In this must-have groundbreaking book, theologian Fr. Joseph L. Iannuzzi discusses a period of time in the not-to-distant future that many Christians eagerly await – the coming era of peace known as the Millennium. Written from a scholarly, theological perspective, the Splendor of Creation is readable, well documented, and highly informative.  While the text itself is barely two hundred pages, it is accompanied by almost six hundred footnotes.

    The thousand-year era of peace that is the subject of this work is definitively foretold in the twentieth chapter of St. John’s book of Revelation.  Satan, it is prophesied, will be cast into the abyss for a thousand years, and shall no longer deceive the nations until that time is finished.  Those who bore witness to Christ with their blood will come to life and reign with him during this millennium, in the “first resurrection.”  Fr. Iannuzzi’s book deals primarily with the interior, spiritual life and characteristics of the Christians who will live during this time.  It will be an age of universal peace, holiness and justice, when Christ will reign in the souls of men throughout the figurative thousand-year period.

    Catholic writers and mystics during the last century have frequently referred to a future era of peace using a variety of expressions such as:  the Second Pentecost, the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Eucharistic Reign of Jesus, and the Kingdom of the Divine Will. 

    Fr. Iannuzzi clarifies a major point of contention about this era by demonstrating that Jesus Christ himself will not appear in the flesh to rule on earth in his human nature during the coming age.  The doctrine of an earthly reign of the Messiah for a thousand years has been condemned by the Church as the heresy of Millenarianism. While there might be "appearances" of Christ, he will not return in the flesh to rule on earth. Mystics that associate the era of peace with the second coming of Christ are often referring to a newer and deeper presence of Christ dwelling in souls.

   The author carefully demonstrates that the Fathers and Doctors of the Church did expect a future thousand-year period of peace, and understood that the reign of Jesus during this time would be a spiritual reign in souls. Passages from the Fathers, Doctors, and Sacred Scripture that document the characteristics of this period are cited by the author in abundance, in support of an orthodox millennial concept.     

    The heart of the book illustrates and explains the ways in which Christians will experience God during this coming era. The author examines the approved writings of twentieth century mystics who have themselves experienced in advance this special Divine indwelling.  Among the most notable of these mystics are Luisa Piccarreta, Venerable Conchita di Armida,  Archbishop Luis Martinez, St. Faustina, Bl. Dina Belanger, Vera Grita, and St. Padre Pio, along with several others.  The book presents ample quotations from their writings to describe the many facets of this exalted inner state.

    Fr. Iannuzzi contends that the holiness which will exist during the coming era is essentially a new gift of God.  The primary characteristic of this gift, which sets it apart from traditional states of holiness, will be the “continuous participation in God’s eternal activity.”  It will consist of an ongoing awareness of the activity of the Holy Spirit in one’s inner life, enabling the person to live consistently according to the Divine Will.  The most detailed description of this gift of the new divine indwelling is given in the revelations to the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.  The many quotations from her writings presented by Fr. Iannuzzi are from those of her works that were ecclesiastically approved by her spiritual director, St. Hannibal di Francia.

    The essence of the new gift is illustrated in this revelation from Jesus taken from Luisa’s writings: “It is to enjoy, while remaining on earth, all the Divine qualities... It is the Sanctity not yet known, and which I will make known, which will set in place the last ornament, the most beautiful and most brilliant among all the other sanctities, and will be the crown and completion of all the other sanctities,” (p. 118).

    The age in which this Sanctity will be fully manifested lies between two major eschatological events; it occurs after the defeat of the anti-Christ and chaining of Satan, and continues until the eventual release of Satan and the final battles, culminating in the second coming of Christ.  That Satan now rages unchained, and that the winds of anti-Christian sentiment blow ever stronger, are evident signs of the times.  The rise of a new spirituality in response to the last days of the current age was prophesized by St. Louis de Montfort.  Cited by Fr. Iannuzzi, Montfort wrote of Mary that “The formation and education of the great saints who will come at the end of the world are reserved to her... She will extend the Kingdom of Christ over the idolaters and Muslims, and there will come a glorious era when Mary is the Ruler and Queen of Hearts,”  (p. 84).

    The author shows how we can dispose ourselves to receive this promised gift of the new sanctity.  The first and most important ingredient is the desire to live and experience this exalted state of living in the continuous presence of God.  Secondly, growth in the general knowledge of what it means to live continuously in the Divine Will is needed; however a particular knowledge, such as studying the thirty-six volumes of Luisa Piccarreta’s revelations on the Divine Will, is not a necessity.  This is because knowledge alone of this new gift will not actualize it. Thirdly, a virtuous life is essential.  In this regard the author quotes St. Hannibal di Francia; “...the new saints must also have all the virtues, and in heroic degree, of ancient saints,” (p. 192).  Fourthly, we must make the attempt to live this new holiness.  

   Fr. Iannuzzi’s prayer for us is:  “May we strive to live the greatest gift God has given humankind in these days preceding the universal era of peace. May we immerse ourselves in God’s eternal life in order to become Living Tabernacles of the Eucharistic Jesus.  It is a gift that is ours for the asking, and all we have to do is desire it, know it, grow in its virtue, and live it,” (p. 193).

   I consider this guidebook to the future to be absolutely essential reading for those who wish to understand the prophecy of the “new and divine holiness” and the “new springtime” spoken of by Pope John Paul II.  It will help the reader to stand in the evil day, looking ahead to the victory on the horizon.