets in that sense. I'm don't think visionaries from approved apparitions are considered prophets ... or are they?

[Archbishop 10-K]

Who are approved (or generally accepted) visionaries? For example, is Anne Catherine Emmerich a reliable prophet/visionary/whatever?

[cmotherofpirl]

No. Her visions are specifically excluded in her beatification process.



I think God does put prophets in our midst in every age. They are not the same as the OT guys, but they do see Gods actions in the world and point it out to us.

I would say Pope Paul VI was a prophet in [i]Humanae Vitae[/i]. He said if we separated the unitive and procreative aspects of marriage, abortion and divorce would follow.

Archbishop Sheen also predicted if the Church didn't clean up the Church, the Holy Spirit would do it for us. I wold say he was spot on.

[qfnol31]

I think of prophets as people who give revelation for all the people. In Vatican II it was declared that all public revelation ended back with the Apostles. Since then there has not been any, and probably won't be any more to come, so therefore I would say there have not been any prophets since Revelations.

[voiciblanche]

[quote]Public revelation ended with the death of St. John.[/quote]

[quote]In Vatican II it was declared that all public revelation ended back with the Apostles.[/quote]

Yes, and yes. However, obviously it depends on your definition of prophets, and whether or not that definition is associated with public revelation.

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Dave' date='Jun 21 2004, 07:13 PM']Public revelation ended with the death of St. John.  So obviously there can be no more prophets in that sense.  I'm don't think visionaries from approved apparitions are considered prophets ... or are they?[/quote]
You are correct, all public revelation (i.e., revelation binding on everyone) ceased with the death of St. John the Apostle. Private revelations are just that, private, and so the Church never requires that anyone believe in them. In fact, one is not allowed to put divine and catholic faith in them, but only human faith based on the virtue of prudence and the Magisterium's approbation, which only indicates that nothing contrary to the faith is contained in the events concerned.

[qfnol31]

[quote name='qfnol31' date='Jun 22 2004, 01:02 AM'] I think of prophets as people who give revelation for all the people. [/quote]
Amber. It works with my definition.



J/K!

[Apotheoun]

Christians by their incorporation into Christ's Body the Church, and by their preaching and living out of the Gospel, participate in Christ's sole prophetic office. In addition, the Magisterium in a particular way possesses this power, for it is the perpetual extension of Christ the Teacher throughout time.