There can be neither slave nor freeman
14 October is the anniversary of Saint Callistus I, the 16th Pope, who died in about 222. Our knowledge of Callistus comes from the writings of his arch-enemy, St Hippolytus of Rome. As a young Christian slave, Callistus was put in charge of a bank, lost the money, fled from Rome, was caught on board a ship, jumped overboard to escape, was recaptured and taken back to his master. Sentenced to grinding at the mill, released, re-arrested for fighting at a synagogue collecting debts from Jews, sent to the tin mines of Sardinia, pardoned, appointed in charge of the Christian cemetery, ordained by St Zephyrinus as a deacon, elected pope at the death of St Zephyrinus in 217.
Denounced by St Hippolytus, the first anti-pope, for his kindness and leniency. St Hippolytus was the losing candidate for the Patriarchy of the West, and this seems to have coloured his writings. St Callistus was noted for mercy to repentant sinners, equality among brethren regardless of economic status, and allowing the ordination of men who had been married more than once. He is the patron of cemetery workers.
http://www.deacons.net/Deacons_before_us/calixtus.html
Denounced by St Hippolytus, the first anti-pope, for his kindness and leniency. St Hippolytus was the losing candidate for the Patriarchy of the West, and this seems to have coloured his writings. St Callistus was noted for mercy to repentant sinners, equality among brethren regardless of economic status, and allowing the ordination of men who had been married more than once. He is the patron of cemetery workers.
http://www.deacons.net/Deacons_before_us/calixtus.html
posted by MrLorax at 21:19
2 Comments:
I understannd that in the past the Pope used the title Patriarch of the West. However, this was removed from the Vatican's official list of titles in March, 2006. What gives?
"Pope Benedict, who reportedly made the decision himself to drop the title, evidently wished to eliminate any notion that the Holy See represents the Church of 'the West', and is therefore separate from the Eastern tradition...
He chose to remove the title at a time when discussions with the Orthodox churches have centered on the issue of papal primacy. The Holy Father wishes to emphasize the service that the Bishop of Rome performs for the entire Christian community, as the focus of unity in the universal Church."
This site explains the matter far better than I can:
http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2006/03/popes-spring-cleaning.html
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