(??) St. Malachy (1094-1148)

 
 
 
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ST. MALACHY (1094– 1148) Máel Máedóc, whose surname was Ua Morgair, was born in Armagh in 1094, and St. Bernard describes him as having noble birth. He was baptised Máel Máedóc, which was rendered Malachus in Latin, and subsequently as Malachy in English. He was trained under Imhar O'Hagan, subsequently Abbot of Armagh. After a long course of studies Malachy was ordained priest by St Cellach (Celsus) in 1119.

Shortly afterwards St. Cellach appointed the young priest his vicar. For the next year or two it was St. Malachy's duty to administer the diocese of Armagh. He established in all the churches the apostolic sanctions and the decrees of the holy fathers, and the customs and practices of the Roman Church. He introduced the Roman method of chanting the services of the canonical hours and instituted a new Confession, Confirmation, the Marriage contract, which those over whom he was placed were either ignorant or negligent. With the consent of St. Cellach and Abbot Imar he went to study under St. Malchus, who had by this time retired from the archbishopric of Cashel and was settled at Lismore where he spent three years.

In 1123 the coarb of Bangor Abbey died. Bangor was the principal religious site in the north-east of Ireland. His successor, who was St. Malachy's uncle, surrendered his office and the site of the monastery to his nephew. St. Malachy thereby became Abbot of Bangor Abbey. In 1124 St. Malachy journeyed to Bangor, was installed as abbot, and was made bishop by St. Cellach.

In 1127, St. Malachy paid a second visit to Lismore and acted for a time as confessor to Cormac MacCarthy, Prince of Desmond. While Bishop of Down and Connor, St. Malachy continued to reside at Bangor, and when some of the native princes sacked the two dioceses of Down and Connor, he brought the Bangor monks to Iveragh, County Kerry, where they were welcomed by King Cormac.

On the death of St Celsus (who was buried at Lismore in 1129), St Malachy was appointed Archbishop of Armagh in 1132, which dignity he accepted with great reluctance. Owing to intrigues, he was unable to take possession of his See for two years, then he had to purchase the Bachal Isu (“Staff of Jesus” that is, St. Patrick's crozier) from Niall, the usurping lay-primate.

Despite all of this, St Bernard highly praised St. Malachy's zeal for religion both in Connor and Armagh. During three years at Armagh, as St. Bernard writes St Malachy restored the discipline of the Church, grown lax during the intruded rule of a series of lay-abbots. He was also known for his care to the needy as a miracle worker and healer.

Having rooted out barbarism and re-established Christian morals, and seeing all things had become peaceful, St Malachy resigned the Sees of Armagh and Connor in 1136 or 1137, but retained his position as Bishop of Down. He founded a priory of Austin Canons at Downpatrick, and was unceasing in his episcopal labours. Early in 1139 he journeyed to Rome, via Scotland, England, and France, visiting St Bernard at Clairvaux, Champagne. He petitioned Pope Innocent II for pallia for the Sees of Armagh and Cashel, and was appointed legate for Ireland. On his return visit to Clairvaux he obtained five monks for a foundation in Ireland, under Christian, an Irishman, as superior. Thus the great Abbey of Mellifont was established in 1142. St Malachy set out on a second journey to Rome in 1148, but on arriving at Clairvaux, he fell sick and died in the arms of St Bernard, on November 2, 1148.


THE   ALLEGED PROPHECIES  OF   ST. MALACHY


While at Rome, he received (at least according to the Abbé Cucherat) a vision of the future in which a long list of illustrious pontiffs who were to rule the Church until the end of time. The same author says that St. Malachy presented his manuscript to Innocent II to console him in the midst of his tribulations, and that the document remained unknown in the Roman Archives until its discovery in 1590 (Cucherat, "Proph. de la succession des papes", ch. xv).

They were first published by Arnold de Wyon, (or, is the first earliest known publication of them), and ever since there has been considerable debate as to whether they are genuine predictions of St. Malachy or forgeries. The silence of 400 years on the part of so many authors who had written about the popes, and the silence of St. Bernard especially, who wrote the "Life of St. Malachy" but never mentioned anything of these prophecies, is strong evidence supporting the argument among certain academics that they are forgeries, but it is not conclusive if we consider Cucherat's theory might be true: that they were truly hidden or lost in the Archives during those 400 years. It's not impossible - the original secrets of La Salette were buried in the Vatican archive only discovered and published in 1999 / 2000.  St. Louis de Monfort predicted his book 'True Devotion to Mary' would lay forgotten in a chest for 100 years before it would be discovered, which came to pass. The date might be a bit long for the attributed St. Malachy prophecies - but - still withing the realm of possibility.

Also, they still have proven to be remarkably 'on point' in a considerable number of instances beyond the supposed forgery date of 1590, which gives them some credibility, even if not by him.  So, I am marking this with a double (??) to read the with discernment.


If St. Malachy did write these prophecies, it is said he concealed his vision, using simple, one line Latin phrases that co-incide with either the coat of arms, the pontifical name, the place of origin, or previous diocesan /archdiocesan See of the elected pontiff.  Sometimes the nature of a papacy is indicated.

The majority of the past prophecies only made sense after each pontiff was elected, thereby showing it was not necessarily the pope that was of particular importance in each vision, but that as each prophecy showed considerable accuracy, the last prophecies would become a warning to future ages indicating when the line of popes was running out.

Of interest, the prophecies also included anti-popes as well as legitimate successors in the list, possibly to preclude anyone trying to concentrate on guessing who was a legitimate successor or not and to have future generations pay attention to how many lines of the prophecy were left no matter who was on the Papal throne, the prophecies becoming the proverbial sand in the hour-glass regarding the approach of the latter times, or close to thereabouts as nobody knows the day or hour of the actual Last Day.


  The prophecies list over 112 popes, and while it is commonly believed the last line of the  prophecy indicates the exact End of Time and the exact last pope, that is not quite so - the last line references a punishment that will fall on Rome during a persecution and a terrible judgment on the people, but is not literally indicating the Day of Judgment per se.


Instead, this could be a warning when the great chastisement of Rome will happen just before the coming of the Great Monarch and the Angelic Pontiff as other prophecies foretell, so the prophecies leave room regarding when the End of Time truly happens. It is possible the final pope was not listed at all considering the rest of the prophecies given by other saints and mystics, etc. Technically, the prophecies still warn of the end times as the Antichrist will come right after the Great Monarch.


According to the series, Pope Francis is the last person on the seat of Peter before the full chastisement falls on Rome.

As the list is extensive, the list will begin here with Line 101 - Bl. Pius IX


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101 - Crux de cruce - “Cross from a Cross” - BL. PIUS IX (1846-1878)


St. Pius IX had the misfortune to see the Papal States reduced to the Vatican area, and was the first 'Prisoner of the Vatican' Pope. It is obvious this prophecy refers to his papacy.


The loss of his temporal power was only one of the many trials that filled the long pontificate of Pius IX. There was scarcely a country where the rights of the Church were not infringed upon. In many countries church property was confiscated, religious orders were expelled and bishops imprisoned or banished. The height of these disturbances was reached during the Kulturkampf inaugurated in 1873. (…) Although a reference to a cross reoccurs frequently in the prophecies, there is little doubt that Pius IX had to bear the heaviest cross yet to be inflicted on the Papacy. The temporal powers of the Church had been drastically curtailed and the influence of the spiritual leader of the Catholic world reduced. There is no doubt that the House of Savoy, whose emblem is a cross, added greatly to the afflictions of this pope.” (Commentary by Peter Bander, The Prophecies of St. Malachy, Tan publishers, 1973)

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102 – Lumen in coelo – “A Light in the Sky” - LEO XIII (1878-1903)


Leo XIII is the pope who had the famous vision of Satan attacking the Church after which he was promised 100 years of freedom on earth to do his worst. In response, Pope Leo XIII composed the Minor Rite of exorcism, and the famous prayer to St. Michael in addition to the additional prayers to be said at the end of Mass to protect the Church. In this sense, he was a blazing light preparing the Church for what was to come. However, the prophecy strongly alludes to his coat of arms which shows a blazing star. Although St. Malachy used the direct term 'sydus in coelo' while referring to a blazing star seen on Innocent VII's coat of arms, and it is curious he did not use the word 'sydus' again with Pope Leo XIII – nevertheless, it is still a good reference to his coat of arms, and also serves as a symbol of his effort to protect the Church as it is apparent he had received enlightenment from Above on the spiritual steps that needed to be taken. Sadly, the prayers of protection he composed for the end of Mass are no longer said after the New Mass – which Marie-Julie Jahenny predicted would happen, several years before he had his vision and composed the prayers.

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103 – Ignis Ardens - “The Burning Fire” - ST. PIUS X (1903-1914)

Zealous in his efforts to stamp out the errors of Liberalism and Modernism in the Church, the prophecy alludes to his apostolic fervor.


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104 – Religio Depopulata - “Religion Laid Waste” (Could also literally mean 'Religion Depopulated') - BENEDICT XV


Pope Benedict XV reigned in a turbulent period that was overshadowed by the death of millions of Christians in WWI, and in 1917 he saw the beginning of the Russian Revolution that spread the anti-religious ideals of Socialist Communism, bringing to a demonic halt the religious life of Russia and elsewhere that upheld the Communist ideal.

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105 – Fides Intrepida - “Unshaken Faith” (or 'Intrepid Faith') – PIUS XI (1922-1939)


Pius XI “... faced the rise of Fascism and Communism in the Western world. (…) Recent publications of Vatican documents show the tremendous pressure which was put on this pope by the dictators of Italy and Germany. Again one could say that it was the pope's 'Fide Intrepida' – his unshaken faith – in what he believed to be right which may have prevented even greater hardship than that which befell the Catholic Church during his reign. His courage at which Hitler sneered and raged and before which Mussolini crumbled, his outspoken criticism of Fascism and Communism which upset the ruthless plans of the dictators, and his unshaken faith, all sustained the Church in a period of the most severe trials. Malachy's description appears to be a most fitting one for Pope Pius XI.” (Peter Bander, The Prophecies of St. Malachy).


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106 – Pastor Angelicus - “Angelic Pastor” - VEN. PIUS XII (1939-1958)

... Recent publications, particularly that by Pinchas Lapide (The Last of the Three Popes and the Jews, Souvenir Press, 1967) and the publication of the Vatican documents relating to the reign of Pius XII, have given the world unshakable and irrefutable proof of this Pope's greatness and spirituality. He was in the truest sense of the word an Angelic Pastor to the flock committed to his care, and his flock were all those who suffered. In spite of the defamatory and scurrilous allegations published about him (…) Pius XII has emerged as one of the great popes of all time. Although the contents of his visions have not yet become public knowledge (which may change soon as Pope Francis has ordered the archives to be opened, EAB), there is little doubt that his affinity to the spiritual world was a very real and close one. The Description 'Pastor Angelicus' is most apt and one of the most descriptive ones in Malachy's prophecies.” (Peter Bander, The Prophecies of St. Malachy).


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107 – Pastor Et Nauta – “Pastor and Mariner – ST. JOHN XXIII (1958-1963)

As a bishop and pope he was a pastor, and the prophecy referring to him as a 'sailor' points to the time he was Patriarch of Venice, situated on the sea itself.


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108 - Flors Florum - “Flower of Flowers” - ST PAUL VI (1963-1978)

The prophecy refers to his papal coat of arms bearing three fleurs-de-lis.


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109 – De Medietate Lunae - “Of the Half Moon” - JOHN PAUL I (1978 – only 33 days)

He was elected Aug. 26, 1978 when the moon was half full in accordance with St. Malachy's description. He was born in Forno di Canale (now known as Canale d'Agordo) in the province and diocese of Belluno meaning 'Beautiful Moon' when the moon was waxing,and was elected Pontiff when the moon was waning. He died soon after an eclipse of the moon.

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110 - De Labore Solis - “Of the toil of the sun” or “Of the eclipse of the sun” - ST. POPE JOHN PAUL II (1978 -2005)


St. Pope John Paul II was both born on the day of an eclipse of the sun, and buried the day the sun was eclipsed.

One of the strangest predictions concerned the pope who would follow 'De Medietate Lunae'. He is designated as 'De Labore Solis', or 'from the toil of the sun'. Applied to St. John Paul II, this phrase possibly reveals a double prophecy. The first non-Italian elected in 456 years, was a native of Krakow, Poland. Krakow is the city where, in the 15th and 16th centuries, Copernicus 'toiled'; for years to prove his theory that the earth revolved around the sun. Many of the prophecy interpreters also suggested that the 'sun' reference indicated a young pope. Fifty-eight years old at the time of his election, St. John Paul II was the youngest pope in over a century.

Let's not forget this pope is famous for his Marian devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, Fatima is where the Miracle of the Sun was witnessed by over 70,000 people.

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111 – Gloria Olivae - “The Glory of the Olive” - BENEDICT XVI (2005-2013)

Pope Benedict XVI was not a Benedictine priest, yet he chose the name Benedict, the founder of the Order of Saint Benedict, a branch of which also is known as the Olivetans.


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LAST LISTED POPE (Not necessarily the last Pope of the Church):


112 – Petrus Romanus - “Peter of Rome” or “The Rock of Rome”  -  FRANCIS (2013...)


This prophecy is cryptic – it is thought to refer to his name 'Francis' after St. Francis, who was shown in a dream to Innocent III holding up the crumbling church on his shoulder like a corner stone, but it appears instead of being a supporting rock, Pope Francis is doing as the rest of the prophecy foretells:


In p[er]secutione. extrema S.R.E. sedebit. PETRUS ROMANIS qui paſcet oues in multis tribulationibus: quibus tranſactis ciuitas ſepticollis diruetur, & Iudex tremẽdus iudicabit populum ſuum”


In the extreme (or final) persecution of the Holy Roman Church he will sit (reign).  PETRUS ROMAUS, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations. After which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge His people.”


Instead of becoming a supporting block like St. Francis, history may show him to be an Anti-Francis, feeding his flock 'into' tribulations like a dreaded stumbling block to the Church of Rome.

Notice the manner of translating the Our Father into the old English expression of 'lead us not into temptation', a literal translation of the Latin 'in tentationem' and compare that with “in multis tribulationibus” of the prophecy. It could read in the old English manner like the Our Father, “who will pasture his sheep into many tribulations”. Interesting how Pope Francis has recently opened the debate on whether the old translation of the Our Father should be changed.

Considering the doctrinal controversies surrounding Pope Francis' papacy at the moment, if 'rock of Rome' actually means a stumbling block, this seems quite apt.  However, as with all his prophecies, only time will tell.   However, it is rather telling that St. Francis of Assisi predicted that near the end times, an anti-pope will be put on the throne of Peter who will do much damage to the Church, click here for his prophecy.


As mentioned above, the last of these prophecies does not mean we are at the last pope or the end of time yet, but more likely indicates we are close to the foretold punishment of Rome that will occur before the appearance of the Great Monarch and Angelic Pontiff.