VEN. BARTHOLOMEW
HOLZHAUSER (1613-1658) was born in Laugna, into the family of Leonard
and Catherine Holzhauser, who were poor, pious, and honest people.
Leonard and Catherine had eleven children, including Bartholomew.
Ven. Holzhauser's father made his living as a shoemaker. Young
Bartholomew developed a great love for books and an earnest desire to
enter the sacred ministry. At Augsburg, he was admitted to a free
school for poor boys, earning his living by going from door to door
singing and begging. He fell sick of an epidemic raging at that time.
After his recovery, Ven. Bartholomew went home and for a time helped
his father at work.
He then continued his
studies at Neuburg an der Donau and Ingolstadt, with the aid of kind
friends and the Jesuits in particular. His teachers were unanimous in
praising his talents, his piety, and his modesty. On July
9, 1636, he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and then
studied theology, in which he merited the baccalaureate on May 11,
1639. He was ordained into the priesthood by the Bishop of Eichstätt,
and said his first Holy Mass on Pentecost Sunday, June 12, 1639 in
the Church of Our Lady of Victory, at Ingolstadt.
He exercised his priestly
functions at this place for some time and was soon much sought after
as a confessor. In the meantime, he attended lectures at the
university and was declared licentiate of theology on June 14, 1640.
On August 1 of the same year, he came into the Archdiocese of
Salzburg, and was made dean and pastor of Tittmoning. On February
2, 1642, he became pastor of St John's at Leoggenthal, in the county
of Tyrol, at the behest of the Bishop of Chiemsee. In the spring of
1655, at the invitation of Archbishop Johann Philipp von Schönborn,
he went to Mainz where he was soon appointed pastor at Bingen on the
Rhine, and in 1657, dean of the district of Algesheim.
Because the faithful had
become lukewarm, and morals and discipline had relaxed not only in
the laity but also in the clergy in the aftermath of the Thirty Years
War in Europe, Ven. Holzhauser founded an order called the
Bartholomites to counteract the moral decline of times. It also
became known as the Apostolic Union of Secular Priests promoting an
apostolic life in the community and forming models of priestly
perfection and zealous leaders of the people. Their principal task
was to educate in the seminaries. The members of the secular
congregation were expected to live in the seminaries, or in groups of
two or three in the parishes, and to follow a set routine of daily
prayers and exercises. Funds were to be in common, and all female
servants were to be dismissed. No vows were taken, but a simple
promise of obedience to the superior was made, confirmed by an oath.
Holzhauser died, aged 45,
at Bingen. At the time of his death, the community had members at
Chiemsee, Salzburg, Freising, Eichstätt, Würzburg, and Mainz. The
institute, however, made many enemies. Unfortunately, at the end of
the eighteenth century the community he founded became extinct. On
the occasion of the second centenary of his death, a celebration was
held at Bingen in the presence of the Bishop of Mainz. The location
of his remains was again found and in 1880, a new monument was
erected over his grave at the parish church, and Bartholomew was
declared Venerable by the Roman Catholic Church.
THE GREAT MONARCH AND
ANGELIC PONTIFF
Ven. Holzhauser was a
visionary and made several predictions, which he presented 1646 to
Emperor Ferdinand III and to Duke Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria.
Ludwig Clarus published these visions, along with a commentary
showing their partial fulfilment, in German, in 1849. One of the
predictions was that England would not have the Mass for 120 years, priest
would not be able to say it under pain of death, after which England
would convert and help to spread the Faith after its conversion,
this seems to have been partially fulfilled for the prohibition of
the Mass under penalty of capital punishment was enacted in 1658 and
partially recalled in 1778.
He also wrote extensive
personal commentaries on the Apocalypse, which include the Great
Monarch and Angelic Pontiff prophecies. Although they appear to be
a personal interpretation, his commentaries were held in great esteem
by his contemporaries. Having once been asked where he could have
received such extraordinary insight for the interpretation of so
difficult a book, with tears in his eyes Ven. Holzhauser answered, “I
am nothing but a little child, whose hand and pen his teacher holds
and guides to make him write.”
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THE SEVEN AGES OF THE
CHURCH according to VEN. HOLZHAUSER
Ven. Holzhauser divides
the periods and the duration of the Church from Jesus Christ until
the end of the world into seven ages or seven different epochs. He
founds this seven-fold division on the seven churches of Asia, the
seven candlesticks, the seven stars, the seven seals, seven spirits,
seven trumpets, seven plagues of the Apocalypse, and also on the
seven days of creation mentioned in the first chapter of Genesis.
According to him,
1) The first age or
special epoch of the Church begins with Jesus Christ and lasts until
the first persecution under the pagan emperor, Nero.
2) The second, from Nero
to Constantine the Great
3) The third, from
Constantine till Charlemagne
4) The fourth, from
Charlemagne to Charles V, the pontificate of Leo X., and the heresy
of Martin Luther
5) The fifth age, from
Luther up until ….
6) The sixth age, which
begin with the arrival of the Great Monarch and Angelic Pontiff –
this will be the Age of Concolation for the Church, the promised Age
of Peace. The Age of Peace of the Sixth Age will end with the rise
of the Antichrist, but the Sixth Age itself won't end until the
Second Coming of Christ.
7) The seventh will
introduce the elect to the 'eternal sabbath' – i.e. The Second
Coming of Christ when the Last Day occurs, the Last Judgement takes
place and Eternity begins with the New Heaven and the New Earth.
Therefore, according to
Ven. Holzhauser we are yet in the Fifth Age of the Church and
awaiting the Sixth, and we seem very close to it. Here are his
prophecies concerning this era:
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“The fifth period of
the Church, which began circa 1520, will end with the arrival of the
holy Pope and of the powerful Monarch who is called "Help From
God" because he will restore everything [in Christ]…”
(OBSERVATIONS: Ven.
Holzhauser says the Great Monarch will be called the 'Help from God'
– the name 'Lazarus' means 'my God has helped' or 'God is my help'.
Possibly, the Great Monarch will be associated with the name
'Lazarus'.)
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“The fifth period is
one of affliction, desolation, humiliation, and poverty for the
Church. Jesus Christ will purify His people through cruel wars,
famines, plagues, epidemics, and other horrible calamities. He will
also afflict and weaken the Latin Church with many heresies. It is a
period of defections, calamities and exterminations. Those Christians
who survive the sword, plague and famines, will be few on earth.
Nations will fight against nations and will be desolated by
internecine dissensions…”
(NOTE: 'interecine
dissensions' means civil wars and revolts)
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“During this period the
Wisdom of God guides the Church in. several ways: 1) by chastising
the Church so that riches may not corrupt her completely; 2) by
interposing the Council of Trent like a light in the darkness, so
that the Christians who see the light may know what to believe, 3) by
setting St. Ignatius and his Society in opposition to Luther and
other heretics (i.e note the Jesuits were a force to be reckoned with
in oppsoing the Lutheran heresies at the time, hence it is no wonder
they came under such attack later) ; 4) by carrying to remote lands
the Faith which has been banned in most of Europe…”
(NOTE: while this
interpretation starts with the beginning of the Fifth period which
means the rise of Luther, Ven. Holzhauser obvsiouly predicted that
the heresies Luther started would continue to wreak havoc and grow
until the Great Monarch and Angelic Pontiff bring about the
restoration of the Church hence - the COUNCIL OF TRENT not only was
but will continue to be a guiding light in the time of darkness of
the Church. According to Ven. Holzhuaser then, those who stay true
to the declarations of the Council of Trent will not be led astray
from the true Faith. Of interest, Bl. Catherine of Racconigi
predicted that the aims of the Council of Trent would be fully
accomplished with the arrival of Great Monarch and Angelic Pontiff.)
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“Are we not to fear
during this period that the Mohamedans (I.e. Muslims and the rise of
Islam) will come again working out their sinister schemes against the
Latin church…?”
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“During this period,
many men will abuse the freedom of conscience conceded to them. It is of such men that Jude the
Apostle spoke when he said, ‘These men blaspheme whatever they do
not understand; and they
corrupt whatever they know naturally as irrational animals do… They
feast together without
restraint, feeding themselves, grumbling murmurers, walking according
to their
lusts; their mouth
speaketh proud things, they admire people for the sake of gain; they
bring about division, sensual men,
having not the spirit.’”
“During this unhappy
period, there will be laxity in divine and human precepts. Discipline will suffer. The Holy
Canons will be completely disregarded, and the Clergy will not
respect the laws of the Church.
Everyone will be carried away and led to believe and to do what he
fancies,according to the manner
of the flesh…”
“They will ridicule
Christian simplicity; they will call it folly and nonsense, but they
will have the highest regard
for advanced knowledge, and for the skill by which the axioms of the
law, the precepts of morality,
the Holy Canons and religious dogmas are clouded by senseless
questions and elaborate arguments.
As a result, no principle at all, however holy, authentic, ancient,
and certain it may be, will
remain free of censure, criticism, false interpretation,
modification, and delimitation by man…”
(NOTE: apparently, Ven.
Holzhausuer's comments on the time of corruption before the renewal
of the Church. The world will grow corrupt and the Church will also
fall into decay as it turns on its ancient Traditions and twists it
to suit the times. Note the word 'modification'.)
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“These are evil times,
a century full of dangers and calamities. Heresy is everywhere, and
the followers of heresy are in power almost everywhere. Bishops,
prelates, and priests say that they are doing their duty, that they
are vigilant, and that they live as befits their state in life. In
like manner, therefore, they all seek excuses. But God will permit a
great evil against His Church: Heretics and tyrants will come
suddenly and unexpectedly; they will break into the Church while
bishops, prelates and priests are asleep. They will enter Italy and
lay Rome waste; they will burn down the churches and destroy
everything.…”
(OBSERVATION: Ven.
Holzhauser notes this period of degradation will LAST A CENTURY. He predicts this century of heretical intrusions and moral laxity int he Church will apparently be nearing its climax or basically reaching its end when ROME IS BURNED AND LAID WASTE. In another prediction, Ven. Holzhauser says Satan will
be bound for a time when the Great Monarch comes, which means SATAN will
be given liberty BEFORE ROME BURNS AND THE RENEWAL BEGINS. So, could
this be another prediction of 'SATAN's CENTURY' as foreseen by
Pope Leo XIII? If so, re will be nearing the end of Satan's Century when Rome burns and is laid waste.)
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“The Sixth Age of the
Spirit commences with the powerful Monarch and the Holy Pontiff as
previously mentioned and will last until the appearance of the
Antichrist. This sixth epoch of the church – “the time of
consolation” begins with the Holy Pope and the Powerful Emperor and
terminates with the reign of Antichrist. This will be an age of
solace wherein God will console His church after the many
mortifications and afflictions she has endured in the Fifth period,
for all nations will be brought to the unity of the True catholic
faith. The sacerdocy will flower more than ever, and men will seek
the kingdom of God in all solicitude. The Lord will give good pastors
to the Church. Vocations will be
abundant as never before and all men will seek only the kingdom of
God and His justice. Men will
live in peace and this will be granted because people will make their
peace with God. They will live under the protection of the Great
Monarch and his successors….”
“The Great Monarch will
come when the Latin Church is desolated, humiliated, and afflicted
with many heresies….”
(NOTE: the one strange
contradiction here is he says the Great Monarch will have successors,
therefore, possible heirs, but that cannot be possible according to
the rest of his predictions, which says the Monarch will reign until
the Antichrist appears after which there is the Second Coming, and
then, in another prediction by Ven. Holzhauser, the Great Monarch he
will continue to rule his kingdom even after the Second Coming with
Christ, which is an interesting hint that Ven. Holzhauser believed
that Christ will delegate kingdoms of the New Earth to deserving
chosen saints. So, it is difficult to know what he means by
'successors' in this instance. It cannot mean an 'heir'.
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“The Sixth Epoch of the
World, which commences with the emancipation of the people of Israel
and the restoration of the Temple and of the city of Jerusalem, will
endure until the advent of Jesus Christ…For likewise, in this
epoch, the people of Israel will be consoled to a very high degree by
the Lord, our God, who will deliver them from the captivity of
Babylon. The kingdoms, the nations, and the people will submit to the
Roman Empire, furiously vanquished by the very powerful and very
illustrious monarch who will govern during fifty-six years, rendering
the peace of the universe and reigning alone until the advent of
Jesus Christ and even after him. Thus, in the Sixth Age, God will
delight his Church with the greatest prosperity…”
(OBSERVATIONS: according
to Ven. Holzhauser, once Israel is emancipated and rebuilds the
temple, we are in the Sixth Age and Israel will be granted some
peace for awhile as it submits itself to the Great Monarch. Ven.
Holzhuaser predicts the Monarch will reign 56 years. Now that the State of Israel
has been re-established since the mid- 20th Century and is in the process of plans to
rebuild the Temple, we must be getting close to the Sixth Age.
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Apparently, this is Ven.
Holzhauser's interpretation of Chapter 10 of the Apocalypse featuring
the great Angel who gives St. John a book to eat:
“The “angel” is the
Great Monarch: “from heaven” means he will be a catholic:
“clothed in clouds” implies he will be humble and modest;
“rainbow” he will bring peace to the world; “sunshine” refers
to his wisdom, talents and title; “feet” refers to his power and
zeal; “Open book” he will rule with justice “Right and left
foot” he will exercise power over all the world; “Lion Voice”
he will put fear into the wicked. The “Golden Crown” refers to
his Holy Roman Empire; “Cutlass” means his victorious army; the
other “angel” refers to the pope (Angelic pastor). “Other
angels” are the other helpers of the Great Monarch who will help
him crush the Turks…”
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“During the fifth
period we saw only calamities and devastation, oppression of
Catholics by tyrants and heretics, executions of kings and
conspiracies to set up republics but by the hand of God almighty
there occurs so wonderful a change during the sixth period that no
one can humanly visualize it. The powerful Monarch, who is sent from
God, will uproot every Republic. He will submit everything to this
authority and he will show great zeal for the true church of Christ.
The empire of the Mohamedans will be broken up and the monarch will
reign in the east as well as in the west. All nations will come to
worship God in the true and Catholic Roman faith. There will be many
saints and doctors of the church on earth. Peace will reign over the
whole earth because God will bind Satan for a number of years before
the days of the Son of Perdition. No one will be able to pervert the word of God
since during the sixth period there will be an ecumenical council
which will be the greatest of all councils. By the grace of God, by
the power of the great Monarch, by the authority of the holy pontiff
and by union of all the most devout princes atheism and every heresy
will be banished from the earth. The council will define the true
sense of Holy Scripture and this will be beloved and accepted by
everyone.”
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“When everything has
been ruined by war; when Catholics are hard pressed by traitorous
co-religionists and heretics, then the Hand of Almighty God will work
a marvellous change, something apparently impossible according to
human understanding. There will rise a valiant monarch anointed by
God. He will be a Catholic, a descendant of Louis IX, yet a
descendant of an ancient imperial German family, born in exile. He
will rule supreme in temporal matters. The Pope will rule supreme in
spiritual matters at the same time. Persecution will cease and
justice shall rule. Religion seems to be suppressed, but by the
changes of entire kingdoms it will be made more firm….He will root
out false doctrines and destroy the rule of Moslemism. His dominion
will extend from the East to the West. All nations will adore God
their Lord according to the Catholic teaching. There will be many
wise and just men. The people will love justice, and peace will reign
over the whole earth, for divine power will bind Satan for many years
until the coming of the Son of Perdition.”
(NOTE: Ven. Holzhauser
may have got one detail half-wrong, i.e. that
the Great Monarch will be 'born' into exile when the Great Monarch
revealed to Marie-Julie Jahenny was sent into exile, twice.
Marie-Julie Jahenny was told who the Great Monarch – the individual mentioned to her the last direct descendant of the Bourbon
line of France, therefore a descendant of St. Louis IX, and, he is a
descendant of the of the German Kings and Holy Roman Emperors through
his mother, Caroline, Duchess of Berry as her grandfather on the
maternal side was Leopold II King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor –
his family tree traces back through the line of German kings)
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“The reign of the Great
Ruler may be compared with that of Caesar Augustus who became Emperor
after his victory over his enemies, thereby giving peace to the
world, also with the reign of Constantine the Great, who was sent by
God, after severe persecution, to deliver both the Church and State.
By his victories on water and land he brought the Roman Empire under
subjection which
he then ruled in peace”
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"On account of a
terrible war Germany will wail, France will be the cause of all the
woe, Germany will be miserably wounded, all will be impoverished.
England shall suffer much. The King shall be killed.
"After desolation
has reached its peak in England peace will be restored and England
will return to the Catholic faith with greater fervor than ever
before.
(NOTE: apparently, a King
of England will be killed during this conflict or on account of it, this conflict will cause great hardship and poverty for all.)
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“[After a world war]
will come a new period, in which two mighty ones will face each
other. The wrangle between these two will begin in the second half
of the twentieth century. It will overthrow mountains and silt up
rivers. A great change will come to pass, such as no mortal man will
have expected; Heaven and Hell will confront each other in this
struggle, old states will perish and light and darkness will be
pitted against each other with swords, but it will be swords of a
different fashion. With these swords it will be possible to cut up
the skies and split the earth. A great lament will come over all
mankind and only a small batch will survive the storm, the pestilence
and the horror. And neither of the two adversaries will conquer nor
be vanquished. Both mighty ones will lie on the ground, and a new
mankind will come into existence. God possesses the key to
everything. Blessed is he who will then be able to praise him, having
obeyed all his commandments. And the great monarch of the world will
create new laws for the new mankind and will cause a new age to
begin, in which there will be only one flock and one shepherd, and
peace will be of long, long duration, for the glory of God in heaven
and on earth…” (NOTE: this section shows Ven. Holzhauser obviously believed in the Birch Tree Prophecies written by Windecke.)
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“Now the Great Monarch
also will dominate over all the beasts of the earth, that is to say
over the barbarian nations, over the rebellious peoples, over the
heretic republics and over all men dominated by their evil passions…”
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“It is in that age that
the relation of the sixth Spirit of the Lord will be known, that is
to say the Spirit of Wisdom that God diffuses over all the surfaces
of the globes in those times. For men will fear the Lord their God,
they will observe the law and serve it with all their heart. The
sciences will be multiplied and complete on the earth. The Holy
Scriptures will be unanimously understood, without controversy and
without the errors of heresies. Men will be enlightened, so much as
in the natural sciences and in the celestial sciences…”
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“Finally, the Sixth
Church, the Church of Philadelphia, is the type of this sixth age,
for Philadelphia signifies friendship of brothers, and again guarding
the heritage in union with the Lord. Now all these characters
convene perfectly in the sixth age, in which they will have love,
concord and perfect peace and in which the powerful Monarch will have
to consider almost the entire world as his heritage. He will deliver
up the earth, with the aid of the Lord his God from all his enemies,
of ruin and of all evil…”
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