BL. JOACHIM OF FIORE (c. 1135 – 1202) - Born near Cosenza, in
Calabria (at the time part of the Kingdom of Sicily), Joachim was the
son of Mauro, a notary, and of Gemma, his wife. He was educated at
Cosenza, where he became first a clerk in the courts, and then a
notary himself. In 1166–1167 he worked for Stephen du Perche,
archbishop of Palermo (c. 1167–1168) and counsellor of Margaret of
Navarre, regent for the young William II of Sicily.
About 1159 he went on pilgrimage to the
Holy Land where he underwent a spiritual crisis and conversion in
Jerusalem that turned him away from a worldly life. When he returned,
he lived as a hermit for several years, wandering and preaching
before joining the Cistercian abbey of Sambucina near Luzzi in
Calabria, as a lay brother, where he devoted his time to lay
preaching. Under pressure from the ecclesiastical authorities, he
joined the monks of the Abbey of Corazzo, and was ordained a priest,
apparently in 1168. He applied himself entirely to Biblical study,
with a special view to uncovering the arcane meanings he thought were
concealed in the Scriptures, especially in the Book of Revelation.
The monks of Corazzo proclaimed him their abbot (c. 1177). He then
attempted to join the monastery to the Cistercian Order, but was
refused because of the community's poverty. In the winter of 1178 he
appealed in person to William II, who granted the monks some lands.
In 1182 Joachim appealed to Pope Lucius
III, who relieved him of the temporal care of his abbey, and warmly
approved of his work, bidding him continue it in whatever monastery
he thought best. Joachim spent the following year and a half at the
Cistercian Abbey of Casamari, where he engaged in writing his three
great books, his dictations keeping three scribes busy night and day;
there the young monk, Lucas (afterwards Archbishop of Cosenza), who
acted as his secretary, was amazed to see so famous and eloquent a
man wearing such rags, and the wonderful devotion with which he
preached and said Mass.
In 1184 he was in Rome, interpreting an
obscure prophecy found among the papers of Cardinal Matthew of
Angers, and was encouraged by Pope Lucius III. Succeeding popes
confirmed the papal approbation, though his manuscripts had not begun
to circulate. Joachim retired first to the hermitage of Pietralata,
writing all the while, and then founded the Abbey of Fiore (Flora)
in the mountains of Calabria. Fiore became the center of a new and
stricter branch of the Cistercian order, approved by Celestine III in
1198.
In 1200 Joachim publicly submitted all
his writings to the examination of Innocent III, but died in 1202
before any judgement was passed. The holiness of his life was widely
known and, though never officially beatified, he is still venerated
as a beatus on May 29.
While still venerated as a beatified
servant of God and is not condemned by the Church, several of his
interpretations of the prophecies regarding the nature of the Church in
the Latter Days, a spiritual church with no hierarchy, was declared heretical, and, there are several
prophetic books misattributed to him which he never wrote.
Hence, the 'Angelic Pontiff' Prophecy
attributed to him in the 'Liber de Flore' may be under question, however, since there are
prophecies of a great pope coming to aid a Great Monarch by approved
sources, and Blessed Joachim's text, (or the text attributed to him), seems to correspond to what has
been revealed by trusted and approved sources, the text has been
included here and left to the discernment of the reader.
The major difference in the prophecies
attributed to him declare the Angelic Pontiff will be be a
wonder-worker and will have miracles attend him, similar to what has
been prophesied about the Great Monarch. In all consideration, that
is quite possible - if God is going to grant His Great Monarch
miracles, why not the Great Pope who will be above him in spiritual
station as Vicar of Christ's Church?
Here are the prophecies attributed to him:
(Although please note, there is some confusion as to the author of these prophecies possibly being Jacques (Joaquim) Merlin (1480-1541) - click here for Merlin's entry.)
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“After
many prolonged sufferings endured by Christians, and after a too
great effusion of innocent blood, the Lord shall give peace and
happiness to the desolated nations. A remarkable Pope will be seated
on the pontifical throne, under the special protection of the angels
(Angelic Pastor). Holy and full of gentleness, he shall undo all
wrong, he shall recover the states of the Church, and reunite the
exiled temporal powers. He shall be revered by all people, and shall
recover the kingdom of Jerusalem. As the only Pastor he shall reunite
the Eastern to the Western Church, and thus one only faith will be in
vigour. The sanctity of this beneficent Pontiff will be so great that
the highest potentates shall bow down before his presence. This holy
man shall crush the arrogance of religious schism and heresy. All
men will return to the primitive Church, (I.e tradition restored) and
there shall be one only pastor, one law, one master-humble, modest,
and fearing God (Pope). The true God of the Jews, our Lord Jesus
Christ, will make everything prosper beyond all human hope, because
God alone can and will pour down on the wounds of humanity the oily
balm of sweetness….”
“The
power of this Pontiff's holiness will be so great as to be able to
check the fury and impetuosity of threatening waves. Mountains shall
be lowered before him, the sea shall be dried up,the dead shall be
raised, the churches shall be reopened and altars erected. (...) It
should be known that there will be two heads, one in the East, and
the other in the West. This Pope shall break the weapons and scatter
the fighting hordes. He will be the joy of God's elect. This angelic
Pope will preach the gospel in every country. Through his zeal and
solicitude the Greek Church shall be forever reunited to the Catholic
Church. (…)"
"Before, however, being firmly and solidly established
in the Holy See, there will be innumerable wars and violent conflicts
during which the sacred throne shall be shaken. But through the
favour of Divine clemency, moved by the prayers of the faithful,
everything will succeed so well that they shall be able to sing hymns
of thanksgiving to the glory of the Lord (…). "
"This holy Pope shall
be both pastor and reformer. Through him the East and West shall be
in everlasting concord. The city of Babylon shall then be the head
and guide of the world.(i.e Rome was once called Babylon by St. Peter.) Rome, weakened in temporal power, shall
forever preserve her spiritual dominion, and shall enjoy great peace.
During these happy days the Angelic Pope shall be able to address to
Heaven prayers full of sweetness. The dispersed nation (Jews) shall
also enjoy tranquillity. Six and a half years after this time the
Pope will render his soul to God. The end of his days shall arrive in
an arid province, situated between a river and a lake near the
mountains. (…)
"At the beginning, in order to obtain these happy
results, having need of a powerful temporal assistance, this holy
Pontiff will ask the cooperation of the generous monarch of France
(Great Monarch). At that time a handsome monarch, a scion of King
Pepin, will come as a pilgrim to witness the splendour of this
glorious pontiff, whose name shall begin with R . . .
(i.e.
This could be the Pope whose name begins with 'R', or, the letter may even be a misprint. The Great Monarch has
already been revealed by the approved mystic Marie-Julie Jahenny and his name begins with an 'H', and
this revelation of the king's identity to Marie-Julie has also been is confirmed by
the “Ecstatic of Tours”.)
"A
temporal throne becoming vacant, the Pope shall place on it this king
whose assistance he shall ask. (…)
(i.e. possibly, a reference that the Pope shall proclaim the King Holy Roman Emperor, a title / throne that has been left vacant since Napolean abolished the custom of electing a Christian Holy Roman Emperor).
"A man of remarkable sanctity
will be his successor in the Pontifical chair. Through him God will
work so many prodigies that all men shall revere him, and no person
will dare to oppose his precepts. He shall not allow the clergy to
have many benefices. He will induce them to live by the tithes and
offerings of the faithful. He shall interdict pomp in dress, and all
immorality in dances and songs. He will preach the gospel in person,
and exhort all honest ladies to appear in public without any ornament
of gold or precious stones. After having occupied the Holy See for a
long period of time he shall happily return to the Lord (…).”
(If these prophecies attributed to Bl. Joachim are correct and can be believed - The Angelic Pope will have an 'Angelic Succesor' who will continue the good work? However, the next part of the text sounds dubious- the there will be three more successors according to the texts - and if the Age of Peace only lasts about 30 years, it is difficult to envision so many successors.)
Back to the Great Catholic Monarch and Angelic Pontiff Prophecy Timeline, click here.
"His three immediate successors
shall be men of exemplary holiness. One after the other will be
models of virtue, and shall work miracles, confirming the teaching of
their predecessors. Under their government the Church shall spread,
and these Popes shall be called the Angelic Pastors."
Back to the Great Catholic Monarch and Angelic Pontiff Prophecy Timeline, click here.
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