07
Aug
POPE FOR A YEAR. This week we honor Pope Saint Sixtus II; a familiar name, as he is listed in the Roman Canon or Eucharistic Prayer I [EP-I]. He reigned as our 24th Pope, from August 30, 257 to August 6, 258. His Feast Day was moved to August 7, as August 6 is the Feast of the Transfiguration, 40 days before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14. He took the same name of our 6th Pope; Sixtus is Latin for six. In the optional section of EP-I, after naming Peter, Paul, and Andrew, the Priest may add the other Apostles and some martyrs: James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude, Linus, Cletus, Clement, SIXTUS, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John, Paul , Cosmas and Damian.
Pope Saint Sixtus II had the honor of ordaining Saint Lawrence to the Diaconate as depicted in the image above. It shows the Pope handing him a chalice and paten, which Deacons prepare for Priests at the Offertory; in the background a man holds the Book of the Gospels, given to Deacons who proclaim the Gospel. Saint Lawrence’s Feast Day is August 10; since he was grilled to death on a gridiron, he is the Patron Saint of Cooks. [Who says the Church does NOT have a sense of humor!] After praying the Collect for Masses offered to honor Pope Saint Sixtus II and Companions, I’ll reflect on their lives and heroism.
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Collect – Pope Saint Sixtus II & Companions By the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray, |
TO LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE FOR CHRIST. The ultimate sign of commitment and love is to lay down your life for someone and/or for some cause. For as Jesus said, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” [John 15:13] As were a number of Saint Peter’s Successors, Pope Saint Sixtus II was elected and installed in secret, in the catacombs beneath the City of Rome. There were times of ‘peaceful’ coexistence between Rome and the Church in the first three centuries, but I wrote ‘peaceful’ in quotes because there was never a warning when ‘the other shoe would drop!’ Not that Pope Sixtus had to wonder when persecutions would break out again; throughout his whole reign, the Roman Emperor Valerian [reigned 253-260] went after Christians with a vengeance – and the most marked man was the Church’s leader: the Pope.
“I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY AND LIFE EVERLASTING.” These words roll off our tongues, perhaps even mindlessly, each time we profess the Apostles Creed. While we expect to make the transition from this world to the next without any unnecessary pain or suffering, ancient Christians, especially those who accepted Ordination, knew they would probably NOT be so blessed! They were well aware of the fatal dangers awaiting them just for being a Christian. According to reports verified by a letter we still have from Saint Cyprian, who was also martyred in 258 [his Feast Day is September 16], and from an inscription over Pope Sixtus’ tomb – which was rediscovered in the 1800’s! – we learn the details of his death.
One day, while leading a religious rite in a Roman catacomb [we presume holy Mass], soldiers came across some Christians at prayer. They had hit the jackpot: they found the Bishop of Rome. Again, we presume they gave him one last opportunity to offer incense to the gods, which was required of all by Roman civil law, and he refused. Pope Saint Sixtus II was immediately executed with four Deacons: Januarius, Vincentius, Magnus and Stephanus; two other Deacons were also martyred, but not with the Pope.
Having ‘decapitated’ the Church, they let the other worshippers go free, assuming they would abandon their Faith. However, the fact that we are still here, after countless similar attempts throughout the ages to destroy the Church, suggests that we are protected, as Jesus promised: “the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” [Matthew 16:18] Pope Saint Sixtus II, pray for us!
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS
POPE FOR A YEAR. This week we honor Pope Saint Sixtus II; a familiar name, as he is listed in the Roman Canon or Eucharistic Prayer I [EP-I]. He reigned as our 24th Pope, from August 30, 257 to August 6, 258. His Feast Day was moved to August 7, as August 6 is the Feast of the Transfiguration, 40 days before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14. He took the same name of our 6th Pope; Sixtus is Latin for six. In the optional section of EP-I, after naming Peter, Paul, and Andrew, the Priest may add the other Apostles and some martyrs: James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude, Linus, Cletus, Clement, SIXTUS, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John, Paul , Cosmas and Damian.
Pope Saint Sixtus II had the honor of ordaining Saint Lawrence to the Diaconate as depicted in the image above. It shows the Pope handing him a chalice and paten, which Deacons prepare for Priests at the Offertory; in the background a man holds the Book of the Gospels, given to Deacons who proclaim the Gospel. Saint Lawrence’s Feast Day is August 10; since he was grilled to death on a gridiron, he is the Patron Saint of Cooks. [Who says the Church does NOT have a sense of humor!] After praying the Collect for Masses offered to honor Pope Saint Sixtus II and Companions, I’ll reflect on their lives and heroism.
|
Collect – Pope Saint Sixtus II & Companions By the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray, |
TO LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE FOR CHRIST. The ultimate sign of commitment and love is to lay down your life for someone and/or for some cause. For as Jesus said, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” [John 15:13] As were a number of Saint Peter’s Successors, Pope Saint Sixtus II was elected and installed in secret, in the catacombs beneath the City of Rome. There were times of ‘peaceful’ coexistence between Rome and the Church in the first three centuries, but I wrote ‘peaceful’ in quotes because there was never a warning when ‘the other shoe would drop!’ Not that Pope Sixtus had to wonder when persecutions would break out again; throughout his whole reign, the Roman Emperor Valerian [reigned 253-260] went after Christians with a vengeance – and the most marked man was the Church’s leader: the Pope.
“I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY AND LIFE EVERLASTING.” These words roll off our tongues, perhaps even mindlessly, each time we profess the Apostles Creed. While we expect to make the transition from this world to the next without any unnecessary pain or suffering, ancient Christians, especially those who accepted Ordination, knew they would probably NOT be so blessed! They were well aware of the fatal dangers awaiting them just for being a Christian. According to reports verified by a letter we still have from Saint Cyprian, who was also martyred in 258 [his Feast Day is September 16], and from an inscription over Pope Sixtus’ tomb – which was rediscovered in the 1800’s! – we learn the details of his death.
One day, while leading a religious rite in a Roman catacomb [we presume holy Mass], soldiers came across some Christians at prayer. They had hit the jackpot: they found the Bishop of Rome. Again, we presume they gave him one last opportunity to offer incense to the gods, which was required of all by Roman civil law, and he refused. Pope Saint Sixtus II was immediately executed with four Deacons: Januarius, Vincentius, Magnus and Stephanus; two other Deacons were also martyred, but not with the Pope.
Having ‘decapitated’ the Church, they let the other worshippers go free, assuming they would abandon their Faith. However, the fact that we are still here, after countless similar attempts throughout the ages to destroy the Church, suggests that we are protected, as Jesus promised: “the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” [Matthew 16:18] Pope Saint Sixtus II, pray for us!
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS