The five symbolic beasts in St. Hildegard’s vision, the Fiery Dog, the Yellow Lion, the Pale Horse, the Black Pig, and the Grey Wolf, represent unique and brief historical periods which follow in a specific sequence. They also represent a specific sin evident in the social context of each period. This affliction of evil is engineered by Satan and intended to progressively damage the Church in preparation of the coming of the Antichrist.
In my book, The Five Beasts of St. Hildegard: Prophetic Symbols of Modern Society, I demonstrate that the first three eras have already passed and that we are currently in the latter half of the fourth era, that of the Black Pig. The only one left is the era of the Grey Wolf and unlike the previous four, in which we could compare Hildegard’s description of the era to past history, we can only take her description and make educated guesses as to how the era will play out.
Hildegard describes the era as a violent one, a period of revolution and chaos which is symbolized by the wolf. The underlying motivation for the violence, she states, is greed. She also states that “some” will emerge in this period who she says are “white with justice”, implying a spiritual renewal of some kind.
She is very clear that in the first four periods the Church will suffer losses from these attacks; it is only in the last one that there is a reversal and a revival in the Church. The word “some” seems to imply a minority and she states that this will be the generation or will produce the generation that will endure the persecutions of the son of perdition.
In my book, I don’t expressly identify these with traditional Catholics, that would be a bit too speculative, but in my mind it makes a lot of sense. The current era will end within a decade or two and Hildegard states that the ones who are “white with justice” will emerge at the beginning of the following era.
My own experience with traditional churches and communities in comparison to your average non-traditional church leaves me with little doubt who she’s referring to. She also adds that there will be physical persecution during the era of the Grey Wolf that is different from the later persecutions of the Antichrist. Who’s more likely to be able to endure a period of persecution, members of the SSPX or the FSSP, or members of the LCWR? I don’t have much doubt about who will cave in and who won’t.
The book offer much more detail and documentation.
…rjt
The Five Beasts 
While attempting to learn a bit more about St. Hildegard and her five beasts, I ran across your site. It has been enlightening. I am, however, quite disappointed in the opinions given in this post regarding those associated with the SSPX and FSSP. As a Benedictine Oblate promised to Our Lady of Clear Creek in Oklahoma, a Latin Liturgy only monastery, I understand and agree with those who choose the traditional Mass and prayers, but my family, unfortunately, does not have access to the Latin Mass in our day to day lives. By supporting a university parish and sharing with our priest some of the beauty and truth of the Traditional Mass, he has, on his own penny, gone to the FSSP training to learn the Latin Mass and will be able to provide that option in his parish one day. To make the assumption that only those who are Traditional Mass goers will be able to survive a period of persecution, is quite uncharitable and frankly audacious. God will give grace and strength to all who need it and those He chooses to endure will rise. We are not qualified to say who that will be, regardless of what type of Mass they attend.
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I was making a generalization based on my personal observations, and I had stated that I was speculating.
But for someone who experiences and appreciates the Latin liturgy as you clearly stated, I find it hard to believe that you see no difference between your typical (not every one) Novus Ordo church and traditional communities with respect to spiritually preparing their parishioners for what may be a period of intense persecution as St. Hildegard describes it.
The spiritual health of the two is easily quantifiable. In France traditional churches are growing while Novus Ordo churches are shrinking. Statistically, its been suggested that it won’t be long in France before traditional priests outnumber the others. That’s because of the high number of vocations in traditional communities (http://eponymousflower.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-traditional-mass-is-changing-face.html). Families are bigger, they follow the church’s teaching on moral issues rather than their conscience like most priests and bishops encourage. I could go on. I don’t think it’s the Latin, but the priest; priests who choose the Latin mass tend to be those who are faithful to Church teaching. Catholics who have been best prepared spiritually, whatever mass they attend, will more likely have the strength to endure the period of persecution of which Hildegard prophesied.
…rjt
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