Saint of the Day – 30 March – Blessed Joachim of Fiore (c1130-1202) Priest, Abbot

Saint of the Day – 30 March – Blessed Joachim of Fiore (c1130-1202) Priest, Abbot, Founder, Theologian, Mystic, Writer. Joachim was the Founder of the monastic Order of San Giovanni in Fiore. Later followers, inspired by his works in Eschatology and Historicism theories, are called Joachimites. Born in c1130 at Celico, Calabria, Kingdom of Naples (in modern Italy) and died on 30 March 1202 at Fiore, Calabria, Italy of natural causes. Also known as – Joachim de Floris, Joachim of Flora, Joachim the Prophet, Joachim von Fiore, Gioacchino…

Joachim’s father, Maurus de Celico (whose family name is said to have been Tabellione), a notary holding high office under the Norman Kings of Sicily, placed him at an early age in the Royal Court. While on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Joachim was converted from the world by the sight of some great calamity (perhaps an outbreak of pestilence). He passed the whole of Lent in contemplation on Mount Thabor, where he received celestial illumination for the work of his life, as he recorded in his own writings.

Returning to Italy, he retired to the Cistercian Abbey of Sambucina, probably in 1159 and for some years devoted himself to lay preaching, without taking the religious habit or receiving any orders. The Ecclesiastical authorities raising objections to his mode of life, he took the Cistercian Habit in the Abbey of Corazzo and was Ordained to the Priesthoof, apparently in 1168. He now applied himself entirely to Biblical study, with a special view to the interpretation of the hidden meaning of the Scriptures.

A few years later, much against his will, he was elected Abbot. Finding the duties of his office an intolerable hindrance to what he deemed his higher calling. In 1182, he appealed, to Pope Lucius III, who relieved him of the temporal care of his Abbey, and warmly approved of his work, bidding him continue it in whatever Monastery he thought best.

He spent the following year and a half at the Abbey of Casamari, engaged upon his three great works and there. a young Monk, Lucas (afterwards Archbishop of Cosenza), who acted as his secretary, tells us of his amazement at seeing so famous and eloquent a man wearing such rags and of the wonderful devotion with which he preached and celebrated Holy Mass.

In 1185, the Papal approbation was confirmed by Urban III, and again, more conditionally, by Clement III, in 1187, the latter exhorting him to make no delay in completing his work and submitting it to the judgement of the Holy See. Joachim now retired to the hermitage of Pietralata and finally founded the Abbey of Fiore (or Flora) among the Calabrian mountains, which became the centre of a new and stricter branch of the Cistercian Order, approved by Celestine III in 1198. In 1200 Joachim publicly submitted all his writings to the examination of Innocent III but died before any judgement was passed.

Finally, in 1196, he received Papal permission to establish his own congregation, “San Giovanni in Fiore.” Three Popes encouraged his mystical writings but the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 found his Trinitarian doctrine unacceptable, nevertheless, his reputation for sanctity was acknowledged and safeguarded.

It was held to be in answer to his prayers that he died on Holy Saturday. The holiness of his life is unquestionable; miracles were wrought at his tomb and, although never officially beatified, he is still venerated as a beatus on 30 May and in many places he is known as St Joachim.

Some of Joachim’s theories were disputed by St Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologica (written 1265-1274). Dante, on the other hand, voiced the general opinion of his age in declaring Joachim one “endowed with prophetic spirit.” But he himself always disclaimed the title of prophet. Joachim also completed a concordence of the Old and New Testaments, based on a moment of insight he was given upon waking one Easter morning. One of his works was condemned and refuted by the Church and some of his followers too were outlawed.

Of vital importance is the fact that Joachim himself was never condemned as a heretic by the Church – rather, the ideas and movement surrounding him were condemned. Joachim the man was held in high regard during his lifetime and after his death.