The Visions of St. Malachy

Written by Ben Kesp

St. Malachy 

Responsible for the reformation of the Irish Church and attributed to having prophesied 112 popes before the last judgement, the Irish Saint Malachy certainly left his mark on the Catholic Church.

Born in 1094, Armagh, Ireland St. Malachy went on to become the Archbishop of Armagh. During his reign he set about reforming the Irish Church in Ireland during the twelfth century, aligning it with the Church in Rome. This led to the introduction of the Roman religious orders in Ireland. The Irish monasteries at this time had been weakened after the constant plundering and attacks from Viking invasions beginning in the 9th Century. Many churches were attacked and libraries burned. Christianity declined and paganism returned in parts of Ireland brought on by the new invaders. The time of enlightenment, discipline and learning had faded quenching the light on Ireland’s golden era.

Prior to St. Malachy’s reformation, King Brian Ború (Ireland’s High King) had attempted to restore the monasteries and libraries by collecting tributes from the minor rulers of Ireland, giving him the name of “Brian of the Tributes”. However St. Malachy went much further. He restored discipline to the Church by adopting the Roman Liturgy, and worked hard to restore ecclesiastical discipline and marriage, to renew the practice of confession and confirmation and to introduce Roman chants into the liturgy. He worked tirelessly restoring Christian morals. He petitioned for the Sees of Armagh and Cashel (ecclesiastical jurisdiction) and was appointed legate for Ireland. He established the great Abbey of Mellifont in 1142. 

Mellifont Abbey

St. Malachy died while on a journey to Rome at Clairvaux on the 2nd of November 1148. His feast day is on the 3rd of November. His body was laid to rest in a tomb at Clairvaux and a portion of his body was sent to Ireland and placed at Mellifont Abbey. During the French Revolution, many of the relics were destroyed; however his head is preserved, today resting at Troyes Cathedral, France. A number of parishes have been dedicated to his name in Ireland and the United States.

Malachy is also attributed to having prophesied 112 popes before the last judgement. While he was in Rome, he fell into a trance and saw a vision. The prophecy was published in 1595. It is uncertain whether the prophecies are true or not however according to Malachy’s vision, Pope Francis is the 112th pope! Perhaps one day we will find out! 

Listen to all the prophesies here