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Do the prophecies of St. Malachy suggest we are living in the end times?
Catholic Answers ^ | Unknown | Catholic Answers Staff

Posted on 02/11/2013 9:47:24 AM PST by Alex Murphy

Full Question

Someone in my parish told me about the prophesies of St. Malachy, which he claims, prove that we are nearing the end of times. What are these prophesies?

Answer

St. Malachy was an Irish bishop who lived in the 12th century. By far the more famous of his prophecies concerns the sequence of popes.

The prophecy consist of 112 short Latin descriptions of future popes; the prophecies were discovered in 1590 and attributed to Malachy. Each description indicates one identifying trait for each future pope, beginning with Celestine II, who was elected in 1130. In some instances, the descriptions hit home in an uncanny way; they have led to centuries of speculation that the prophecy might be a real one.

For instance, the description of the future John XXII (1316-1334) is "de sutore osseo"--"from the bony shoemaker." This pope was the son of a shoemaker, and his family name was "Ossa," which means bone. In another example, "lilium et rosa" was the phrase used to describe the pope who would be Urban VIII (1623-1644), whose family coat-of-arms was covered with "lilies and roses."

Malachy's prophecy has been cast into doubt by the fact that the descriptions become vague from the 16th century on--about the time the prophecy was "discovered" in the Roman Archives. But there have been a few good matches in modern times. The phrase "pastor et nauta," meaning "shepherd and sailor," was attributed to John XXIII. This pope hailed from Venice, historically a city of sailors, and on the day he took office he indicated the goal of his pontificate was to be "a good shepherd."

There have been many more misses, though. Describing the popes to follow John XXIII are the phrases "flower of flowers" (Paul VI), "from a half-moon" (John Paul I), and "from the toil of the sun" (John Paul II), none of which is an obvious connection. After our current pope there are only two left in Malachy's prophecy, "the glory of the olive" and "Peter the Roman." The latter will supposedly lead the Church through many tribulations, concluding with the last judgment.

Is "Malachy's" prophecy legitimate? Probably not. The consensus among modern scholars is that it is a 16th-century forgery created for partisan political reasons.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Ministry/Outreach
KEYWORDS: saintmalachy
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The prophecy consist of 112 short Latin descriptions of future popes; the prophecies were discovered in 1590 and attributed to Malachy. Each description indicates one identifying trait for each future pope, beginning with Celestine II, who was elected in 1130....Malachy's prophecy has been cast into doubt by the fact that the descriptions become vague from the 16th century on--about the time the prophecy was "discovered" in the Roman Archives....Is "Malachy's" prophecy legitimate? Probably not. The consensus among modern scholars is that it is a 16th-century forgery created for partisan political reasons.
1 posted on 02/11/2013 9:47:32 AM PST by Alex Murphy
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To: xsmommy; SunkenCiv

ping


2 posted on 02/11/2013 9:49:57 AM PST by Perdogg (Mark Levin - It's called the Bill of Rights not Bill of Needs)
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To: Alex Murphy

We Catholics really don’t pay that much attention to this.
It’s pretty much been debunked.

Why are you?

Is this like a Protestant thing?


3 posted on 02/11/2013 9:57:01 AM PST by OpusatFR
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To: Alex Murphy

We Catholics really don’t pay that much attention to this.
It’s pretty much been debunked.

Why are you?

Is this like a Protestant thing? You’ve posted this twice in a similar vein.


4 posted on 02/11/2013 9:57:37 AM PST by OpusatFR
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To: Perdogg

There have been many more misses, though.


i.e. False prophet.


5 posted on 02/11/2013 9:59:06 AM PST by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: Alex Murphy

Here’s my prediction:

Whatever name the next Pope picks someone will be able to find a connection to the name Peter.


6 posted on 02/11/2013 10:04:49 AM PST by DManA
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To: Alex Murphy

Here’s my prediction:

Whatever name the next Pope picks someone will be able to find a connection to the name Peter.


7 posted on 02/11/2013 10:06:30 AM PST by DManA
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To: Alex Murphy

Can’t be any worse than the Mayan’s calendar........


8 posted on 02/11/2013 10:07:36 AM PST by Red Badger (Lincoln freed the slaves. Obama just got them ALL back......................)
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To: Alex Murphy

I’d rather read Daniel and Revelation as to when Yashua may return. It’s not when He returns it’s THAT He returns that’s important.


9 posted on 02/11/2013 10:09:55 AM PST by SkyDancer (Live your life in such a way that the Westboro church will want to picket your funeral.)
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To: Alex Murphy

Mathew 24:36

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.


10 posted on 02/11/2013 10:11:26 AM PST by BradtotheBone (Moderate Democrat - A politician whose voting record leans left and whose vote can be bought.)
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Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: Perdogg

I don’t know a single practicing Catholic who takes this nonsense seriously. I certainly do not.


13 posted on 02/11/2013 10:13:52 AM PST by pgkdan ( "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Alex Murphy
Old news.

St. Malachy's prophecy, misread?
Saint Malachy, Prophecies about 112 popes until the end of the world, the last five Popes
A POPE DESCRIBED AS 'FROM THE SUN' WAS BORN DURING ECLIPSE AND LEAVES WITH ONE
RATZINGER APPEARS TO FULFILL MALACHY PROPHECY [De Gloria Olivae]
Malachy's Prophecies - The Last 10 Popes
Prophecy of St Malachy (with list of Popes)

14 posted on 02/11/2013 10:14:13 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Alex Murphy

http://popes-and-papacy.com/wordpress/?p=5921

“How do you solve a problem like Tarcisio? Some have even gone so far as to call him the fulfillment of St. Malachy’s prophet of the end times by pointing to him as ‘Peter the Roman.’

In recent months leading up to Vaticangate, Bertone has been seen as trying to consolidate power in the Vatican in making all dicasteries and offices to report directly to him, and no one going to the pope before coming to him. Bertone has become custom to making decisions for the pope and much of his antics are not lost on one of the Vatican’s most knowledgeable and reputable reporters/bloggers, Sandro Magister.”


15 posted on 02/11/2013 10:14:35 AM PST by RummyChick
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To: Alex Murphy
Hey, Alex! Nobody gives a rip about this long-since debunked "Malachy" character ...

Now ... if you're really interested, you might look up what (if anything) the Mothman has to say about it.

16 posted on 02/11/2013 10:17:35 AM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: cuban leaf

Perhaps. The ones the excerpt says has no obvious connections have connections.

Flower of Flowers. PAUL VI. 1963-1978. Paul’s coat-of-arms depicts three fleurs-de-lis, corresponding to Malachay’s prophecy. His coat of arms included three fleurs-de-lis (iris blossoms).

Of the Half Moon. JOHN PAUL I. 1978-1978. John Paul I was elected Pope on August 26, 1978, when there was a half moon. He reigned 33 days, that is, about one month, when he died, although many think he was murdered. He was the 109th Pope - is “De Medietate Lunae” (Of the Half Moon). The corresponding pope was John Paul I (1978-78), who was born in the diocese of Belluno (beautiful moon) and was baptized Albino Luciani (white light). He became pope on August 26, 1978, when the moon appeared exactly half full. It was in its waning phase. He died the following month, soon after an eclipse of the moon.

The Labor of the Son. JOHN PAUL II. 1978-2005. Pope John Paul II was the most traveled Pope in history. He circled the globe numerous times, preaching to huge audiences everywhere he went. He survived an assassination attempt. He has written a book which has enjoyed a large circulation. Like the sun which never ceases to labor and provides light daily, this Pope has been incessant. He was born on May 18, 1920. On that date in the morning there was a near total eclipse of the sun over Europe. Prophecy - The 110th Pope is “De Labore Solis” (Of the Solar Eclipse, or, From the Toil of the Sun). Like the sun he came out of the East (Poland).


17 posted on 02/11/2013 10:21:53 AM PST by null and void (Gun confiscation enables tyranny. Don't enable tyranny.)
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To: RummyChick
How do you solve a problem like Tarcisio? Some have even gone so far as to call him the fulfillment of St. Malachy’s prophet of the end times by pointing to him as ‘Peter the Roman.’

In recent months leading up to Vaticangate, Bertone has been seen as trying to consolidate power in the Vatican in making all dicasteries and offices to report directly to him, and no one going to the pope before coming to him. Bertone has become custom to making decisions for the pope and much of his antics are not lost on one of the Vatican’s most knowledgeable and reputable reporters/bloggers, Sandro Magister.”

Oooh, that's an inspiration right there. I may have to try my hand at waxing lyrical once again!

18 posted on 02/11/2013 10:25:13 AM PST by Alex Murphy ("If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all" - Isaiah 7:9)
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To: Alex Murphy

I was reading last night in the non scriptural book of BARNABAS. In it he mentions how the first week of creation mimics the end times.

According to him, the world will last 6000 years, then enter 1000 years of rest. One thousand years for each day of creation. This would coincide with the time Satan is locked in the bottomless pit for 1000 years in the book of Revelation.

As this is the Hebrew year 5774. That would mean we have 226 years before the 1000 years of rest.

SO LETS PARTY LIKE IT IS 5999! (Ok, there was no call for that.)

But it does make one wonder what Christ said.

Luk 18:8....... Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?


19 posted on 02/11/2013 10:33:15 AM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar (Click my name! See new paintings!)
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To: BradtotheBone

None will no the day and hour. But could someone know the week or month or year or decade or century?


20 posted on 02/11/2013 10:50:10 AM PST by Terry Mross (How long before America is no more?)
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