Oct. 14, 2011 Friday: St. Callistus
St. Callistus I
This great pope and martyr lived in the first part of the third century. He was once a young slave in Rome, who got into serious trouble. His master had put him in charge of a bank. Somehow, Callistus lost the bank’s money. In fear, he ran away from Rome. He was caught after jumping into the sea to try to get away. His punishment was to be chained and put to hard labor in a mill.
From this punishment Callistus was released, only because his creditors hoped he could get some of their money back. But once again he was arrested, this time for having gotten into a fight. He was sent to the mines of Sardinia. When the emperor freed all the Christians who had been condemned to those mines, Callistus was freed, too. From that time on, things began to go better for him.
Pope St. Zephrinus came to know and trust the freed slave. He placed him in charge of the public Christian cemetery in Rome. This cemetery is now named after St. Callistus. Many popes were buried in it. Callistus proved himself worthy of the pope’s confidence in him. St. Zephrinus not only ordained him a priest, but also made him his friend and advisor.
Later on, St. Callistus himself became pope. Some people complained because he showed too much mercy to sinners. However, the holy pope ruled that, if they truly repented, even murderers could be admitted to Communion after they had done pen-ance for their sin. This great pope always defended the true doctrine of Jesus. He was martyred around the year 223, having been killed in an uprising.
Because St. Callistus was so aware of God’s forgiveness in his own life, he was more than willing to be forgiving toward others. Do we treat others with the same forgiveness that we hope to receive from God?
-Daughters of St Paul
This great pope and martyr lived in the first part of the third century. He was once a young slave in Rome, who got into serious trouble. His master had put him in charge of a bank. Somehow, Callistus lost the bank’s money. In fear, he ran away from Rome. He was caught after jumping into the sea to try to get away. His punishment was to be chained and put to hard labor in a mill.
From this punishment Callistus was released, only because his creditors hoped he could get some of their money back. But once again he was arrested, this time for having gotten into a fight. He was sent to the mines of Sardinia. When the emperor freed all the Christians who had been condemned to those mines, Callistus was freed, too. From that time on, things began to go better for him.
Pope St. Zephrinus came to know and trust the freed slave. He placed him in charge of the public Christian cemetery in Rome. This cemetery is now named after St. Callistus. Many popes were buried in it. Callistus proved himself worthy of the pope’s confidence in him. St. Zephrinus not only ordained him a priest, but also made him his friend and advisor.
Later on, St. Callistus himself became pope. Some people complained because he showed too much mercy to sinners. However, the holy pope ruled that, if they truly repented, even murderers could be admitted to Communion after they had done pen-ance for their sin. This great pope always defended the true doctrine of Jesus. He was martyred around the year 223, having been killed in an uprising.
Because St. Callistus was so aware of God’s forgiveness in his own life, he was more than willing to be forgiving toward others. Do we treat others with the same forgiveness that we hope to receive from God?
-Daughters of St Paul
