View source for Saint Malachy

{{Short description|Irish Saint (1094–1148)}}
{{Other people|Malachy}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type        = Bishop
| honorific_prefix = [[Saint]]
| name        = Máel Máedóc Ua Morgair
| title       = [[Archbishop of Armagh (Roman Catholic)|Archbishop of Armagh]]
| image       = Malaquías de Armagh (cropped).jpg
| alt         =
| caption     = Saint Malachy pictured in a [[stained glass]] window, [[Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo|Sligo Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception]]
| church      =
| archdiocese =
| diocese     =
| see         = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh|Archdiocese of Armagh]]
| term        = 1132–1136/37
| predecessor = [[Ceallach of Armagh|Celsus]]
| successor   = [[Archbishop of Armagh#Pre-Reformation archbishops|Gelasius]]
<!--   Orders   -->
| ordination     =
| ordinated_by   =
| consecration   = 1124
| consecrated_by =
| rank           =
<!--   Personal details   -->
| birth_date    = 1094 
| birth_place   = [[Armagh]], [[Airgíalla]], Ireland
| death_date    = 2 November 1148
| death_place   = [[Clairvaux Abbey|Clairvaux]], [[Champagne (province)|Champagne]], France
| previous_post = [[Bishop of Down]] (1124–1148) and [[Bishop of Connor]] (1124–1136/37)<br />[[Bangor Abbey|Abbot of Bangor]]}}

'''Malachy''' ({{IPAc-en|"|m|{|l|@|k|i}}; {{langx|mga|Máel Máedóc Ua Morgair}}; Modern {{langx|ga|Maolmhaodhóg Ó Morgair}}; {{Langx|la|Malachias}}) ([[11th century in Ireland|1094]]&nbsp;– 2 November [[1148 in Ireland|1148]]) is an Irish saint who was [[Archbishop of Armagh]], to whom were attributed several [[miracle]]s and an alleged vision of 112 popes later attributed to the apocryphal (i.e. of doubtful authenticity) [[Prophecy of the Popes]].

Malachy was the first native-born Irish saint to be formally canonised. His brother was Gilla Críst Ua Morgair, who was Bishop [[Christian of Clogher]] from 1126 to 1138.

==Life==
Máel Máedóc, whose surname was Ua Morgair, was born in [[Armagh]] in 1094. [[Bernard of Clairvaux]] describes him as having noble birth.<ref name=grattan>{{cite encyclopedia| url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09565a.htm|author= Grattan-Flood, William| title=St. Malachy |encyclopedia= The Catholic Encyclopedia|volume= 9|location=New York|publisher= Robert Appleton Company|date= 1910|access-date= 25 May 2013}}</ref> He was baptized Máel Máedóc, meaning 'devotee or servant' of Máedóc ([[Máedóc of Ferns]]) which was rendered ''Malachus'' in Latin (and subsequently as ''Malachy'' in English) and was trained under the famous [[recluse]] Imhar [[O'Hagan]], subsequently [[Abbot]] of Armagh. [[Mac Íomhair#Etymology|Imhar]] was in sympathy with the aims of those who sought to reform the Irish church, and it was probably through his influence that Malachy became imbued with their principles. After a long course of studies, Malachy was ordained priest by [[Cellach of Armagh]] (Celsus) in 1119.

Shortly afterwards Cellach made the young priest his vicar. For the next year or two it was Malachy's duty to administer the diocese of Armagh. He established in all the churches the apostolic sanctions and the decrees of the holy fathers, and the customs and practices of the Roman Church. With the consent of Cellach and Imar, he went to study under [[Máel Ísu Ua hAinmere]] (Malchus, first [[Bishop of Waterford|Bishop of the Norse city of Waterford]]), who had by this time retired from the archbishopric of Cashel and was settled at [[Lismore, County Waterford|Lismore]]. He spent three years there.<ref name="Lawlor">[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/25761/25761-h/25761-h.htm#Page_161 Lawlor, H.J., ''St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh'', The Macmillan Company, London, 1920]</ref>

==Abbot of Bangor==
In 1123 the [[coarb]] of [[Bangor Abbey]] died. Bangor was the principal religious site in the north-east of Ireland. Since he ended his days at Lismore, it may be assumed that he was a friend of Malchus, and of the movement with which he was identified. His successor, who was Malachy's uncle, expressed his willingness to surrender his office and the site of the monastery to his nephew. Malachy became Abbot of Bangor Abbey.<ref name=Lawlor/>

This became an opportunity to implement one of the canons of the [[Synod of Ráth Breasail|Synod of Rathbreasail]], by establishing the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor|diocese of Connor]]. Cellach, as coarb of Patrick, and consecrated bishop, had been able to organize the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh|diocese of Armagh]] in accordance with the Rathbreasail plan. With the prestige which belonged to the coarb of Comgall, Malachy, if consecrated bishop, could probably succeed in organizing the diocese of Connor. In 1124 Malachy journeyed to Bangor, was installed as abbot, and was made bishop by Cellach.<ref name=Lawlor/>

In 1132, he was promoted to the [[Primate of All Ireland|primacy]] of [[Archbishop of Armagh|Armagh]].

Bernard provides many interesting anecdotes regarding Malachy and highly praises Malachy's zeal for religion both in Connor and Armagh. In 1127, Malachy paid a second visit to Lismore and acted for a time as confessor to Cormac MacCarthy, Prince of [[Kingdom of Desmond|Desmond]]. While Bishop of Down and Connor, Malachy continued to reside at [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]], and when some of the native princes sacked the two dioceses of Down and Connor, Malachy brought the Bangor monks to [[Iveragh Peninsula|Iveragh]], [[County Kerry]], where they were welcomed by now King Cormac. On the death of Celsus (who was buried at Lismore in 1129), Malachy was appointed Archbishop of Armagh, in 1132, which dignity he accepted with great reluctance. Owing to intrigues, he was unable to take possession of his [[Holy See|See]] for two years; even then he had to purchase the [[Bachal Isu]] (Staff of Jesus) from Niall, the usurping [[Laity|lay]]-primate.<ref name=grattan/>

Malachy's influence in Irish ecclesiastical affairs has been compared with that of [[Boniface]] in Germany. During three years at Armagh, as [[Bernard of Clairvaux]] writes, Malachy restored the discipline of the church, grown lax during the intruded rule of a series of [[Laity|lay]]-abbots, and had the [[Roman Catholic Church#Liturgy|Roman Liturgy]] adopted.<ref name=grattan/> Malachy worked zealously to restore ecclesiastical discipline, restored marriage, renewed the practices of confession and confirmation, and introduced Roman chants in the liturgy. He was also known for his care to the needy as a miracle worker and healer. In his lifetime, he planted apple trees throughout Ireland during times of famine.<ref name=kennedytownship>{{cite web|url= http://stmalachypgh.org/patron.htm |title=Who Was St. Malachy?|website= Saint Malachy Catholic Church|location= Kennedy Township, Pennsylvania}}</ref>

Bernard continues: Having extirpated barbarism and re-established Christian morals, and seeing all things tranquil, Malachy began to think of his own peace. He, therefore, resigned the Sees of [[Archbishop of Armagh|Armagh]] and [[Bishop of Connor|Connor]], in 1136 or 1137, but retained as [[Bishop of Down]]. He founded a [[priory]] of Austin Canons at [[Downpatrick]], and was unceasing in his episcopal labours. Early in 1139 he journeyed to Rome, via [[Scotland]], England, and France, visiting [[Bernard of Clairvaux|Bernard]] at [[Clairvaux Abbey|Clairvaux]], [[Champagne (province)|Champagne]]. He petitioned [[Pope Innocent II]] for [[pallium|pallia]] for the Sees of [[Archbishop of Armagh|Armagh]] and [[Archbishop of Cashel|Cashel]], and was appointed [[Papal legate|legate]] for Ireland. On his return visit to Clairvaux, he obtained five monks for a foundation in Ireland, under Christian, an Irishman, as superior: thus arose the great [[Abbey of Mellifont]] in 1142. Malachy set out on a second journey to Rome in 1148, but on arriving at Clairvaux, he fell sick and died in the arms of Bernard, on 2 November 1148.<ref>Bernard of Clairvaux, ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/810503221 The Life and Death of St. Malachy the Irishman],'' translated and annotated by Robert T. Meyer (Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1978), p. 5.</ref>

==Veneration==
{{Infobox saint
| honorific_prefix = [[Saint]]
| name        = Malachy
|canonized_date= 1190
|canonized_by= Pope Clement III
|feast_day= 3 November
|patronage= Archdiocese of Armagh, Diocese of Down and Connor
}}
In the book ''Life of Saint Malachy'', his biographer Bernard of Clairvaux says Malachy was distinguished by his meekness, humility, obedience, modesty, and true diligence in his studies. [[Charles Borromeo]] praised Malachy for attending to the needy, bringing the holy [[sacraments]] to all alike and renewing the fervour of the people in receiving them.<ref name=burlington>{{cite web|url=http://www.saint-malachy.org/patronsaint.aspx|title=Who Is Saint Malachy?|website=Saint-Malachy.org|location=Saint Malachy Parish, Burlington, Massachusetts|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317021102/http://www.saint-malachy.org/PatronSaint.aspx|archive-date=17 March 2013}}</ref>

Malachy's [[Calendar of saints|feast]] is celebrated on 3 November, so as not to clash with [[All Souls Day]].<ref>Catholic Encyclopedia, St. Malachy, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09565a.htm</ref>

==Visio Tnugdali==

The Visio Tnugdali written c.1149 refers to Malachy as follows- "When Saint Ruadan had fallen silent, Tundale looked happily about him and saw Saint Patrick of Ireland, dressed in shining robes alongside many bishops decked out in their finest regalia. They were all joyful and there was no sound of any sighing! Among that blessed company Tundale could see four bishops whom he recognised. They were all good men; one of them was Saint Cellach, a former archbishop of Armagh, who did much good for the sake of Our Lord. Another was '''Malachias O'Moore''', who had become archbishop of Armagh after him and gave everything that he had to the poor. He founded a large number of churches and colleges, as many as forty-four in all, endowed them with land and rents and so allowed many men of religion to serve God devotedly, although he hardly retained enough for himself to live on."

==Relics==
[[File:RelicsOfSaintMalachy.JPG|thumb|Bone fragment of St Malachy, [[Clairvaux Abbey]]]]
Malachy's body remained at [[Clairvaux Abbey]] and eventually was placed in a tomb near [[Bernard of Clairvaux]]'s, after the abbot's own death. The tomb was moved several times with the rebuilding of the church. Portions of his remains were sent to Ireland in 1194 and deposited at [[Mellifont Abbey]] and other abbeys of the [[Cistercians]]. At some point at Clairvaux, part of Malachy's arm and part of his skull were removed and placed in special [[reliquaries]] in the abbey's treasury. His arm was kept in a silver case decorated with precious stones. A portion of his skull was kept in a bust reliquary of gilt silver, also decorated with precious stones and topped by a [[mitre]]. These reliquaries may have been enamelled or painted. During the [[French Revolution]], the reliquaries themselves were destroyed, although the relics were preserved. Malachy's head is now preserved in a reliquary in the treasury of [[Troyes Cathedral]], not far from the site of Clairvaux. The tombs of the two friends were destroyed in the aftermath of the revolution, and the bones were commingled and distributed to various parishes in the district of Clairvaux.<ref>{{cite book|author=O'Hanlon, John| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B7RQAAAAcAAJ |title=The Life of St. Malachy O'Morgair| location= Dublin| publisher= John O'Daly|date= 1859|pages= 188–213}}</ref> Ph. Guignard published an account of the relics in the ''Patrologia Latina.''<ref>{{cite web|url= https://archive.org/stream/patrologiaecurs161unkngoog#page/n8/mode/1u |via=Internet Archive|publisher=Migne|pages=1661–1798|title=Patrologia Latina|year=1844 }} PL 185 bis.</ref>

==Patronage==
[[File:St. Malachy.jpg|thumb|Statue of Malachy, [[Sterling Heights, Michigan]]]]
Malachy is [[patron saint]] of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh|Archdiocese of Armagh]] and the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor|Diocese of Down and Connor]]. The [[Carlingford Abbey|Dominican Abbey at Carlingford]] (est. 1305) was dedicated to him and his legacy. [[Saint Malachy's Church, Belfast]] was intended to be the Cathedral Church of [[Down and Connor]] dedicated in honour of the Diocesan Patron. However, the [[Great Famine (Ireland)|Irish Famine]] broke out and the grand plans for Saint Malachy's Cathedral were shelved to divert funds to the needy.

A number of parishes are dedicated to Malachy, including those in Tehachapi, California; [[Brownsburg, Indiana]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saintmalachyparish.org/welcome.html|title=Welcome|website=St. Malachy Parish|location=Brownsburg, Indiana|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602001244/http://www.saintmalachyparish.org/welcome.html|archive-date=2 June 2013}}</ref> [[Burlington, Massachusetts]]; Kennedy Township, New York City (The Actors' Chapel);<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.actorschapel.org|title=Actor's Chapel|website=actorschapel.org}}</ref> [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, [[Geneseo, Illinois]] and [[Rantoul, Illinois]].

==Prophecy of the Popes==
{{main|Prophecy of the Popes}}
A "Prophecy of the Popes" is attributed to Malachy, which is claimed to predict that there would be only 112 more [[pope]]s before the [[Last Judgment]]. [[Benedictine]] [[Arnold de Wyon]] discovered and published the so-called "Doomsday [[Prophecy]]" in 1590. Most scholars consider the document a 16th-century elaborate hoax.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.discovery.com/history/resigning-pope-brings-doomsday-prophecy-130213.htm |author=Lorenzi, Rossella|title=Resigning Pope Brings Doomsday Prophecy|work=Discovery News|date= 13 February 2013}}</ref> James Weiss, a professor of church history at [[Boston College]], has stated: "It is widely thought ... given who the author was and his relationship, [that the prophecies] were published to establish the case for election of one particular [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinal]]."<ref name=huff>{{cite news| url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/14/st-malachy-last-pope-prophecy-theologians-prediction-_n_2679662.html |author=Sieczkowski, Cavan|title= St. Malachy Last Pope Prophecy: What Theologians Think About 12th-Century Prediction| work= Huffington Post|date=19 February 2013}}</ref> [[Thomas Groome]], chair of the Department of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College, has a similar notion: "For myself – and even as a native Irishman – the 'Prophecies of St. Malachy' are a grand old fun tale that have about as much reliability as the morning horoscope".<ref name=huff/> Thomas J. Reese of Georgetown University, had only this to say: "St. Malachy's prophecy is nonsense."<ref name=huff/>

==In popular culture==
Malachy, his "Doomsday Prophecy", and the conflicts between the Christians and pagans are important plot points in [[James Rollins]]' sixth Sigma Force novel, ''[[James Rollins#Book 6: The Doomsday Key .282009.29|The Doomsday Key]]'' (2009), particularly in Chapter 21.<ref>{{cite web | website=Bookreporter|title=Review: ''The Doomsday Key''| author= James Rollins|url=http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-doomsday-key|access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Biography|Catholicism|Saints|Ireland}}
{{Commons and category|Saint Malachy|Saint Malachy}}
*[[Vaticinia Nostradami]]
*[[Saint Malachy's Church, Belfast]]
*[[Prophecy of the Popes]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Pre Reformation Bishops of Down}}
{{Pre Reformation Bishops of Connor}}
{{Medieval Archbishops of Armagh}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Malachy}}
[[Category:1094 births]]
[[Category:1148 deaths]]
[[Category:Medieval Gaels from Ireland]]
[[Category:Archbishops of Armagh]]
[[Category:12th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland]]
[[Category:12th-century Christian saints]]
[[Category:Medieval Irish saints]]
[[Category:Medieval saints of Ulster]]
[[Category:Irish expatriates in France]]
[[Category:Bishops of Down]]
[[Category:Bishops of Connor]]
[[Category:Christian clergy from County Armagh]]