SAINT MALACHY – Archbishop
First native of Ireland to be canonized a Saint
BORN:
1049
PLACE OF BIRTH:
IRELAND
DATE OF DEATH:
NOVEMBER 2, 1148
PLACE OF DEATH:
CLAIRVAUX
FEAST DAY:
NOVEMBER 3
Saint Malachy was born in Armagh, Ireland in 1094.
His family name was Ua Morgair (O’More) and
according to St. Bernard he came from a noble family.
His father was a teacher and died when Malachy was
seven. As a child he would often go off by himself to
pray. Little would be known of Saint Malachy if was
not for the many writings of Saint Bernard of
Clairvaux.
After a long course of studies, he was ordained a priest by the
Archbishop of Armagh, St. Celsus in 1119 at the age of 25. In order to
perfect himself in sacred liturgy and theology he went to Lismore where
he spent nearly two years under Saint Malchus. He was then chosen
Abbot of Bangor in 1123. The name Bangor, very well known in
Europe, is derived from the Irish word meaning a staked enclosure.
The area was also known as The Vale of Angels, after Saint Patrick once
rested there and had a vision filled with angels.
The Monastery of Bangor was founded by Saint Comgall around 555
A.D. The monastery was a great center of learning and austere rule. It
was among one of the most important of Europe’s missionary
institutions in the Early Middle Ages. It was called the “Light of the
World”. However the times were tumultuous and the monastery and
the monks suffered greatly at the hands of Viking raiders in the 8 th and
9th centuries.
Saint Malachy’s extensive travels around Europe inspired him to
rejuvenate the monasteries in Ireland. He replaced the existing wooden
huts at the Bangor Abbey with stone buildings. Little had remained of
the original Abbey after repeated attacks by the Danes, who destroyed it
in 824. It was restored by St. Malachy in the 12 th century, given to the
Franciscans in 1469 and to the Augustinians a century later. It was
finally dissolved under James I. All that remains today is a solitary wall
beside the current Bangor Abbey, thought to be part of the abbey’s
refectory. Despite the decline of the monastery, its influence can still be
seen in the modern town with street names such as Abbots Close and
Abbots walk.
Saint Malachy left the Bangor Abbey a year later to be consecrated
Bishop of Connor in 1122. A year later in 1123, he was consecrated
Bishop of his home town, Armagh. This period saw the Church of
Rome going through volatile experiences and abuses. Both Saint
Malachy and Saint Bernard had to deal with the election of more than
one Pope ruling at the same time and with schism and heresy.
Toward the close of the 11th century, schools of philosophy and theology
were dominated by a spirit of independence. This led to the exaltation of
human reason and rationalism. Some of these abuses directly affected
Saint Malachy because his Diocese of Armagh had been held as an
heirloom of one family and not as a diocese under the authority of
Rome. Naturally there were many, both religious and lay people, who
were not happy to see a holy person appointed to be Bishop. They were
use to doing things the way they wanted them done.
Saint Bernard gives us many interesting stories about Saint Malachy
and highly praised his zeal for religion both in Connor and Armagh.
While Bishop of Connor he continued to reside at the Abbey in Armagh.
On the death of Saint Celsus, Saint Malachy was appointed Archbishop
of Armagh in 1132, a position he accepted with great reluctance because
of the profound religious and political struggles in the diocese He was
unable to take possession of his See for two years and even then had to
purchase the Staff of Jesus from the usurping lay-primate.
The influence of Saint Malachy in Irish ecclesiastical affairs has been
compared with that of Saint Boniface in Germany. He was a zealous
reformer and a promoter of monasticism leading him to reform and
reorganize the Irish Church and bring it under the authority of Rome.
During three years at Armagh, Saint Malachy restored the discipline of
the Church which had grown lazy during the intruded rule of a series of
lay-abbots, and had the Roman liturgy adopted. Having totally
destroyed barbarism and re-established Christian morals, seeing all
things tranquil he began to think of his own peace.
He resigned his position at Armagh in 1138 and returned to Connor.
He founded a priory of Austin Canons at Downpatrick and was
unceasing in his Episcopal labors.
Early in 1139 he journeyed to Rome, via Scotland, England and France
visiting his good friend, Saint Bernard, at Clairvaux. On his return visit
to Clairvaux he obtained five monks for a foundation in Ireland, under
Christian, an Irishman, as superior. Thus was founded the great Abbey
of Mellifont in 1142.
Saint Malachy set out on a second journey to Rome, but the second time
he was bound for a happier home. Upon arriving at Clairvaux he fell
sick and died in the arms of Saint Bernard on November 2, 1148. At the
age of 54 he died where he always wanted to live, in the cloister of the
Abbey.
Saint Malachy, has become well known for his numerous miracles, as
well as, the gift of Prophesy. Some of his most famous prophesies regard
the succession of Popes. There is much discussion about them, even
now. Saint Malachy fulfilled the will of God under very trying
circumstances. Venerable Fr. Solanus Casey said, “Man’s greatness lies
in his being faithful to the present moment.” Saint Malachy was the
living fulfillment of that thought.
RESOURCES
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09565a.htm
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_of_Clairvaux
http://www.meriam-webster.com/dictionary/schism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangor_Northern_Ireland
http://pajoe.com/d6.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_of_Munster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangor_Abbey
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saint_Malachy&printable=ye
s
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophesy_of_the_Popes
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11427a.htm
http://factmonster.com/spot/irishsaints10.html
http://home.att.net/~thehessians/St.Malachy.html
Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, Benziger Bros.,Inc p. 1878