Reuters article calls people like us "Internet Doomsdayers"
This story carried by Reuters relegates websites like this off as "Internet doomsdayers". In other words, the product of "wackos". The prophecy of St. Malachy has been around for about 9 centuries. I don't recall the press relegating it to "doomsdayers" when it was discussed around the time Pope John Paul I or II was elected, and I doubt the term "doomsdayers" was ever ascribed to those who referred to the prophecy prior to that.
The author of the story, Phil Stewart, says the prophecy is "widely dismissed by scholars as a hoax". Oh, really? I guess Phil's criteria for "scholar" is limited to anti-Catholic propagandists, atheists, and the like. Most Catholic scholars I know would disagree strongly with this conclusion.
Phil goes on to say "critics widely dismiss the Malachy prophecy as a forgery and possible propaganda meant to influence a 16th century conclave" Well, if that were the case, St. Malachy would not have been canonized! Take heart, though, because Phil notes "doses of skepticism even appear on the most energetic Malachy web pages." In other words, not all of us are COMPLETELY wacked out. Nice.
Phil's story quoted some of these "doomsdayers" as follows: "'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." I will have to check out catholic-pages.com, as it sounds like they are my kind of "doomsdayer". I wonder what Phil would report if he was living in the time of John the Baptist?
But enough of Phil for the moment. Here's my take: Has Pope Benedict already fulfilled the prophecy? I don't think so. He isn't a Benedictine, though he appears to be close to them. His birthplace has nothing to do with olives. And he has no special ties to the Jews or Jerusalem (which in the 12th century was associated with the olives grown in that region, and had led some to speculate prior to the election that this pope would be a cardinal who was a convert from Judaism). This Reuters story states the following: "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.'" If Pope Benedict is successful in either reconciliation (perhaps ending the split between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches) or bringing about harmony between peoples (perhaps being instrumental in finally ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict), then I don't know how "Glory of the Olive" would NOT apply to him. But only time will tell.
Prophecies are not meant to be used to forecast events far out into the future. Who would have guessed that Pope John Paul II's funeral would be on the day of a rare solar eclipse? According to this NASA website, the type of eclipse that happened that day will not occur again until April 20, 2023. We have the book of Revelations, but Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour "except the father". What is the lesson here? Prophecies only give hints and shadows of things to come, but that is all. They are meant to be used as reminders that we aren't going to be around forever and that the end of the world will come some day. But most importantly (what many people don't think about), prophecies are meant to remind you (as an individual) that your end may be closer than you think. Scripture (in many places) directs us to focus on the present. The past can't be changed and should be left to God's mercy. We should not worry or be afraid of the future. The only thing we should be aware of is that the future is coming, that the future is uncertain, and that if we don't make the best of the here and now, the future will not be so pleasant. We need to grow in the Lord so that when the bridegroom comes, our lanterns will be filled with oil.
We don't need to know at this point exactly how Pope Benedict will fulfill St. Malachy's prophecy (assuming he does), but we will keep watching. As such, I will not be developing a theory, though I may speculate at times. And constructive comments are always welcome at this website. Please send all unconstructive comments to recyclebin@anywhere.com.
The author of the story, Phil Stewart, says the prophecy is "widely dismissed by scholars as a hoax". Oh, really? I guess Phil's criteria for "scholar" is limited to anti-Catholic propagandists, atheists, and the like. Most Catholic scholars I know would disagree strongly with this conclusion.
Phil goes on to say "critics widely dismiss the Malachy prophecy as a forgery and possible propaganda meant to influence a 16th century conclave" Well, if that were the case, St. Malachy would not have been canonized! Take heart, though, because Phil notes "doses of skepticism even appear on the most energetic Malachy web pages." In other words, not all of us are COMPLETELY wacked out. Nice.
Phil's story quoted some of these "doomsdayers" as follows: "'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." I will have to check out catholic-pages.com, as it sounds like they are my kind of "doomsdayer". I wonder what Phil would report if he was living in the time of John the Baptist?
But enough of Phil for the moment. Here's my take: Has Pope Benedict already fulfilled the prophecy? I don't think so. He isn't a Benedictine, though he appears to be close to them. His birthplace has nothing to do with olives. And he has no special ties to the Jews or Jerusalem (which in the 12th century was associated with the olives grown in that region, and had led some to speculate prior to the election that this pope would be a cardinal who was a convert from Judaism). This Reuters story states the following: "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.'" If Pope Benedict is successful in either reconciliation (perhaps ending the split between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches) or bringing about harmony between peoples (perhaps being instrumental in finally ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict), then I don't know how "Glory of the Olive" would NOT apply to him. But only time will tell.
Prophecies are not meant to be used to forecast events far out into the future. Who would have guessed that Pope John Paul II's funeral would be on the day of a rare solar eclipse? According to this NASA website, the type of eclipse that happened that day will not occur again until April 20, 2023. We have the book of Revelations, but Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour "except the father". What is the lesson here? Prophecies only give hints and shadows of things to come, but that is all. They are meant to be used as reminders that we aren't going to be around forever and that the end of the world will come some day. But most importantly (what many people don't think about), prophecies are meant to remind you (as an individual) that your end may be closer than you think. Scripture (in many places) directs us to focus on the present. The past can't be changed and should be left to God's mercy. We should not worry or be afraid of the future. The only thing we should be aware of is that the future is coming, that the future is uncertain, and that if we don't make the best of the here and now, the future will not be so pleasant. We need to grow in the Lord so that when the bridegroom comes, our lanterns will be filled with oil.
We don't need to know at this point exactly how Pope Benedict will fulfill St. Malachy's prophecy (assuming he does), but we will keep watching. As such, I will not be developing a theory, though I may speculate at times. And constructive comments are always welcome at this website. Please send all unconstructive comments to recyclebin@anywhere.com.
posted at 4/29/2005
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