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The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1 - Contents
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    III. Characteristics of the “Pope Book”

    The ideas of Joachim had opened the vision of many to expect a new and better state to come. The claim of the Roman church—to be the final and supreme institution on earth, And to have the last word in all matters religious—was, by such, no longer held valid. Critics arose in many places. Some were moved by a pure and pious zeal. Others were stirred by egotistic and revolutionary motives, and many by purely malicious joy in having the chance to criticize those who claimed superior or really divine powers. The more insignificant these critics, the more they attempted to make their products appear authentic by covering themselves with the “prophet’s” mantle.PFF1 729.3

    1. A POPULAR ILLUSTRATED TRACT

    Among these interesting products is the Liber de Pontificibus Sive Praedictiones Venerabilis Joannis Joachim Abbatis Florensis (Book of the Popes, or Predictions of the Venerable John Joachim, Abbot of Flotis), an illustrated tract of the pseudo-Joachim school appearing under varying titles. First printed in Latin, and in Italian as well, it was reprinted many times prior to the sixteenth century. Internal evidence leads to the conclusion that it could hardly have been written before the time of Clement V, who changed the seat of the Papacy to Avignon, in 1309. 49J. C. Huck, Ubertin von Casale and dessen Ideenkress, p 95PFF1 729.4

    It contains many impressive illustrations picturing the popes overstepping their rights and trampling upon the true and faithful. Through its many redactions the editors made every effort to bring it up to date; as for instance, we find among the predictions against the Turks, mention of a dream, which Mohammed TI had on the eve of capturing Constantinople (1453), a proof that this prediction was slipped in after the downfall of the Byzantine Empire. 50Ibid., p 97 Therefore, although it is impossible to attribute this book to Joachim, or to allocate to any of these predictions a definite date, it shows the tremendous influence which the concepts of Joachim exercised upon a large section of the people even one hundred or one hundred and fifty years after his death.PFF1 730.1

    2. CARTOONS OF THE POPES

    A Venice edition of 1639 contains thirty illustrated “prophecies,” half of which are attributed to Joachim, and the other half to a fictitious bishop, “Anselm of Marsico.” 51Vaticinia, Sive Prophetiae Abbatis Ioachim, & Anselmi Episcopi Marsicani, edited by Pasqualino Regiselmo. (Unpaged.) These illustrations could classify as medieval cartoons, for they approach this mode of art in their conception. To correctly understand their implications today would require a detailed study and knowledge of the exact time of their origin, which is impossible to establish with any accuracy. We shall therefore restrict these observations to descriptions of just a few of these Vaticinia. Number 6, for instance, represents the pope, with a (Gallic) cock climbing his staff having the tines of a pitchfork with which the pope is stabbing a dove carrying an olive branch. In his other hand, close to the keys, he is holding an eagle well plucked.PFF1 730.2

    Number 9 shows the pope with the tiara on his head, and at the right a smaller person with a body like a dragon, likewise crowned with a tiara, while a lamb is suffering under the, blows of the pope’s cross-staff. And the caption informs the reader that the pseudo prophet is doing much harm because the pope with his “evils” has “wounded the most gentle lamb with most cruel blows.”PFF1 730.3

    Number 15 represents a horrible winged dragon with a human face. It is crowned, though not with a triple crown, and drags down a cluster of stars with its tail. The tail ends in an eagle’s head biting a sword.PFF1 731.1

    And Vaticinium number 30 illustrates a pope taking the triple crown and placing it on the head of a leopard beast, possibly of Revelation 13. These and many similar pictures must have made a deep impression upon the public at that time.PFF1 731.2

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