Abbot Eugenio Pecche (b.? - d.1835)



ABBOT EUGENIO PECCHE (b.? – d. 1835)


(Image: Santa Croce di Gerusalemme, Rome.)



In the book called “Future Destinies of States and Nations”, (Turin 1864), there is a Great Monarch prophecy attributed to an individual named Fr. Eugenio Pecche. The author of that book states that Fr. Pecche was a Cistercian who died in Rome, c. 1810. A footnote also describes hims as an abbot. According to 'Future Destinies', the prophecy was first made known to the public in 1859 in a newspaper from Belgium called the “Gazette de Liege”, and later was published in the conservative Italian publication published in called “L'Armonia”, edition number 65, July 17, 1860, an ultraconservative Italian newspaper established by a group of priests in Turin in July 1848.





According to “Future Destinies”, the columnist of the paper, (probably l'Armonia), declared that there was much talk in Ancona of this prophecy attributed to Fr. Pecchi. Someone from Ancona apparently wrote to the superior of the Cistercians in Rome to see if there was any truth to this claim, and according to “Future Destinies”, a manuscript of the prophecy was found in their library and was the same as that circulating in Ancona.




Considering that “Future Destinies” is known to have printed false prophecies as well as real ones, I decided to do a little digging to see if there is any truth that a manuscript exits, or in fact, if there really was a “Fr. Eugenio Pecche”.



Yes, he did exist.



Eugenio Pecche (sometimes spelled 'Peche'), was the maternal uncle of St. Gaspar del Bufalo (1786-1837) who founded the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. (Click here for St. Gaspar's own prophecy.)    Pecche was a Cistercian monk of S. Croce de Gerusalemme in Rome, and he is described as having later been the abbot of San Sebastiano.  Apparently, he suffered the fate of many Roman priests during the Napoleonic wars, for St. Gasper declares his uncle went through two deportations. In one of these deportations, he was sent to Corsica. The shock of it apparently hastened St. Gasper's mother to her grave, as she was already ill at the time.   Eventually, Pecche was allowed to return to Rome. (1)



According to another academic source, he was the librarian of the monastery at S. Croce, for he had signed a document recording the transfer of important manuscripts to the Vatican Library in 1810 when his monastery was suppressed, no doubt for safe keeping due to the wars. It was probably during this time he suffered one of his deportations.(2)   Hence he didn't die in 1810 as the author of “Future Destinies” believed, but had suffered exile.



Pecche is described as being a very spiritual man who had great influence on St. Gaspar's own spiritual development, for the saint used to love to spend time at the Basilica da San Croce, and, he spent a whole month in retreat there in preparation for his first tonsure.(3) Uncle Pecche also worried for his nephew's physical well-being. It was apparent the young man he not strong and it was feared he might contract tuberculosis, which is another reason why St. Gaspar spent time a considerable amount of time in S. Croce as Uncle had persuaded his nephew to stay with him where the air was better.(4)  St. Gaspar respected him greatly, for in one account we find Pecche was considered a holy man, and after St. Gaspar had found his Order of the Precious Blood, whenever Uncle Pecche came to visit on a Thursday insured he sat at the head of the table and asked him to do the blessings in his stead. (5) Hence, there is no question as to the piety of Fr. Pecche.   He died in 1835. (6) Unfortunately, I can find no other information about him.







Next, is there proof of Eugenio Pecche writing or commenting on a Great Monarch prophecy?



I was unable to find any digital version of the newspapers it was first printed in, however, in the Archive of the Libarary of the Stato di Roma in a manuscript (MS 320), there is a a two page entry dated 1860 called “Nuova Profezia sulla sorte d'Italia e di Francia, di padre Eugenio Pecchi [1860] c. 30-31” Since it is a manuscript and not a printing we can assume it is a handwritten copy, and this information corresponds with the information printed by the book “Future Destinies”. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a digital copy, but, the information proves that there was a prophecy attributed to him in Rome with a manuscript date of 1860. (7)



Since this appeared only 25 years after Pecche's death, we can be assume the prophecy printed in “Future Destines” is authentic this time. Was it a prophecy personally made by Eugenio Pecche, or a commentary he made on past prophecies? He was a librarian after all, and had access to rare manuscripts in the S. Croce monastery collected by Hilarion Rancati. Even if it is only a commentary, it is apparent from his biography that Eugenio Pecche came from a spiritually inspired and virtuous family, and was very well respected.  Therefore I have included this prophecy in the Timeline for consideration.






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The last occupation that will have to take place in the Papal State (or Pontifical State) will not cause any damage, and Rome will not be occupied. This invasion will have its limits, and will only come to an end, where it is written for it: Non plus ultra. (I.e 'No more', or 'no farther'). The Pope will be on the point of losing power, but the efforts will be fully useless. When in the eyes of the world everything seems to be lost, a change will immediately occur.


(Observation: this prophecy seems to say there will be an invasion in Italy, but it will not be able to completely take Rome, the Papal State will not be touched. It seems odd there 'will be no damage', that seems to go against the other prophecies that say Rome and the Church will indeed suffer. Perhaps it means there will be no lasting damage to the Faith itself. It will still be found intact after all the upheavals. The Pope may seem on the verge of losing power, but the efforts made to do this will be rendered useless. Things will however get so bad that it will all seem lost to the world, but that is when a sudden change for the better will occur, apparently, miraculous.)



In Ancona every appliance will be superfluous. (?) After the arrival of a courier the French will be seen to leave the Papal States little by little. In Ancona a fleet will appear without hurting the inhabitants. There will be some consternation, but they will be free, and the evacuation will take place from evening to evening. The French will return everything to the Holy See, which will indeed acquire something more. This will end with the triumph of Religion and with a prodigy, (i.e a great miracle) and the French will finally defend the Pope. The Nuncio in Paris will return to full power. (NOTE: apparently the people of Ancona will be protected, even if they have to be evacuated. Possibly this is due to Loreto being in the region?)

On a day dedicated to Mary, that is, to the Purification (February 2) or the Annunciation (March 25), a very remarkable event will take place.

France will fall from itself (? i.e this either means fall into civil war, or, be humbled), “and the same God will be served by man”, or, “God will serve man the same”. (NOTE: Odd Italian phrase here I'm having trouble translating, “e Dio si servirà dell'uomo medesimo”. Depending on what the translation should be, it is either a prophecy of the mass conversion of pagans, heretics and schismatic sects to Roman Catholicism during the renewal, or a phraise meaning if man will revolt and turn things around against God, God can also do the same to man's plans and turn things around in a heavenly 'revolt'. This will be accomplished through the King. This Italian phrase could also be an ingenious word-play meaning both things, conversions and God rising up to set things right.)


The astonishment will be great when the world knows that there is a king in Paris who remains unknown in the midst of the people, and who will be put back on the throne on the 1st of January the last day of this age. (NOTE: sound like the Ages of the Church mentioned by Bl. Bartholomew Holzhauser). The first courier who will arrive in Rome will bring this happy news, and the aforementioned king will be the defender of the Holy See. The war on the verge of breaking out will cease, and there will be no more massacres. This will end with a victory for the emperor, and we will learn about the handling he used (or management he adopted) in favor of the Holy See. A whole kingdom will enter the Catholic Church; and the Holy Father, reinstated in all his states, will sing the Nunc dimittis.


(NOTE: while a great war will be adverted when the Great Monarch comes to defend the Holy See, it seems that massacres will have taken place if there will be 'no more massacres'. This possibly is another prophecy of the civil revolts that will break out in Paris and Europe before the King arrives. He will also be an emperor, Holy Roman Emperor as other prophecies state, a whole nation will convert or reconvert, and the King will reinstate the Papal States. The Nunc dimittis is the Canticle of Simeon. According to the narrative in Luke 2:25-32, Simeon was a devout Jew who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. "Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord. Because my eyes have seen thy salvation.” It is sung during evening services as Compline and Vespers. Hence, this could be a two-fold prophecy: that the pope who is present when Rome is delivered will be old when he finally sees the 'Saviour', the Great Monarch sent to save Christendom, and / or Rome will be delivered during an evening.)







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FOOTNOTES:



1)“The Letter of St. Gaspar del Bufalo (1786-1837)” Published by the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood, (c. 1999).


2) “Ilarione Rancati, “Milanese dell'ordine Cisterciense”, Il Collecio de Studi e la Biblioteca Romana de. S Croce in Gerusalemme', by Franca Traselli in Aevum, Settembre- Dicembre 2007, Anno 81, Fasc. 3, p. 40 / 832.


3) “Saint Gaspar del Bufalo: Apostle of the Blood of Christ” Volume I: Devotion to the Blood of Christ in the Life and Apostolate of Sinat Gaspar”, Beniamino Conti, C.PP.S, Missionaries of the Precious Blood, Cincinnati Province (2009), p. 8.


4) Source,

https://www.cppsmissionaries.org/download/history_and_archives/gaspar_and_valentini/Valentini_Chapter_I.pdf (PDF p. 5 / p. 25).


5) “Gaspar del Bufalo: A Saint Scrutinizes a Saint – Deposition of Venerable Giovanni Merlini in the Ordinary Process of Albano for the Beatification and Canonization of Saint Gaspare del Bufalo

Founder of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood under the direction of Beniamino Contip.”, 13, p. 236.


6) According to a manuscript dated between the years 1859-1861 with a copy of the prophecy attributed to Fr. Eugenio Pecche. Source, “Cronaca di Roma: Volume Quarto 1859-1861, Instiutio per la storia del Risorgimento Italiano”, Domenico Maria Bruni, Nicola Roncalli (Gangemi Editor, 2016), p. 18.


7) “Inventario dei Manoscritti a cura di Andrea Papini con la collaborazione di Rossana Dominici e Anna Pitolli – Il Nuovo Inventatio della Collezione Manoscritta della Biblioteca Dell'Archivo di Stao di Roma”, (Revisione 2015)