History...

St. Malachy: Patron Saint of Papal Prognosticators?

By Joe McGowan and Gerry Regan
TheWildGeese.com

Though he apparently struck out with the papal enclave's selection of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, one of Ireland 's most beloved seers still carries an impressive track record of predicting Popes.

The man with the (usually) golden touch is Maelmaedoc Ó Morgair, or, as he is popularly known, St. Malachy. Malachy was born in County Down about 1094, and died Nov. 2, 1148 , in Clairvaux , France , but before his passing he left a reputation for clairvoyance that has withstood the test of time. Malachy's family, the aristocratic O'Moores, moved to Armagh while Malachy was an infant. Educated by some of Ireland's most learned teachers, among them the saintly Imhar O'Hagan, Malachy decided to devote his life to the service of God. Ordained by Cellach, Archbishop of Armagh, in 1119 he shortly afterwards served as vicar general to him.

Malachy's family, the aristocratic O'Moores, moved to Armagh while Malachy was an infant. Educated by some of Ireland's most learned teachers, among them the saintly Imhar O'Hagan, Malachy decided to devote his life to the service of God. Ordained by Cellach, Archbishop of Armagh, in 1119 he shortly afterwards served as vicar general to him.

In the esoteric world of Catholic seers and seeresses, Malachy is perhaps best remembered for his reputed prophecies concerning the Papal Succession. An impressive number of these predictions, which were typically couched in metaphor, have the ring of truth. For example, of the pope he predicted would follow Anastasius IV, Malachy wrote "De rure albo" (Field of Albe). Anastasius' successor, English-born Adrian IV, credited by many Unionists with giving Ireland to the English, was born in the Hertfordshire town of St. Alban.

"...the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people."

 

A story, perhaps apocryphal, has made its way around the Internet concerning one-time New York Archbishop Francis Cardinal Spellman. The tale goes that, prior to the conclave that would elect Pope John XXIII in 1958, the ambitious Spellman hired a boat, filled it with sheep and sailed it up and down Rome's Tiber River to better fit Malachy's criterion for the next pope, that is, "pastor et nautor" (pastor and sailor). Spellman, of course, lost out to Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, who prior to his election, was patriarch of Venice, known for its canals and gondolas.

Malachy's prediction for Pope John Paul II also gives pause. It reads: "De Labore Solus" ("From the toil of the sun," or "from the eclipse of the sun.") Karol Wojtyla was born May 18, 1920, during a solar eclipse. His April 8th funeral transpired when there was a solar eclipse visible in the Americas. Malachy's prediction for the next pope * "Gloria Olivae," or "the glory of the olive" * may be a reference to the Benedectine order, a branch of which is known as the "Olivetans." No Benedictines are among the likely successors, so Malachy has a lot riding on this concave.

Malachy concluded his predictions with the following apocalyptic note, translated from the original Latin: "In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Catholic Church there will reign Peter the Roman ("Petrus Romanus"), who will feed his flock among many tribulations; after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people."

According to some interpretations of Malachy's prophecies, the upcoming Pope ("Gloria Olivae") will directly precede "Petrus Romanus," the last Pope.

Those concerned about the imminence of the end might also derive additional comfort from sceptics, who point to the history of Malachy's alleged papal prophecies. In 1139, Malachy travelled to Rome and presented an account of the affairs of his diocese to Pope Innocent II. According to Abbe Cucherat, while there, Malachy had his vision of the unfolding line of succession to Peter's throne till the end of time. Cucherat relates that Malachy recorded his vision in manuscript form, presenting it to Innocent II. The document, though, remained buried in the papal archives until its emergence in 1590. The disappearance of the manuscript for four centuries and the silence of Bernard of Clairvaux, Malachy's biographer, on the prophecies suggest the manuscript is bogus. But that doesn't quite negate the prophecy's impressive matchups in the subsequent centuries.

St. Malachy was canonized by Pope Clement III, on July 6, 1199, and his feast is celebrated November 3, according to Catholic Encyclopedia, to avoid conflict with the Feast of All Souls.

Go to thewildgeese.com for the full debate on St. Malachy and how the Papacy has affected the course of Irish history.

 
 

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