John Paul 2, Saint Malachi, & the Mayan Calendar, page 2

Saint Malachy, a 12th Century Monk, predicted that there would be 112 Popes until Doomsday. Pope John Paul 2 is named as Pope 110 and is now dead. The nature of the prophecies is well known. They consist of 111 mottos in Latin, plus a concluding epigraph. These items pertain to each of the popes (and apparently some of the antipopes) in a sequence stretching from Malachy's time until Judgement Day.
The 111th prophecy of St. Malachy is "Gloria Olivae" (The Glory of the Olive). The meaning of the olive is unclear. The Order of Saint Benedict – not St. Malachy – has claimed that this pope will come from its ranks and Saint Benedict himself prophesied that before the end of the world his Order, known also as the Olivetans, will triumphantly lead the Catholic Church in its final fight against evil.

Blessed Bernard Tolomei, founder of the Archabbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, Italy, was born in Siena 1272. He was educated as a nobleman of the Tolomei family and had a distinguished career as a lawyer. At around the age of forty, he felt called to a radical living out of his Christian vocation.
With some companions, he retired to a remote place to the Southeast of Siena, known as the “Desert of Accona”. The first monks lived a eremetical lifestyle in the caves of the hillside. Gradually they evolved into a more organised community.

"When later a monastery was founded on the site, it was given the name of Saint Mary of Monte Oliveto. According to the tradition, one day, while Bernard was praying in the place where the church was later to be built, he saw a silver stairway rising eastwards, to Heaven. Jesus Christ and his Holy Mother, dressed in white, were standing at the top. A group of monks, all dressed in white, were climbing the stairs helped by angels."
(Chron. by Antonio da Barga).

Bernard and his companions received the Benedictine habit and the Rule of the Father of western monasticism. Since the time of their founder Olivetans have been clothed in white. A special characteristic of the Olivetan reform is its emphasis upon the spirit of communion uniting all its houses, called to form unum corpus – one body.

When, in 1348, the plague was spreading in Siena, Bernard returned to the town to care for his fellow monks at the monastery of St Benedict. According to tradition, he died - a victim of the plague on the 20th of August - among his spiritual sons. He was subsequently venerated as a Saint. He is officially celebrated on August 19th.

So, is there a Benedictine Olivetan waiting in the wings?

[edit on 5-4-2005 by Jaxle]