Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 180.  Thu 11-07-91 18:12  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Patricia Teneyck
 Subject: Nostradamus and Malachy

³ Hi, Father,
³   Could you please tell me why the Church discourages any interest in
³ the prophecies of Nostradamus?  Also could you please tell me why the
³ prophecies of the 11th century (?) prophet Malachi, although not well
³ known among lay people, are not condemned but only suppressed?  As a
³ lifelong Catholic in my mid-forties I just recently ran across references
³ to Malachi, in Fulton Sheen's autobio., and find it extremely interesting
³ to wonder why I never heard of him through 17 years of Catholic school.
³ Are there other interpreters of "end times" that the hierarchy knows about,
³  but does not casually tell the rest of us about?
³   Thanks for your answers.  I am NOT wasting an excessive amount of time
³ thinking about these two subjects.  I just thought I would hear what you
³ have to say about them.
³  
 
Dear Patricia,
 
Nostradamus (1503-1566) was a gifted physician and a writer of
astrology.  His book "Centuries" became very popular in the 16th
century.  It seemed to contain predictions of events which then
actually happened.  Some Nostradumus buffs study his book and attempt
to explain our present or predict our future by its means.
 
The book was put on the Index in 1781.  Of course, now we no longer
have the Index, so I suppose one is free to read "Centuries".  I
suppose the book was forbidden because, generally, such interest in the
future is at best silly and time wasting.  Our Lord clearly said, "Do
not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself" (Matthew
6:34).  When, oh when will we learn to take Him at His word?  He is all
we need.
 
It is clear, too, that efforts to know the future are often unhealthy
and open the way to demonic influences in the searcher's life.
 
St. Malachy was a 12th century Irish bishop.  The "Prophecy of the
Popes" is a 16th century forgery.
 
You want to hear what I have to say about these and other "interpreters"
of the end times.  First, I deny there is any conspiracy on the part of
the hierarchy to suppress such things.  Our bishops couldn't care less.
They have important matters to think about and to do.
 
Secondly, to the horror of some perfectly respectable theologians, I
haven't much time for eschatology.  Religion for me means trying to
answer the Lord, seek His face, get close to Him, do His will, and try
to make it from now until lunch without hurting anybody or putting my
foot in my own mouth.
 
Thanks for writing.  Please talk to us again.
 
                                Sincerely in Christ,
 
                                Father Mateo