Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The Prophecy of St. Malachy


The Prophecy of St. Malachy
(From the Catholic Encyclopedia 1913 edition)

The most famous and best known prophecies about the popes are those attributed to St. Malachy. In 1139 he went to Rome to give an account of the affairs of his diocese to the pope, Innocent II, who promised him two palliums for the metropolitan Sees of Armagh and Cashel. While at Rome, he received (according to the Abbé Cucherat) the strange vision of the future wherein was unfolded before his mind the long list of illustrious pontiffs who were to rule the Church until the end of time. The same author tells us that St. Malachy gave 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, and ever since there has been much discussion as to whether they are genuine predictions of St. Malachy or forgeries. The silence of 400 years on the part of so many learned authors who had written about the popes, and the silence of St. Bernard especially, who wrote the “Life of St. Malachy”, is a strong argument against their authenticity, but it is not conclusive if we adopt Cucherat’s theory that they were hidden in the Archives during those 400 years.

These short prophetical announcements, in number 112, indicate some noticeable trait of all future popes from Celestine II, who was elected in the year 1130, until the end of the world. They are enunciated under mystical titles. Those who have undertaken to interpret and explain these symbolical prophecies have succeeded in discovering some trait, allusion, point, or similitude in their application to the individual popes, either as to their country, their name, their coat of arms or insignia, their birth-place, their talent or learning, the title of their cardinalate, the dignities which they held etc. For example, the prophecy concerning Urban VIII is Lilium et Rosa (the lily and the rose); he was a native of Florence and on the arms of Florence figured a fleur-de-lis; he had three bees emblazoned on his escutcheon, and the bees gather honey from the lilies and roses. Again, the name accords often with some remarkable and rare circumstance in the pope’s career; thus Peregrinus apostolicus (pilgrim pope), which designates Pius VI, appears to be verified by his journey when pope into Germany, by his long career as pope, and by his expatriation from Rome at the end of his pontificate. Those who have lived and followed the course of events in an intelligent manner during the pontificates of Pius IX, Leo XIII, and Pius X cannot fail to be impressed with the titles given to each by the prophecies of St. Malachy and their wonderful appropriateness: Crux de Cruce (Cross from a Cross) Pius IX; Lumen in cælo (Light in the Sky) Leo XIII; Ignis ardens (Burning Fire) Pius X. There is something more than coincidence in the designations given to these three popes so many hundred years before their time. We need not have recourse either to the family names, armorial bearings or cardinalatial titles, to see the fitness of their designations as given in the prophecies. The afflictions and crosses of Pius IX were more than fell to the lot of his predecessors; and the more aggravating of these crosses were brought on by the House of Savoy whose emblem was a cross. Leo XIII was a veritable luminary of the papacy. The present pope is truly a burning fire of zeal for the restoration of all things to Christ.
The last of these prophecies concerns the end of the world and is as follows: “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End.” It has been noticed concerning Petrus Romanus, who according to St. Malachy’s list is to be the last pope, that the prophecy does not say that no popes will intervene between him and his predecessor designated Gloria olivæ. It merely says that he is to be the last, so that we may suppose as many popes as we please before “Peter the Roman”. Cornelius a Lapide refers to this prophecy in his commentary “On the Gospel of St. John” (C. xvi) and “On the Apocalypse” (cc. xvii-xx), and he endeavours to calculate according to it the remaining years of time.

The Prophecies

Pope No.Name (Reign)Motto No.Motto (and explanation)
167Celestine II (1143-1144)1Ex castro Tyberis
(from a castle on the Tiber)
Hist.: Celestin II was born in
Citta di Castello, Toscany,
on the shores of the Tiber
168Lucius II (1144-1145)2Inimicus expulsus
169Eugene III (1145-1153)3Ex magnitudine montis
(Of the greatness of the mount)
Hist.: Born in the castle of
Grammont (latin: mons magnus),
his family name was Montemagno
170Anastasius IV (1153-1154)4Abbas Suburranus
171Adrian IV (1154-1159)5De rure albo
(field of Albe)
Hist.: Born in the town
of Saint-Alban
AntipopeVictor IV (1159-1164)6Ex tetro carcere
AntipopePaschal III (1164-1168)7Via trans-Tyberina
AntipopeCalistus III (1168-1178)8De Pannonia Tusciæ
172Alexander III (1159-1181)9Ex ansere custode
173Lucius III (1181-1185)10Lux in ostio
174Urban III (1185-1187)11Sus in cribo
175Gregory VIII (1187)12Ensis Laurentii
176Clement III (1187-1191)13De schola exiet
177Celestine III (1191-1198)14De rure bovensi
178Innocent III (1198-1216)15Comes signatus
(signed Count)
Hist.: descendant of the noble
Signy, later called Segni family
179Honorius III (1216-1227)16Canonicus de latere
180Gregory IX (1227-1241)17Avis Ostiensis
(Bird of Ostia)
Hist.: before his election
he was Cardinal of Ostia
181Celestine IV (1241)18Leo Sabinus
182Innocent IV (1243-1254)19Comes Laurentius
183Alexander IV (1254-1261)20Signum Ostiense
184Urban IV (1261-1264)21Hierusalem Campaniæ
(Jerusalem of Champagne)
Hist.: native of Troyes,
Champagne, later patriarch
of Jerusalem
185Clement IV (1265-1268)22Draca depressus
186Gregory X (1271-1276)23Anguinus vir
187Innocent V (1276)24Concionatur Gallus
188Adrian V (1276)25Bonus Comes
189John XXI (1276-1277)26Piscator Tuscus
190Nicholas III (1277-1280)27Rosa composita
191Martin IV (1281-1285)28Ex teloneo liliacei Martini
192Honorius IV (1285-1287)29Ex rosa leonina
193Nicholas IV (1288-1292)30Picus inter escas
194Nicholas IV (1288-1292)31Ex eremo celsus
(elevated from a hermit)
Hist.: prior to his election
he was a hermit in the
monastery of Pouilles
195Boniface VIII (1294-1303)32Ex undarum benedictione
196Benedict XI (1303-1304)33Concionator patereus
197Clement V (1305-1314)34De fessis Aquitanicis
(ribbon of Aquitaine)
Hist.: was archbishop
of Bordeaux in Aquitaine
198John XXII (1316-1334)35De sutore osseo
(of the cobbler of Osseo)
Hist.: Family name Ossa,
son of a shoe-maker
AntipopeNicholas V (1328-1330)36Corvus schismaticus
(the schismatic crow)
Note the reference to the
schism, the only antipope
at this period
199Benedict XII (1334-1342)37Frigidus Abbas
(cold friar)
Hist.: he was a priest in
the monastery of Frontfroid
(coldfront)
200Clement VI (1342-1352)38De rosa Attrebatensi
201Innocent VI (1352-1362)39De montibus Pammachii
202Urban V (1362-1370)40Gallus Vice-comes
203Gregory XI (1370-1378)41Novus de Virgine forti
(novel of the virgin fort)
Hist.: count of Beaufort,
later Cardinal of
Ste-Marie La Neuve
AntipopeClement VII (1378-1394)42De cruce Apostilica
AntipopeBenedict XIII (1394-1423)43Luna Cosmedina
AntipopeClement VIII (1423-1429)44Schisma Barcinonicum
204Urban VI (1378-1389)45De Inferno pregnani(From the hell of Pregnani)
Hist.: He was a town called
Inferno in the region of Pregnani.
205Boniface IX (1389-1404)46Cubus de mixtione
206Innocent VII (1404-1406)47De meliore sydere
207Gregory XII (1406-1415)48Nauta de ponte nigro
AntipopeAlexander V (1409-1410)49Flagellum Solis
AntipopeJohn XXIII (1410-1415)50Cervus Sirenæ
208Martin V (1417-1431)51Corona veli aurei
209Eugene IV (1431-1447)52Lupa cælestina
AntipopeFelix V (1439-1449)53Amator crucis
210Nicholas V (1447-1455)54De modicitate lunæ
211Callistus III (1455-1458)55Bos pascens
(grazing ox)
Hist.: Alphonse Borgia’s arms
sported a golden grazing ox
212Pius II (1458-1464)56De capra et Albergo
213Paul II (1464-1471)57De cervo et Leone
214Sixtus IV (1471-1484)58Piscator Minorita
215Innocent VIII (1484-1492)59Præcursor Siciliæ
216Alexander VI (1492-1503)60Bos Albanus in portu
217Pius III (1503)61De parvo homine
218Julius II (1503-1513)62Fructus jovis juvabit
219Leo X (1513-1521)63De craticula Politiana
220Adrian VI (1522-1523)64Leo Florentius
221Clement VII (1523-1534)65Flos pilæi ægri
222Paul III (1534-1549)66Hiacynthus medicorum
223Julius III (1550-1555)67De corona Montana
224Marcellus II (1555)68Frumentum floccidum
225Paul IV (1555-1559)69De fide Petri
226Pius IV (1559-1565)70Æsculapii pharmacum
227St. Pius V (1566-1572)71Angelus nemorosus
228Gregory XIII (1572-1585)72Medium corpus pilarum
229Sixtus V (1585-1590)73Axis in medietate signi
230Urban VII (1590)74De rore cæli
231Gregory XIV (1590-1591)75De antiquitate Urbis
232Innocent IX (1591)76Pia civitas in bello
233Clement VIII (1592-1605)77Crux Romulea
234Leo XI (1605)78Undosus Vir
235Paul V (1605-1621)79Gens perversa
236Gregory XV (1621-1623)80In tribulatione pacis
237Urban VIII (1623-1644)81Lilium et rosa
238Innocent X (1644-1655)82Jucunditas crucis
239Alexander VII (1655-1667)83Montium custos
240Clement IX (1667-1669)84Sydus Olorum
(constellation of swans)
Hist.: upon his election,
he was apparently the
occupant of the Chamber
of Swans in the Vatican.
241Clement X (1670-1676)85De flumine magno
242Innocent XI (1676-1689)86Bellua insatiabilis
243Alexander VIII (1689-1691)87Pœnitentia gloriosa
244Innocent XII (1691-1700)88Rastrum in porta
245Clement XI (1700-1721)89Flores circumdati
246Innocent XIII (1721-1724)90De bona Religione
247Benedict XIII (1724-1730)91Miles in bello
248Clement XII (1730-1740)92Columna excelsa
249Benedict XIV (1740-1758)93Animal rurale
250Clement XIII (1758-1769)94Rosa Umbriæ
251Clement XIV (1769-1774)95Ursus velox
252Pius VI (1775-1799)96Peregrinus Apostolicus
253Pius VII (1800-1823)97Aquila rapax
254Leo XII (1823-1829)98Canis et coluber
255Pius VIII (1829-1830)99Vir religiosus
256Gregory XVI (1831-1846)100De balneis hetruriæ
(bath of Etruria)
Hist.: prior to his election
he was member of an order
founded by Saint Romuald,
Balneo, in Etruria, present day
Toscany.
257Pius IX (1846-1878)101Crux de cruce
(Cross of Crosses)
Hist.:Pius XI was the last Pope
to reign over the Papal States
(the middle third of what is today
Italy). He ended up being a
prisoner of the Vatican, never
venturing outside Vatican City.
A much heavier burden than
his predecessors.
258Leo XIII (1878-1903)102Lumen in cælo (Light in the Heavens)
Hist.: Leo XIII wrote encyclicals
on Catholic social teaching that
were still being digested 100 years
later. He added considerably to theology.
259St. Pius X (1903-1914)103Ignis ardens
(ardent fire)
Hist.: The Pope had great personal
piety and achieved a number of
important reforms in the devotional
and liturgical life of priests and laypeople.
260Benedict XV (1914-1922)104Religio depopulata
(Religion laid waste)
Hist.: This Pope reigned during the
Bolshevik Revolution in Russia
which store the establishment of
Communism.
261Pius XI (1922-1939)105Fides intrepida
(Intrepid faith)
Hist.: This Pope stood up to Fascist
and Communist forces lining up
against him in the lead up to
World War II.
262Pius XII (1939-1958)106Pastor angelicus
(Angelic Shepherd)
Hist.: This Pope was very mystical,
and is believed to have received
visions. People would kneel when
they received telephone calls from
him. His encyclicals add enormously
to the understanding of Catholic
beliefs (even if they are now
overlooked because of focus on
the Second Vatican Council, which
occurred so soon after his reign).
263John XXIII (1958-1963)107Pastor et Nauta
(pastor and marine)
Hist.: prior to his election he was
patriarch of Venice, a marine city,
home of the gondolas
264Paul VI (1963-1978)108Flos florum
(flower of flowers)
Hist.: his arms displayed three lilies.
265John Paul I (1978)109De medietate Lunæ
(of the half of the moon)
Hist.: Albino Luciani, born in
Canale d’Agardo, diocese of Belluno,
(beautiful moon) Elected pope on
August 26, his reign lasted about a
month, from half a moon to the next half..
266John Paul II (1978-2005)110De labore Solis
(of the eclipse of the sun, or from
the labour of the sun)
Hist.: Karol Wojtyla was born on
May 18, 1920 during a solar eclipse.
He also comes from behind the former
Iron Curtain (the East, where the Sun
rises). He might also be seen to be
the fruit of the intercession of the
Woman Clothed with the Sun
labouring in Revelation 12
(because of his devotion to the
Virgin Mary). His Funeral occurred
on 8 April, 2005 when there was a
solar eclipse visible in the Americas.
267Benedict XVI (2005-)111Gloria olivæ
The Benedictine order traditionally
said this Pope would come from their
order, since a branch of the Benedictine
order is called the Olivetans.
St Benedict is said to have prophesied
that before the end of the world,
a member of his order would be Pope
and would triumphantly lead the Church
in its fight against evil. While the
Holy Father chose the name “Benedict”,
this does not seem enough to fulfil the
prophecy. Nor is it clear how
Benedict XVI (a Bavarian) is
“Glory of the Olives”. Since he is said
to have remarked in the Conclave
after saying he would take the name
Benedict that it was partly to honour
Benedict XV, a pope of peace and
reconciliation, perhaps Benedict XVI
will be a peacemaker in the Church
or in the World, and thus carry
the olive branch.
 Petrus RomanusIn persecutione extrema S.R.E.
sedebit Petrus Romanus, qui pascet
oves in multis tribulationibus: quibus
transactis civitas septicollis diruetur,
& Judex tremêdus judicabit populum
suum. Finis.
(In extreme persecution, the seat
of the Holy Roman Church will be
occupied by Peter the Roman,
who will feed the sheep through
many tribulations, at the term of
which the city of seven hills will
be destroyed, and the formidable
Judge will judge his people.
The End.)



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