Fr. Herman Kramer, The Book of Destiny (1956)

“If Satan would contrive to hinder a papal election, the Church would suffer great travail.”

In 1956, Fr. Herman Bernard Kramer published a work called The Book of Destiny (Imprimatur), which is an interpretation of the Apocalypse, the last book of the Holy Bible (otherwise known as the book of Revelation). 

In Apocalypse 12:1-5, we read:

"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: And being with child, she cried travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered. And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads, and ten horns: and on his head seven diadems: 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. 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."

Catholic biblical scholars typically see "the woman" as a symbol of both the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Catholic Church. Applying this prophecy to the Church, Fr. Kramer comments (bold print added):

". . . However, the text demands a more specific application to the definite future event to which the prophecy obviously points, and in which the Church suffers the keenest pangs passing at that time through the greatest crisis of her whole life. In that travail, she gives birth to some definite 'person' who is to RULE the Church with a rod of iron (verse 5). It then points to a conflict waged within the Church to elect one who was to 'rule all nations' in the manner clearly stated. In accord with the text this is unmistakably a PAPAL ELECTION, for only Christ and His Vicar have the divine right to rule ALL NATIONS. Furthermore, the Church does not travail in anguish at EVERY papal election which can be held without trouble or danger. But at this time the great powers may take a menacing attitude to hinder the election of the logical and expected candidate by threats of a general apostasy, assassination or imprisonment of this candidate if elected. This would suppose an extremely hostile mind in the governments of Europe towards the Church and would cause intense anguish to the Church, because an extended interregnum in the papacy is always disastrous and more so in a time of universal persecution. If Satan would contrive to hinder a papal election, the Church would suffer great travail.

". . . As a dragon, Satan through the evil world-powers of that time will enter the Church, interfere with her liberty and perhaps by stealthy suggestions having long before directed the choosing of candidates for the episcopate will now endeavor by threats of force to hinder the election of the worthiest candidate for the papacy."


(Herman Bernard Kramer, The Book of Destiny [TAN Books Reprint, 1975], pp. 277-279.)

 

http://www.novusordowatch.org/kramer.htm