JACQUES (JOAQUIM) MERLIN
(b. circa 1480- d.1541), also 'Abott 'Merlin' Joachim.
(Image: the title page to
Merlin's printed work on Origen, (1512). Image credit: the
Bibliothèque Nationale de France)
NOTE: authentic Catholic theologian, but, was misattrubited as the author of a prophecy written by or attributed to Bl Joachim de Fiore.
In the 'Christian Trumpet' there is a prophecy attributed to an 'Abott 'Merlin' Joachim', but then the entry for this individual gives the biography of Bl. Joachim of Fiore.
So, who wrote the prophecy? Several sites have the prophecy below attributed to Bl. Joachim de Fiore, while others attribute it to Joachim Merlin.
The last lines of the text gives the clue - the prophecy of the five succesive angelic pontifs was first seen in the 'Liber de Flore' (Book of Flore / Fiore)- a book of prophecies attributed to Bl. Joachim de Flore- and so he may have been the first author, or, at least the attributed author. (Source, "A Companion to Joachim of Fiore", by Matthias Riedl, Brill, 2017, p. 262)
Quote: "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."
So, Jacques Merlin did not write this prophecy, however, since we have now mentioned him, let us at least see his biography.
NOTE: authentic Catholic theologian, but, was misattrubited as the author of a prophecy written by or attributed to Bl Joachim de Fiore.
In the 'Christian Trumpet' there is a prophecy attributed to an 'Abott 'Merlin' Joachim', but then the entry for this individual gives the biography of Bl. Joachim of Fiore.
So, who wrote the prophecy? Several sites have the prophecy below attributed to Bl. Joachim de Fiore, while others attribute it to Joachim Merlin.
The last lines of the text gives the clue - the prophecy of the five succesive angelic pontifs was first seen in the 'Liber de Flore' (Book of Flore / Fiore)- a book of prophecies attributed to Bl. Joachim de Flore- and so he may have been the first author, or, at least the attributed author. (Source, "A Companion to Joachim of Fiore", by Matthias Riedl, Brill, 2017, p. 262)
Quote: "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."
So, Jacques Merlin did not write this prophecy, however, since we have now mentioned him, let us at least see his biography.
Born in Saint-Victurnin of
the Limousin diocese, Jacques Merlin received his diploma as a doctor
of theology at Navarre in 1499, and became lecturer on divinity to
the chapter of Saint-Etienne de Limoges. He was later ordained curate
of Montmartre, near Paris. In 1524, he was the first to print the 50
Latin Apostolic Canons in his edition of the Councils. In 1525 he
was appointed chief penitentiary of the cathedral of Notre-Dame, of
which he had previously been resident canon. Some internet sites
list him as an Abbot, but I have not found a historical source that
supports this. He was, however, noted for his learning and
eloquence.
His eloquence got
him into trouble. In 1527, he was arrested by King Francis I for
preaching against certain courtiers who were suspected of sympathy
with Lutheranism and was incarcerated in the dungeon of the Louvre.
(Source: McClintock and Strong Bible Cyclopedia:
https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/M/merlin-jacques-(1).html)
This doesn't mean King
Francis I was a supporter of Lutheranism, quite the contrary. There
was more to the King's anger than Merlin's simple preaching – the
Francis I had been incarcerated by the King of Spain and Holy Roman
Emperor, Charles V, and, the Parisians had opposed the Treaty of
More, which had also agreed to terms that the English would do what
they could to secure the King's release. Opposition to the treaty
threatened the security of the kingdom.
The Parisians had further
roused the king's anger when it was discovered practical jokers had
rode through the city disguised as royal messengers and gave the
false report the he was not ill in prison in Spain as was claimed but
was dead and the government was hiding it. Also, another incident
was the cause of his anger – a political masquerade had taken place
in the cloister of Notre Dame with a woman riding a horse pulled by
devils and surrounded by a group costumed as theologians bearing
Luther's name on their fronts and backs – a blatant allusion to the
belief that King Francis' court was brimming with heretics, an
affront to the King! True, Francis I was tolerant of the Protestants at first, but, to declare he was harbouring heretics was another matter, and, his tolerance for heretics waned in later years.
The King's displeasure was noted
when he delayed his entry into Paris, then suddenly appeared without
notice on April 14, 1527. The arrests were sudden. Merlin was one of
eight individuals that opposed the guaranties of the Treaty of More,
and, as he was a canon at Notre Dame, also one of those who roundly
preached against the court, it is no wonder he received a harsh
prison sentence and was incarcerated for two years. (Source: Robert
Jean Knecht, “Francis I”, Cambridge University Press, 1984,
p.198)
At the entreaties of the
prebendaries of Paris Merlin was liberated, but even then was placed
under house arrest in his residence at Nantes. He was allowed,
however, to return to Paris in 1530, when he was installed
grand-vicar' to the bishop of Paris, and also curate and archpriest
of La Madeleine.
About his work: In the
introduction to the edition of Origen's works, which Merlin published
in 1511, he wrote an Apologie d'Origene. This apology,
wherein, for the first time, the errors imputed to Origen are
justified, caused Merlin's condemnation by the Paris Faculty of
Theology, and by the impetuous syndic Noel Beda. As mentioned he
published a Collection de tous les Coriciles, the first ever
issued from the press (Paris, 1524, fol.; Cologne, 1530, 8vo; and
Paris, 1535, 8vo). He also edited the works of Richard de
Saint-Victor. (Paris, 1518):-Pierre de Blois (Paris, 1519): —
Durand de Saint-Poursain (1515),; and six Homelies en
Franfais, surces paroles de l'Evangile: Missus est angelus Gabrniel
(Paris, 1538, 8vo). Merlin died in Paris Sept. 26,1541, and was
buried in the crypt of Notre-Dame. (Source: McClintock and Strong
Bible Cyclopedia:
https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/M/merlin-jacques-(1).html)
Merlin was highly
esteemed as as a dogmatic theologian. Nevertheless, despite all his
scholarly work, a number of his publications were very imperfect and
contain a quantity of false acts that latter scholars and critics of
the 17th century separated from the real ones.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to find out if there is proof he wrote his own Great Monarch and Angelic Pontiff prophecies or commentaries.
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(Feb. 19, 2020)
