Posted on 04/17/2005 12:39:43 AM PDT by NYer
Rome, April 11 (Reuters): Maybe it describes the colour of his skin or place of birth.
But the next Pope will be the Olive Pope, according to a 12th century prophecy that foresees just two remaining pontificates before the end of the world.
The often-cited and contested prediction is attributed to St Malachy, an Irish archbishop recognised by members of the church for his ability to read the future and who was canonised more than 800 years ago.
St Malachy was said to have had a vision during a trip to Rome around 1139 of the remaining 112 Popes before the Last Judgment, the time when the Bible says God separates the wicked from the righteous at the end of time.
The next Pope will be number 111 on that list and is described in the text as the Glory of the Olive.
Like any good prophecy, there is plenty of room for interpretation: he could be olive skinned, heralding from Latin America, Africa or the Mediterranean.
It could even be a Pope of Jewish origin, since the olive branch is a biblical symbol for the people of Israel, speculated Italys La Stampa paper.
Malachy-watchers had long speculated the Olive Pope would come from the Order of Saint Benedict, a branch of which is known as the Olivetans. But at the age of 93, the only Benedictine cardinal is now too old to become Pope. The cut-off age is 80.
The Malachy prophecy has been the subject of controversy for centuries. Critics say it is a forgery, possibly distributed as campaign propaganda in the late 16th century to favour a cardinal during the conclave.
But believers point to similarities with the pontiffs. Pope John Paul II, number 110, was described in the prophecy as de labore solis or of the labour 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.
Some take the prophecy relating to John Paul less literally and say it simply referred to the Polish Popes birthplace in eastern Europe. The sun rises in the East. The 109th on the list, Pope John Paul I, was dubbed as de medietate lunae or half moon by the prophecy.
More pressing, perhaps, for doomsayers are the references to the last Pope on the list Petrus Romanus, or Peter the Roman, and makes mention of the destruction of the city of seven hills Rome.
"The clincher for me is that the list LEAVES OUT some of the antipopes . . . the easy way to make a sequential list "come out right" is to monkey around with the order."
You are, in my opinion, very right. Since Vatican II I'm pretty sure there have been a number of self-proclaimed "Popes," so therefore, anti-popes. Then, we must be consistent, and add them: so, that means the world must have already ended, and we all missed the bus.
All I can say: prophecy can be sketchy, so let's all just approach it prayerfully.
Let me clarify; in my post I was not as clear as I should have been.
By "sketchy" I do not mean people sent by God have lied, told half-truths, etc; I mean there are charlatans who have lied, but their "prophecies" have still been propagated and still muddy the waters, so to speak. This is what makes the study of prophecy "sketchy" sometimes.
Also, I don't deny that St. Malachy was holy, but I am suspicious of this list.
Well, Nostradamus did mention Hister....Hitler...that is no coincidence.
Malachy has been remarkably accurate.
What is the olive connection? Something with Lebanon?
They'll keep pointing that out as long as the world fails to end on schedule . . .
We know not the day nor the hour.
"Hister" is the ancient name for the Danube River.
Nobody ever tells you about all the "prophecies" by Michel de Notre-Dame that were just flat wrong. Like the one in which he predicted prosperity for the King of France - who died before the book went to press . . . oops. But by ignoring the misses and touting the hits (or even the near-hits, or stuff that's just arguably a semi-hit, like the "Hister" business), everybody makes him sound like a prophet.
Sounds like another Italian to me.
Interesting. Thanks for the info.
I guess it is easy to want to believe.
Prophecy can be very difficult to decipher, especially if it is heavily coded (think Revelations). It comes through the filter of the individual which must be taken into account. Early on some of the Church Fathers dismissed St. John's book but it made it into the final canon nonetheless.
End result, prophecy can only be interpreted after the fact. Some people are into it, some people aren't. Nostradamus and St. Malachy have been wrongfully maligned for centuries.
Prayer always has the ability to change things.
Thank you for the list. My Italian father's side of the family are related to Martin V. We go way back...sw
STICKLER Alfons Maria
Second of 12 children, Cardinal Stickler was born in Neunkirchen, near Vienna, Austria, on August 23, 1910. He student of Salesians, he entered the Salesian novitiate in Germany, professing his first vows on August 15, 1928. He continued his studies in Rome, and was ordained on March 27, 1937. He finished his degree in Canon Law in 1940 and became a professor at the Salesian University, first in Turin and then, from 1957, in Rome. From 1958 to 1966 he was Rector of the University. In 1971, Stickler was appointed Prefect of the Vatican Library; he is credited with the construction of the underground depository where the ancient manuscripts are stored. He served as an expert at Vatican II and as Librarian and Archivist of Holy Roman Church between May 27, 1985, and July 1, 1988. On September 8, 1983 he was named Archbishop with personal title to the titular Church of Bolsena. John Paul II then elevated him to the cardinalate during the Consistory of May 25, 1985.
Well Look at it this way A Jewish Man saved the entire world from eternal death...
Make that a Vodka Martini, shaken not stirred.....
Ole Martini McKennedy may make it at last?
If olive oil comes from pressed olives, and corn oil comes from pressed corn . . . . where does baby oil come from?
Cardinal Arinze
Good G-D do know person be strong!!!Thank you all I do feel we do will know new Papiez 20 April 2005 I do not know this is not important this is important be strong pray G-D do will help thank you all
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