Acta Sanctorum

Maleachi

14 January · commentary
Latin source: Heiligenlexikon
The Prophet Malachi, whose name means 'Angel of God,' is honored by the Latins on January 14 and by the Greeks on January 3. The text includes a brief Life from St. Epiphanius, noting that Malachi was of the tribe of Zebulun, born after the return from Babylon, and died young.

ON ST. MALACHI THE PROPHET

Preface

Malachi the Prophet in Judaea (S.)

From Various Sources.

[1] The Prophet Malachi, no less venerable for the purity and sanctity of his life than for his name, which means "Angel of God," is honored by the Latins on the 19th of the Kalends of February, and in the Church of Jerusalem with a semi-double office. The feast of St. Malachi, January 14 and 3. As we have learned from their own Calendar. On that day the Roman Martyrology states: "In Judaea, St. Malachi the Prophet." Among the Greeks, he is commemorated on the 3rd of the Nones of January, as is clear from the Menaea and the Menologion; and on that day Molanus and Canisius have recorded him. Galesinius also states in his Notes: "On this very day, a commemoration of St. Malachi the Prophet is made in the Church of Constantinople; but we have assigned his anniversary to the 9th of the Kalends of May, April 23 led by the certain authority of an ancient Martyrology." Yet on that day he has absolutely nothing about him. Peter de Natali mentions him on that day, book 4, chapter 82. Perionius writes that he died on the Ides of May. May 15

[2] His life was briefly described by St. Epiphanius in his book on the lives of the Prophets, chapter twenty-two; by the author of the Synopsis of the lives of the Prophets, He was not an Angel, nor Ezra. which is commonly attributed to St. Dorotheus; and by St. Isidore of Seville, book on the life and death of the Saints of the Old Testament, chapter 51. The interpreters of Sacred Scripture treat of him more fully, namely our Cornelius a Lapide, who solidly refutes the error of Origen, who supposed him to have been a true Angel who had hypostatically united human nature to himself. Cornelius also learnedly refutes the opinion of those who thought that Ezra and Malachi were the same person, as does Bellarmine in his book on Ecclesiastical Writers.

LIFE FROM ST. EPIPHANIUS.

Malachi the Prophet in Judaea (S.)

[1] The Prophet Malachi, of the tribe of (a) Zebulun, was born after the return of the people from Babylon, at (b) Sopha in the province of Zebulun; and while still a youth he shone with outstanding integrity of life. His origin. He prophesied many things about the coming of the Lord and the judgment of the dead. His prophecy. He foretold that the rites and ceremonies of Moses would be fulfilled and changed. And because he was held in honor among the people as a holy and gentle man, he was called Malachi, His name. that is, (c) "Angel." For he was of remarkably handsome and beautiful appearance. Moreover, whatever he had foretold by way of prophecy, (d) an Angel appearing on the same day would interpret and make clear, just as happened (e) in the time of the interregnum, as we read in the book of (f) Shophtim, that is, of Judges. (g) The holy Prophet died while still young and was laid to rest with his fathers in his own field.

Annotations

Notes

a. The Menaea and Menologion say "of the tribe of Levi."
b. En Sopha (Greek: En Sopha). Dorotheus has "in Supha." The Menaea have en sophais. According to Adrichomius, Sopha is a place in the land of Zebulun. Peter de Natali therefore errs in placing it "in Sophim," which is a city of Judaea, later called Ramatha or Arimathea. For this was situated in the tribe of Ephraim, far from Zebulun, and was not simply called Sophim, but Ramathaim-Sophim, or Ramatha in the hill-country of Sophim.
c. Malachi in Hebrew means "My Angel"; in Greek and Latin, Malachias, that is, "Angel of the Lord."
d. Cornelius seems to reckon this among the fictions of the Rabbis.
e. The Greek reads: hosper kai egeneto en tais hemerais tes anarchias ("just as also happened in the days of the interregnum"). For in Judges 2:1 it says: "And the Angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to the Place of Weeping, and said: I brought you forth," etc. Joachim Zehner errs foolishly when, preferring Luther and the Rabbis to the Orthodox Fathers, he understands Phinehas the son of Eleazar here. For when did any Prophet ever ascribe to himself the works of God, such as the liberation of the people, etc., without first saying "Thus says the Lord," or something similar? We do not deny that the name "Angel" is sometimes given to Priests and others; but the words of Scripture are to be taken in their proper sense, unless something stands in the way.
f. Raderus thinks the book of 4 Esdras is meant, where near the end of the first chapter it says: "and of Malachi, who was also called the Angel of the Lord." But it seems certain that Epiphanius was referring to that passage of the book of Judges.
g. While Ezra the Priest, as Peter de Natali writes, had already departed from human affairs, and Nehemiah was still alive.

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