St. Malachy, the Miracle Worker and Prophet

St. Malachy 1094-1148 | Patron of Armagh | Feast Day, November 3

St. Malachy O’More or Mael Maedoc u Morgair was born into a noble family in Armagh, Ireland, in 1095. He first trained under the famous recluse Imhar O’Hagan and, later St. Cellach who joined Malachy in replacing Celtic liturgy with that of the Roman church. In his lifetime, Malachy was a hermit, priest, archbishop, healer, prodigious miracle worker, exorcist, and most famously, a prophet. Malachy was called the Irish of the Irish—but his official biographer was St. Bernard of Clairvaux, and it was in Bernard’s arms that he died in 1148.

Before the Vatican systemized saint-making in the late 12^th Century, Irish saints, e.g. Patrick, Brigid, and Columcille, were holy folk with a powerful following, “saints by acclamation.” Soon after canonization became Vatican law Malachy became the first Irish saint to be canonized in 1190, a mere 42 years after his death.

In his time, Malachy was known for his miracles, but he has become celebrated for his gift (or curse) of second sight. While in Rome he had a vision of the line of popes and like Malachi of the Old Testament, he could make accurate prophecies. He said Pope Innocent XI (who reigned 1676-1689, five hundred years after Malachy’s death) would be an “insatiable beast.” But he was probably referring only to that Pontiff’s love of rich food.

Malachy termed the ill-fated John Paul I of “the half-moon” (August 26, 1978-September 28, 1978) perhaps because that pope was elected during a half-moon and died (or was killed) shortly afterward—during another half-moon. In his final and most chilling prophecy, Malachy predicted that the last Pope would call himself Peter the Roman (this should be a tip-off, since not even the Bad Borgia Popes presumed to take the name of the first Pope). Peter the Roman will actually be Satan, the final Antichrist who will seduce the entire world into thinking he’s a good-natured, pious Pontiff, and then…

While the Church’s modern theologians dismiss Malachy’s prophecies with “Non abbiamo bisogno” or “No thanks.” It should be noted that in the heart of Times Square sits the famous St. Malachy’s Church, “The Actors’ Chapel,” a holy place for Broadway luminaries to retreat after hits or flops. ♦

Rosemary Rogers co-authored, with Sean Kelly, the best-selling humor/reference book Saints Preserve Us! Everything You Need to Know About Every Saint You’ll Ever Need (Random House, 1993), currently in its 18th international printing. The duo collaborated on four other books for Random House and calendars for Barnes & Noble. Rogers co-wrote two info/entertainment books for St. Martin’s Press. She is currently co-writing a book on empires for City Light Publishing.