Posted on 10/14/2007 8:25:58 PM PDT by Salvation
Note: The Church does not lean on private revelation for doctrinal matters, but it does not oppose to the faithful obtaining benefit from them so long as they don't go against our faith.
This analysis focuses on the last five Popes in the context of the prophecies of Saint Malachy.
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Saint Malachy was born in Amagh Ireland in 1094, he lived a religious life as a monk, then he was ordained priest and finally Bishop. He was canonized in 1199 by Pope Clement III. His biography was compiled by Saint Bernard, a contemporaneous saint.
He made a pilgrimage to Rome and during the end of the year 1139 and the beginning of 1140 had a series of visions about 112 Popes from Celestine III, elected Pontiff in 1130 until the last Pope who is described in his list as Peter Romanus.
After the last Roman Pontiff, Saint Malachy predicts the end of the world.
The Benedictine historian Arnold Wion was the first person to mention these prophecies in his book Lignum Vitae, published in 1559.
These prophecies are short, but they have demonstrated to be very accurate, even though in the time of their publication they caused much controversy as some claimed that they were falsified.
The book of prophecies of Saint Malachy was published originally in 1969 by Colin Smythe Ltd. in England, with the title "Prophecies of St. Malachy and St. Columbkille."
Tan Books published the book in the United States in 1973 with the title "Prophecies of Saint Malachy" its author is Peter Bander.
The foreword reads like this:
In publishing THE PROPHECIES OF SAINT MALACHY, Colin Smythe Limited have produced an instructive and entertaining book.
There is great deal of instant information in Peter Bander's nutshell biographical accounts of the popes who occupied the Roman See since the year 1143 to our present time - and indeed of the antipopes as well. The remarkable way in which the visions St Malachy is alleged to have had, are shown to apply to the succesive individual popes is most amusing. Is it not the case to repeat: "Se non e vero, e ben trovato"? (If it is not true, it is well rhymed)
Whatever one may think of the genuineness of the prophecies attributed to Saint Malachy, here is a fascinating study which provides the curious reader with much profit and pleasure.
Archbishop H.E. Cardinale
Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium and Luxemburg, until recently Apostolic Delegate to Great Britain.
It is curious to think that whenever there is a Conclave, the Cardinals read these prophecies of the saint, and even though they are not ecclesiastic authority they give an idea of what has happen and of what is to occur.
Prophecies of Saint Malachy
This study is an analysis based on private revelation and observations of what is taking place now. It is not to be taken as an official position of the Church. It is good to remind us of the words of the Lord: "stay awake."
The last five popes are mentioned with the following titles:
Flos Florum
De medietate Lunae
De Labore Solis
Gloria Olivae
Petrus Romanus
Flos Florum - Flower of flowers
Pope Paul VI
Pontiff from 1963 to 1978.
Giovanni Battista Montini. In his coat of arms there are three "fleurs de lis"
With great success he concluded Vatican Council II, he made rigorous reforms to the Roman Curia, he traveled the five continents and was called peregrine pope . In 1965 he was well received and accepted at his address to the UN. Author of the encyclicals opulorum progressio (1967), Humanae vitae July 24, 1968. He died in August 6, 1978, feast of the Transfiguration.
De medietate Lunae - Of the half moon
Papa Juan Pablo I ' Abino Luciani
Pontiff for 33 days.
He was born on 17 of October 1912 in Forno di Canale, called now Canale de Agordo, he was baptized the same day by his midwife, for fear of his death, he was later baptized by a priest.
After a life dedicated to the Church as a priest, he was elected Pope during the second day of the Conclave in August 26, 1978. He died of cardiac attack in September 28 1978, thirty three days after the beginning of his papacy.
"De la media luna" Of the half moon is a very accurate description regarding his beginning and also his short pontificate. Even his name Abino Luciani means white light, it has been mentioned that the most important events of his life took place in dates of half moon.
De Labore Solis - From the toil of the sun - or - Of the eclipse of the sun.
Pope John Paul II
Pontiff from 1978 to 2005
This description fits John Paul II perfectly, since he emerged as a especial light for the Catholic Church, promoting the faith from all angles. The works of John Paul II were truly the work of God, the labor of the sun.
The second meaning of "De labore solis" is a solar eclipse, in which the sun seems to struggle in order to give its light. Perhaps the fact that John Paul II, was a very Marian Pope who had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary, the woman clothed with the sun that appears in the Apocalypse, suggests that the sun (Our Lord) has been temporarily eclipsed by the moon (Our Lady).
John Paul II was a great humanist and peacemaker, a traveler Pope, proclaimer of the gospel in more than 130 countries throughout the world, author of many apostolic letters, encyclicals and books. Canonizer of more saints in his pontificate than any other Pope in all history. During his last years as Pope he concluded his pontificate proclaiming the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary and the Eucharist.
Year 1997. God the Son
Year 1998. God the Holy Spirit
Year 1999. God the Father
Year 2000
24 December 1999 - 6 January 2001Great Jubilee.
Year 2002-2003. Year of the Holy Rosary, institution of the Luminous mysteries.16 October 2002 - 31 October 2003
Year 2005. The Holy Eucharist. 17 October 2004 - 29 October 2005
Gloria Olivae - The Glory of the olive
Benedict XVI
Joseph Ratzinger
Starts Pontificate in April 2005
He chose his name in honor of Saint Benedict, author of the very strict rule of the Benedictines.
His motto is "Co-worker of the Truth."
He has been known even before becoming Pope as a conservative man, ready to defend the Catholic principles that represent the truth of the teachings of Christ.
Our new Pontiff is covered under the sign of the olive according to the prophecies of St. Malachy
The branches of the olive were symbols of peace and victory for Noah after the flood. Throughout history, we know that olive branches have made crowns for kings and athletes as symbols of power and glory. The olive tree thrives in silent areas, such as the garden of olives where Jesus suffered his agony before being arrested by the soldiers.
Olive oil has anointed kings, saints, popes and in a especial way all Christians.
The leaves and the oil of the olive tree have medicinal properties, derived from the oleic acid which is an anti cancer component. The good kitchen cannot exist without olive oil. The best paints have olive oil base, to give them luster and to increase their durability.
The olive is a symbol of peace, abundance, glory and purification.
The Church has been through a period of light, and now is the the time to celebrate and pick up the fruits of the previous pontificate of John Paul. It is quite possible that they will bring many conversions and an increase in the faith especially from the young people.
With the purifying properties of the olive, our new Pontiff comes to challenge error. He presents himself exposing the truth of our faith with a special courage, he is prepared to heal the cancer of heresy, the infection of apostasy and to promote the health of our Catholic faith.
According to the prophecies of Saint Malachy, Pope Benedict XVI is the Pope before the last one, named "Gloria Olivae" which means the glory of the olive, it is to be a time of glory and rejoicing for the true Church.
Due to the straightforwardness of our new Pontiff, great opposition is expected, but the Spirit of God is with him and we are in good hands.
Petrus Romanus - Peter Roman
The apostle Peter was the first Pope of the Church, elected directly by our Lord Jesus Christ:
You are Peter, the rock. On this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, whatever you loose on earth will be loose in Heaven. (Matthew 16:18-19)
Peter, the same as Christ, drank of the same chalice of suffering when he died as a martyr.
The body of Christ, the Church represents our Lord Jesus Christ.
The last two pontiffs will have to face the fury of the enemy who will make a violent persecution to Christianity. Faithful as Peter, the last Pontiff will take care of his flock in the midst of the attacks of the enemy.
2 Thessalonians 3-4 speaks of the apostasy of the last times before the second coming of Christ, when evil will be defying everything that is sacred. The man of iniquity, or the anti-Christ will take his seat in the temple of God.
This does not necessarily means the embodiment of the devil but if could mean the evil that is being accepted broadly when human beings who are temples of the spirit of God are being desecrated by their own wickedness.
Just as the Lord lived, taught us, gave us spiritual food and saved us by his death on the cross, the Church being the mystical body of Christ has a similar task. Therefore the church is to be persecuted, insulted and finally crucified, in preparation for the coming of the Lord.
But just as the Lord rose after his death, the Church will also be resurrected for the Glory of God.
No one knows the day nor the hour, but the Lord tells us to be ready.
The prophecies of Saint Malachy end like this:
In the persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will reign Peter the Roman, 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.
Guess it depends on whose ox is gored, huh? Words -- certain words, that is -- matter; content means nothing. At least I now know the proper words to use when refering to the RCC.
Islam?
Yeah I object to being called a heretic. I'm just funny like that. I'll bet you don't like your church being called a . . . whoops, verboten. You're so blinded by hate you can't even see that you're inflicting on others what you so object to yourself. "I was once a heretic myself," you say -- meaning "once a Protestant." That's filth, and you can't even see it.
In #43, the "Roman Mass" is condemned as blasphemy.
In #44 "protestantism" is condemned as heresy.
As I said, if the one goes, I'll be happy to see the other removed, as well.
As is, objecting to accusations of "heresy", whilst saying to to accusations of "blasphemy" strikes me as hypocritical.
YMMV.
***return the faith of the Apostles***
Examples of the “faith of the Apostles” include the “Epistle to the Corinthians,” written by Clement of Rome about the same time as the Gospel of St. John. He is the Clement mentioned by St. Paul in Philippians 4:3 as his “fellow-laborer.” Also the epistles of Ignatius, composed as he was going to his martyrdom which occurred December 20, 107 AD, the writings of Justin Martyr written around 150 AD, and the work “Against Heresies” written by Irenaeus of Lyons between 175-185 AD. Irenaeus was taught by Polycarp, who was personally taught by St. John the Apostle.
Your post shows that you have no knowledge of the Early Church and the “faith of the Apostles.” You might want to investigate. If you don’t want to hear what these Early Fathers had to say, you should at least read about them since they were martyrs for Jesus. We can all learn from their heroic faith.
Those would be the same guys who said that it was manifestly plain that popes and councils did err.
I'll turn their own medicine back on them: it is manifestly plain (to me) that the "Reformers" did err.
I'll stick with the Bible.
Without getting creative, I can't seem to find the RC Mass or transubstantiation in any of those ancient writings. You need to read a lot of medieval theology back into the text to get them where you want them to be.
Your post shows that you have no knowledge of the Early Church and the faith of the Apostles.
And your post demonstrates that you have no knowledge of my knowledge in this area.
I'll turn their own medicine back on them: it is manifestly plain (to me) that the "Reformers" did err.
Entirely possible. They have stated as such in their confession. No human institution is infallible. Nothing in the Bible says that any human or human institution is infallible.
As a protestant I have no trouble believing and trusting in a perfect, infallible God handing His Church over to undershepherds who are sinful, fallible men. Otherwise I would be tempted to worship these men, a form of idolatry.
I prefer to kiss the Son lest He be angry (Psalm 2) than kiss the ring or feet of a prelate.
I'll stick with the Bible.
Not as an RC you won't. You need the Magisterium to tell you what is right to believe.
So when I go to the Magisterium, and they point me to Scripture (Dei Verbum, Vatican II):
Therefore, since everything asserted by the inspired authors or sacred writers must be held to be asserted by the Holy Spirit, it follows that the books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching solidly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred writings (5) for the sake of salvation. Therefore "all Scripture is divinely inspired and has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error, for reformation of manners and discipline in right living, so that the man who belongs to God may be efficient and equipped for good work of every kind" (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Greek text).
... I'm back where I started.
Okay, I’ll put it my way, Protestants follow an incomplete religion.
So prove that statement wrong if you can. Show where Christ established many churches with diverse beliefs.
Let no man deceive himself. Both the things which are in heaven, and the glorious angels, and rulers, both visible and invisible, if they believe not in the blood of Christ, shall, in consequence, incur condemnation.... But consider those who are of a different opinion with respect to the grace of Christ which has come unto us, how opposed they are to the will of God. ... They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father, of His goodness, raised up again. Those, therefore, who speak against this gift of God, incur death in the midst of their disputes ... But avoid all divisions, as the beginning of evils. Ignatius of Antioch Letter to the Smyrnaeans Chpt. 6-7 AD 107
Seattle has 7 hills also, but all we rule is the coffee kingdom :>)
If you can’t find the Mass or transubstantiation in any of the writings of the Early Fathers, you haven’t read much. For a composite look at different writings, read “The Mass of the Early Christians” by Mike Aquilina. You will find more than enough examples.
By the way, the concept of “transubstantiation” was always in the Eucharist. It was just never verbalized until St. Thomas Aquinas explained it, using the Aristotelian concepts of “substance” and “accidents.” His is probably the greatest mind that had ever lived until that time. No one else had been able to articulate it.
Point taken that I have no knowledge of your knowledge. However, you write as if you don’t have any.
Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Haven't heard that one before.
HaShem put His Name literally on His Land.
shalom b'shem Yah'shua
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