PROPHETIC STIR CONTINUES OVER DEATH OF ONE POPE AND THE ELEVATION OF ANOTHER

A prophetic stir continues under the radar of mass media, and it attaches, of course, to recent events. There was the death of mystic Maria Esperanza of Venezuela, who said that the year 2004 would kick off a series of major events. There were the subsequent hurricanes. There was the tsunami. There was the death of Sister Lucia of Fatima. There was the death of John Paul II -- long linked to the prophetic pulse -- and the elevation of a man who in a striking fashion calls himself Benedict.

The very name Benedict resonated because however much segments of the secularized press try to dismiss it, it seemed to connect powerfully with an alleged prophecy by St. Malachy of Ireland, who many centuries ago saw the lineage of popes and seemed to describe the current one as associated with the olive. One faction of the Benedictines, who are named for St. Benedict, and closely tied to the former Cardinal Ratzinger, use the olive branch as their symbol.

The fact that a number of articles leading up to his election raised the possibility of a connection to Benedict (as the likeliest fulfillment of the supposed prophecy) is highly compelling. However much scholars may try to dismiss it, and whatever the other details, the fact that so many speculated, based on the prophecy, that the next Pope would be connected to Benedictines made it a "hit."

But dismiss it the skeptics try to do. Said one such doubter, apparently a prominent priest, about those who believe the St. Malachy prediction: ''I think it's the same reason why some people were so gullible to believe what's in The DaVinci Code. People like conspiracy. They like the idea of hidden prophecies. They don't like to trust completely in God, that the future is in his hands.''

It is unclear, to be sure, how, as above, belief in prophecy can be disassociated from trust in God (the New Testament calls prophecy one of the great signs of closeness to Him), and equally unclear how such a comment gels with esoteric prophecies in Ezekiel and the Book of Revelation.

But we can agree that a message of caution is in order. There are the highly suspect Bible "codes," which we should keep at a distance, and many are the prophecies related to Rome that have proven to be erroneous.

"The new Pontiff will be announced soon," said one circulating on the internet right after the death of John Paul II. "There are procedures that must be followed at the Vatican. But do not be fooled my dear, dear children. This newly chosen Pope will not be one of us. He will confuse and change many things about the church and her beliefs, children. The changes will upset many people of this world."

Such seems at best confusing with the election of a Pope who was so close to John Paul II and who in fact is famous for his staunch orthodoxy in protecting the liturgy.

Compare that to another alleged locution: "In contemplative prayer this morning, Our Lord, Jesus, came to me saying, 'Beloved, I love you. Today I come, asking for much prayer and sacrifice for my Vicar, Benedict XVI. He’s been given a Cross that no other man can carry. I prepared and anointed him for this through the Pontificate of John Paul II, who is now with me. Satan is using many tools to try and wear him down, but he will not succeed. He has many enemies, especially within the Church. Many are angry and disappointed that he was elected Shepherd. I AM with him just as I AM with you, my true followers. His special gift to you, My Church, is that he will also preach 'Truth.' He will not bend, will not sway, will not compromise, will not water down the Gospel, nor mislead my Church."

Was it St. Benedict himself who said, "Pray for your enemies in the love of Christ, make peace, before the setting of the sun, with those from whom you have been separated by discord, and never despair of the mercy of God"?

John Paul was supposedly "from the labor of the sun," if we subscribe to St. Malachy.

Perhaps most enthralling was the way a Catholic named Ronald L. Conte seemed to presage the enthronement of Benedict. "Some say that this prediction of St. Malachy, 'from the Glory of the Olive,' refers to the Order of St. Benedict, because they have a well-known group within their order called the 'Olivetans,'" Conte had said before the election. "There is some merit to this idea. But it does not mean that this Pope will come from the Order of St. Benedict, but rather that he will take the name of Saint Benedict and will live in imitation of him. The next Pope after John Paul II will take the name Pope Benedict XVI, in imitation of Saint Benedict and also of Pope Benedict XV. Just as Pope Benedict XV was an emissary of peace, so will Pope Benedict XVI be an emissary of peace."

That's a direct hit. According to internet archives, the prophecy was first issued in 2001 and then again in each subsequent year, most recently on March 19, 2004. Now, he wasn't alone. There was a secular writer who kind of foresaw things (buying the domain name "Benedict XVI"), and in Ireland bettors even put money on the exact name of the new Pope based on that Malachy prophecy.

But Conte goes off to predict the very year of Christ's return (we don't think anyone knows that), and it is best to stay, in this case, perhaps, with the more familiar prophets -- like St. John Bosco.

As a writer named Matthew Tsakanikas notes:

"The speedy election of Pope Benedict took not only Rome but most the world by surprise. It truly seemed that no sooner had the Pope died that another had received the office. The news of Pope John Paul’s death seemed to coincide with the election of Joseph Ratzinger. In fact, it was one of the fastest elections in centuries of Church history. The media was in frenzied speculation of a more 'liberal' Pope only to be left dumbfounded and speechless as Joseph Ratzinger appeared from behind the Cardinals as Benedict XVI.

"What is so striking about the election is its seeming symmetry with Saint John Bosco’s dream vision of the 'Two Pillars.' Recorded seven years before the First Vatican Council the dream seemingly prophesied two ecumenical councils which follow one another, followed by a Pope who 'falls gravely wounded' during a bizarre gun and propaganda battle as sea. The wounded figure is lifted back up and is understood to fight to finish steering the ship to anchor at the two pillars of the Eucharist and Mary, but dies in battle.

"Knowing that the 'Third Secret of Fatima' pointed to a Pope who is gunned down and that it was Pope John Paul II, it is hard not to identify the figure who apparently is gunned down but survives in Saint John Bosco’s dream as the same Pope John Paul II. In his desire to give witness to the value of suffering with Christ we can even see John Paul the Great’s on-going battle with the culture of death right until the moment of his death as the same figure in the dream who is 'struck, falls again and dies;' having worn-himself-out for the Church.

"It is the language describing the election of the next Pope in St. John Bosco’s dream that is so striking: 'But hardly is the Pontiff dead than another takes his place. The pilots, having met together, have elected the Pope so promptly that the news of the death of the Pope coincides with the news of the election of the successor. The adversaries begin to lose courage.' If the figure who is gunned down but lived through that first attack was Pope John Paul II - as Fatima causes us to suspect - then quite possibly we are witnessing the fulfillment of the final part of the vision with the rapid election of Pope Benedict. This is not said as though there is a logical certainty to this speculation. It is said to give hope. The same hope which Pope John Paul spoke to us about when he talked of a new Springtime for Christianity.

"Having been elected just as Spring begins this year, dare we hope for the fulfillment of the prophetic dream during the reign of Pope Benedict XVI? If so: 'The new Pope, putting the enemy to rout and overcoming every obstacle, guides the ship right up to the two columns and comes to rest between them; he makes it fast with a light chain that hangs from the bow to an anchor of the column on which stands the Host; and with another light chain which hangs from the stern, he fastens it at the opposite end to another anchor hanging from the column on which stands the Immaculate Virgin.

"At this point, a great convulsion takes place. All the ships that until then had fought against the Pope's ship are scattered; they flee away, collide and break to pieces one against another. Some sink and try to sink others. Several small ships that had fought gallantly for the Pope race to be the first to bind themselves to those two columns. Many other ships, having retreated through fear of the battle, cautiously watch from far away; the wrecks of the broken ships having been scattered in the whirlpools of the sea, they in their turn sail in good earnest to those two columns, and having reached them, they make themselves fast to the hooks hanging down from them and their they remain safe, together with the principal ship, on which is the Pope. Over the sea there reigns a great calm.'"

From EWTN's website:

I find the answer you gave to the question on this topic below unsatisfying. Despite being found well after the death of St. Malachy, the prophecy has been surprisingly accurate, e.g., when calling Pope John Paul II "de labore solis", which well before his election was assumed to refer to a solar eclipse. John Paul II was born on the day of a solar eclipse. Pope Benedict XVI is, according to the prophecy, "gloria olivae", the glory of the olive, which was always held to be a reference to Benedict or the Benedictines. Joseph Ratzinger's choice of name makes me wonder if he was thinking of the prophecy when he chose his name. Hard to imagine he would not know about that prophecy.

And you did not comment on the fact that the prophecy only lists one more name after "Gloria olivae", the pope described as "Petrus Romanus." Some say there is no explicit mention that there will be no additional popes between "Gloria olivae" and "Petrus Romanus." What reason do they give for assuming that there will be more popes than those on the list? That assumption is not obvious, and in need of justification.

Answered on 4/25/2005:

It seems to have been more accurate for the last few popes than the ones between 1590 and 1958. That may only be because we are alive during these times and able to find more convincing connections owing to our greater familiarity with these popes over previous ones.

I seriously doubt that Joseph Ratzinger intended any allusion whatsover to the Malachy list by the choice of his papal name. The explanation that he gave to the Cardinals is simple and sufficient, without resorting to alleged prophecy. Nor did Pope John Paul II take it into account, apparently, when he spoke of a Civilization of Love and the new evangelization of the Third Millennium. Nor, did Our Lady of Fatima seem to consider it when speaking of an era of peace following the trial of the world caused by Russian communism, or John Bosco or other approved mystics who likewise refer or allude to a coming era of history under various names. (see my FAQ on the Endtimes.)

So, ought a Catholic to give credence to a questionable prophecy which the Church has never sanctioned over popes, and saints, and blesseds, and apparitions that she has approved? Probably not a good idea. But if one MUST attempt a reconciliation, it may simply be that "the era of peace" is the silence in the list between Glory of the Olive and the Pope of the time of the antichrist (Peter the Roman), a silence which some have suggested can also be found in Scripture (Rev. 8:1), before the unleashing of the events of the End. Since we cannot know how long that period lasts, we can be comforted by the words of the present pontiff, who once gave his opinion that we are NOT at the end of the world.

I should have posted this first:

I can't remember the source but I remember being told that their were predictions regarding the Popes that appeared to refer to JPII. The first part of the preditcion was that the Pope would attacked but survive but later in life he would die by blood. The Pope would be one of gentleness but the next pope would be more of an enforcer. Do you know anything about this prediction? Thank you

Answered on 4/24/2005:

This is the Dream of St. John Bosco regarding the two pillars. A pope is struck down, rises and is struck down or falls a second time. His successor succeds in tying the Barque of Peter up to the pillars of devotion to the Eucharist and devotion to Mary. Then the little boats on Peter's side tie up to his, while those who oppose him are swamped. It would SEEM to refer to JP2 and B16.

Below is the Two Pillars Dream. St. John Bosco also had another, which is called the Long March, and which suggests a glorious day sometime around the Millennium. Another, of Bl. Anna Maria Taigi, spoke of the turmoil of the latter part of the 20th century, followed by victory. We shall see. Prophecy is often symbolic, and so our interpretations can easily be wrong, as that of the apostles in trying to situate Jesus' ministry in the prophecies of the Scriptures. The best advice is still: trust in God, hope in Him.

I might add that no prophecy of St. John Bosco has been known to fail. Visiting St. Peter's he once said to someone, "one day I shall be up there," pointing to an empty niche. He was not understood. But today, that is where his statue stands.

__________________________________________

It was May 30, 1862, penultimate day of the Month of Our Lady. After night prayers, before hundreds of boys went to bed, Don Bosco started like this:

"I want to recount to you a dream. It is true that he who dreams does not reason. In spite of that, I, who would recount to you even my sins if I were not afraid of making all of you run away and making the house collapse, will narrate it to you for your spiritual benefit. I had this dream a few days ago.

"Just imagine you were with me on a sea beach, or rather, on an isolated cliff and you did not see any other landscape except that under your feet. On that vast surface of water there was an innumerable multitude of ships arrayed for battle. Their prows were equipped with a beak of sharp iron in the form of a knife or arrow which hurt and pierced through where it clove. These ships were armed with cannons, equipped with guns and arms of every kind, incendiary materials and even books. They advanced against another ship much bigger and taller than all of them, trying to ram it with their beaks, to set fire to it, or at least to cause any possible damage to it.

"Behind that majestic flag-ship, equipped on all sides, there was a convoy of many small ships and sailing vessels which took signals of command from her and carried out operations of self-defense from the enemy fleets. The wind was against them and the agitated sea seemed to favor the enemy.

"In the midst of the immense expanse of the sea there sprung up from the waves two very high pillars, one a little distant from the other. On top of one there was the statue of the Immaculate Virgin, at whose feet hung a large placard with this writing on it: Auxilium Christianorum (Help of Christians)—over the other which was much bigger and higher, there was a Host proportionate in size to the pillar, and below it there was a placard with these words: Salus Credentium (Salvation of Believers).

"The Supreme Commander on the big ship, who was the Roman Pontiff, saw the fury of the enemies and the crucial situation in which his faithful were involved. He decided to convene around him the pilots of the minor ships (that is, the bishops) for consultation and measures to be taken. All the pilots went up and assembled around the Pope.

"They held council [Vatican Council I?], but since the wind became more furious, they were sent back to control their own ships.

"The situation having improved a little bit, the Pope assembled the pilots around him for the second time [Vatican Council II?], while the flag ship continues its course. But the tempest became frightful again.

"The Pope remained at the helm and exerted all his efforts to steer the ship to the middle of the pillars from the top of which were hung all around many anchors and huge hooks attached to chains.

"All the enemy ships made a rush to attack her and went all out to capture and sink her. Some with writings, books, and incendiary materials with which they were fully armed were trying to slant her; others with their cannons, guns and beaks. The fighting became more and more fierce. With the prows, the enemy made violent thrusts, but their efforts and assaults proved ineffective. Their repeated attempts proved unavailing. All their exertions and munitions ended in sheer waste. The big flag ship proceeded safe and undeterred in her course. It happened that now and then she received formidable hits which made large and deep cracks in her sides. But no sooner had she inhaled a puff of air [Holy Spirit?] coming from the two pillars than the damages and the gaps were closed and the rifts plugged. In the meanwhile, the cannons of the attackers burst, the guns snapped, so also were other arms, and the books were destroyed. Many ships were attacking from close quarters with small arms: with the hands, with blasphemies and curses.

"Somehow or other, the Pope was hit seriously and fell down. Once those around him went to his rescue and lifted him. The Pope was hit the second time. He fell down again and expired. A shout of victory and jubilation arose from the enemies. There was rejoicing in their ships. But immediately after the death of the Pontiff, another Pope was installed in his place. The assembled pilots had elected him so quickly that the notice of the death of the Pope arrived with the notice of the election of his successor. The adversaries began to lose courage.

"By dislodging and overcoming every obstacle, the new Pope managed to steer the ship up to the two pillars and on arriving between them, he tied it with a chain which hung from the prow to an anchor of the pillar on top of which there was the Host; then with another chain he tied it from the side opposite to another anchor attached to the pillar on which was placed the Immaculate Virgin.

"Now followed a great upheaval. All the ships which up to that moment had fought against the flag ship on which the Pope sat, took to flight, and dispersed, knocked and clashed with one another. Some went down and tried to sink the others. Some small ships which had fought bravely together with the Pope came along with the former to tie themselves to those pillars.

"Many other ships which had retreated for fear of battle remained at a great distance, watching prudently, until the wreckage of all the shattered ships were swallowed up in the gorges of the sea. Then they moved very slowly in the direction of the two pillars. As soon as they arrived there, they attached themselves to the hanging hooks and remained there happy and safe, together with the flag ship on which the Pope was. A great calm reigned in the sea, a supreme calm it was."

At this point Don Bosco asked Don Rua, "What do you think of this narrative?"

Don Rua replied: "It seems to me that the ship of the Pope is the Church, whose head he is; the other ships are men; the sea is this world. Those who defend the huge ship are good people who love the Holy See; the others are her enemies who, with all sorts of arms, make attempts to annihilate her. The two pillars of salvation seem to be devotion to Mary Immaculate and the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist."

Don Rua did not mention the Pope who fell dead, so Don Bosco was also silent on this point. He only added: "You have said well. Only one expression must be corrected: the enemies' ships are the persecutions; they prepare very serious troubles for the Church. What has taken place so far is almost nothing compared with what will occur. Her enemies are the ships which make an attempt to sink the flag ship, if they can. There remain only two means to save ourselves in the midst of so much danger and confusion. Devotion to Mary Immaculate, frequent Confession and Communion. It is necessary to use every means and try our best to practice them and have them practiced everywhere and by all. Good night!"

Slowly and silently, the boys swarmed out to rest with the dream of the Two Pillars in their hearts: the filial love of Our Lady, who is the Mother of Adolescents and the sacramental life, which is the Eucharist. With these two great loves, their inclusion in the Church (attachment to the Pope) becomes joyful and beautiful—even if they have to fight. So boys perhaps do not like adventure and struggle?

It's also interesting to note that the bit about Peter the Roman was not in the first release of the St. Malachy prophecy...according to the sources that mention this, it ended with the Glory of the Olive, and it was only later that the Peter the Roman passage was added (with the insinuation that the Peter the Roman passage is an addition or interpolation that doesn't have any validity). Don't know if it's true or not, because I don't really have the resources to double check.

Don Bosco's prophecy, though, we know came from a real source, and is no chance a forgery:

On 30 May 1862 Don Bosco at his 'Good Night' talk told his boys, and the young clerics he was training, about a dream he had dreamt a few nights previously: he actually described it as a parable or allegory. Strictly speaking a parable is a general story with a deeper meaning, but one in which the points of the story may not all be significant, while in an allegory every detail is important and meaningful. In the case of Don Bosco's dream it is difficult to know just how significant each point is. After some preliminary remarks he went on to describe what he had seen:

"Try to picture yourselves with me on the seashore, or, better still, on an outlying cliff with no other land in sight. The vast expanse of water is covered with a formidable array of ships in battle formation, prows fitted with sharp spear-like beaks capable of breaking through any defence. All are heavily armed with cannons, incendiary bombs, and firearms of all sorts - even books - and are heading toward one stately ship, mightier than them all. As they try to close in, they try to ram it, set it afire, and cripple it as much as possible.

"This stately vessel is shielded by a flotilla escort. Winds and waves are with the enemy. In this midst of this endless sea, two solid columns, a short distance apart, soar high into the sky: one is surmounted by a statue of the Immaculate Virgin at whose feet a large inscription reads: Help of Christians; the other, far loftier and sturdier, supports a [Communion] Host of proportionate size and bears beneath it the inscription Salvation of believers.

"The flagship commander - the Roman Pontiff [the Pope]- seeing the enemy's fury and his auxiliary ships very grave predicament, summons his captains to a conference. However, as they discuss their strategy, a furious storm breaks out and they must return to their ships. When the storm abates, the Pope again summons his captains as the flagship keeps on its course. But the storm rages again. Standing at the helm, the Pope strains every muscle to steer his ship between the two columns from whose summits hang many anchors and strong hooks linked to chains.

"The entire enemy fleet closes in to intercept and sink the flagship at all costs. They bombard it with everything they have: books and pamphlets, incendiary bombs, firearms, cannons. The battle rages ever more furious. Beaked prows ram the flagship again and again, but to no avail, as, unscathed and undaunted, it keeps on its course. At times a formidable ram splinters a gaping hole into its hull, but, immediately, a breeze from the two columns instantly seals the gash.

"Meanwhile, enemy cannons blow up, firearms and beaks fall to pieces, ships crack up and sink to the bottom. In blind fury the enemy takes to hand-to-hand combat, cursing and blaspheming. Suddenly the Pope falls, seriously wounded. He is instantly helped up but, struck down a second time, dies. A shout of victory rises from the enemy and wild rejoicing sweeps their ships. But no sooner is the Pope dead than another takes his place. The captains of the auxiliary ships elected him so quickly that the news of the Pope's death coincides with that of his successor's election. The enemy's self-assurance wanes.

"Breaking through all resistance, the new Pope steers his ship safely between the two columns and moors it to the two columns; first to the one surmounted by the Host, and then to the other, topped by the statue of the Virgin. At this point something unexpected happens. The enemy ships panic and disperse, colliding with and scuttling each other. Some auxiliary ships which had gallantly fought alongside their flagship are the first to tie up at the two columns.

"Many others, which had fearfully kept far away from the fight, stand still, cautiously waiting until the wrecked enemy ships vanish under the waves. Then, they too head for the two columns, tie up at the swinging hooks, and ride safe and tranquil beside their flagship. A great calm now covers the sea."

At this point Don Bosco asked one of the priests present for his views. He replied that he thought that the flagship symbolised the Church headed by the Pope, with the ships representing mankind and the sea as an image of the world. The ships defending the flagship he equated with the laity and the attackers with those trying to destroy the Church, while the two columns represented devotion to Mary and the Eucharist.

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