What are the Three Days of Darkness?

Wikipedia describes Three Days of Darkness as a “theory” that “God will chastise the world with darkness at the end of time. The earth will be enveloped by darkness lasting three days and three nights, the only light source that can be seen being blessed candles. Various Catholic visionaries agree that the faithful should stay within their homes during this period as most of the earth's inhabitants shall die.”

This is a concise summary of Three Days of Darkness based on what I have read so far, though some visions suggest that the phenomenon would not immediately precede the end of time.

The article reports, “Many Catholic seers and mystics such as Saints Hildegard of Bingen, Gaspar del Bufalo, Padre Pio (see controversy below), and Blesseds Anna Maria Taigi, Elisabeth Canori Mora, Elena Aiello, Mariam Baouardi (Mary of Jesus Crucified), Rosa-Colomba Asdente, Palma d'Oria, Pere Lamy, Marie Martel, and Marie Julie Jahenny, have prophesied the Three Days of Darkness.”

The article oddly mentions (not just once, but twice) that the concept is not endorsed by the Holy See. This seems to suggest (perhaps unintentionally) that the Magisterium has condemned the belief. However, this is not the case. The Church rarely, if ever, endorses any prophetic private revelation. A case can be made that the Church has never fully endorsed any prophetic private revelation (including Fatima). It is noted that other types of private revelation have been endorsed.”

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “The Church allows freedom in accepting or rejecting particular or private prophecies according to the evidence for or against them. We should be slow to admit and slow to reject them, and in either case treat them with respect when they come to us from trustworthy sources, and are in accordance with Catholic doctrine and the rules of Catholic morality. The real test of these predictions is their fulfillment.”

The Wikipedia article rightly notes that the concept of Three Days of Darkness is controversial. However, the article seems to suggest that the controversy is due in part because “Adherents of the Three Days of Darkness are usually traditionalist Catholics or sedevacantists.” This statement seems odd. It is likely that the many Saints who had prophetic visions did not consider themselves as being traditionalists or sedevacantists. They likely considered themselves as only being faithful Catholics. The Wikipedia article (perhaps unintentionally) seems to disparage the belief by associating it with what the mainstream would consider as fringe groups. As a matter of fact, the belief in the Three Days of Darkness is held by many people who are neither traditionalists nor sedevacantists. Proponents (and even modern day alleged visionaries) of Three Days of Darkness even include New Agers, modernist Catholics, and non-Catholics. I will be providing examples in the weeks and months ahead.