Posted on 04/29/2005 9:58:31 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
Beware you wicked people!
Doomsayers Say Benedict Fits World End Prophecy
ROME (Reuters) - Pope Benedict's ascent to the papacy took a conclave of 115 cardinals, four rounds of voting and followed a lifetime of service to the Vatican.
But ask Internet doomsayers eyeing a 12th century Catholic prophecy and they'll tell you it was all stitched up more than eight centuries ago and that judgment day is nigh.
The prophecy -- widely dismissed by scholars as a hoax -- is attributed to St. Malachy, an Irish archbishop recognized by members of the Church for his ability to read the future.
Benedict, believers say, fits the description of the second-to-last pope listed under the prophecy before the Last Judgement, when the bible says God separates the wicked from the righteous at the end of time.
"The Old Testament states: 'believe his prophets and you will prosper' -- so believe it. We are close to the return of the Judge of the nations. Christ is coming," wrote one Internet post by the Rev. Pat Reynolds.
"Thank God for the witness of St. Malachy."
St. Malachy was said to have had a vision during a trip to Rome around 1139 of the remaining 112 Popes. The new pope would be number 111 on that list, and is described in a text attributed to St. Malachy as the "Glory of the Olive."
To connect Benedict, a pale, bookish German, to anything olive takes some imagination. But Malachy-watchers point to the choice of the name Benedict -- an allusion to the Order of Saint Benedict, a branch of which is known as the Olivetans.
"When (he) chose the name Benedict XVI, this was seen as fulfilling the prophecy for this pope," wrote one entry on www.wikipedia.org.
Benedict said that he chose the name partly in honor of Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922), calling him a "courageous prophet of peace." On Wednesday, Benedict dedicated his papacy to "the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples."
"Perhaps Benedict XVI will be a peacemaker in the Church or in the world, and thus carry the olive branch," speculated www.catholic-pages.com.
Another site, www.bibleprobe.com, went even further, showing a picture of Benedict holding olive branches in March during Palm Sunday celebrations.
"Is this the Pope of Peace (olive)?" it asked in the caption.
Critics widely dismiss the Malachy prophecy as a forgery and possible propaganda meant to influence a 16th century conclave. Doses of skepticism even appear on the most energetic Malachy web pages.
But believers point out similarities between the prophecy's descriptions and past pontificates.
Pope John Paul II, number 110, was described in the prophecy as "de labore solis" -- or "of the labor of the sun."
He was born on May 18, 1920, the same day as a solar eclipse. The pontiff was buried on April 8, 2005 -- the same day as a partial eclipse, visible in the Americas.
More pressing for doomsayers are the prophecy's references to the last Pope on the list, Peter the Roman, who will lead the Church before "the formidable judge will judge his people."
Since Benedict is already 78 years old, they say Peter the Roman must be coming soon, and with him, the end of the world.
"His reign will only last a few years at most. This signals that we are living in what may be the end of days as we know it," said one Web Site entry by someone calling himself SmartBob.
That's incredible - this stuff made Yahoo News !?!?!?!?!
Crap, and the fiancee and I have been putting all that money into 401Ks and IRAs.
I'll be sure to stop that madness ASAP! I could use the extra $500 a month.
Well, according to the Maya, we have until 2112.
If Hillary clinton becomes President the it's apocalypse now.
So little time, so much scotch and soda.
No, the photo shows him carrying palm branches.
On Palm Sunday no less!
I guess that whole Social Security thing is pretty much pointless now.
December 21, 2012
The world does end today, at least for moviegoers.
What ever.
According to Salazar (Colo. Sen.), Dobson is the anti-christ so I guess all the big plans are coming together.
With all the trouble W is having getting judges in place, I'm guessing we're safe for a little longer.
---sarc---
My mom's been warning me that the end of the world is coming for about the past 30 years.
This "stuff" is burning up the net.
I think the prophesy is silly, but it takes little imagination to connect Pope Benedict XVI to olives. I mean, that's just one dinky step. Benedict --> Olivetans.
"Well, according to the Maya, we have until 2112."
That's 2012.
I guessed it was a reference to Olivia Newton John but what do I know
DOH!
Thanks for correcting my "whuups!".
Will you become Peter the Roman?
Can't. 2112 came out in 1976.
Ah! But wait! If 2112 came out in 1976, and 1976 was the bicentennial, then that means 2x1976 = 3952 + 2122 = 6064, which when you add up THOSE digits 6+0+6+4 = 16 and 1+6 = 7 and 7 is the number of days in the week!
*gasp!*
It's the end of the world!
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