Malachy

1094-1148. Archbishop of Armagh. A zealous reformer, he was born at Armagh, son of a clergyman, was educated at Armagh and Lismore, and became successively abbot of Bangor, bishop of Connor, and archbishop of Armagh. He was greatly attracted to the monastic system in Gaul. With four Irish clergy he visited Bernard of Clairvaux* and studied the system with the result that a Cistercian abbey, the first in Ireland, was established at Mellifont, County Louth, in 1142. It was his burning desire to bring the Celtic Church under the supervision of Rome. With this end in view he summoned a synod to Inishpatrick in 1148. The synod appointed him delegate to visit Rome and to receive the pallium, the vestment that indicated the holding of office of papal authority. On his journey he visited his friend Bernard, and on the day he was to have continued his journey to Rome he died. His biography, written by Bernard, gives rather a sad picture of the state of affairs in Ireland. Malachy was a man of ardent temperament, sincere piety, and outstanding influence. He resisted the attempts of Nigellus and Maurice, two laymen who sought to usurp the see of Armagh.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

mal’-a-ki: Another form of the name of the prophet "Malachi" (which see), found in the Revised Version (British and American) and the King James Version of 2 Esdras 1:40.