Pope St. Callixtus I

Saint Callixtus I

Pope & Martyr

Callixtus was born in Rome in the second century, and may have been a slave before eventually entering the clergy. He succeeded Pope St. Zephyrinus around the year of Our Lord 218, during the reign of the infamous Heliogabalus. Despite this emperor’s degeneracy, it was a time of relative peace for the Christians, which continued under the much more admirable reign of Emperor Alexander Severus. Several churches, later destroyed in subsequent persecutions, were built during this time. Callixtus established the liturgical observance of the Ember Days four times a year, including the celebration of ordinations during those weeks. Though he clearly promoted penitential practices, in a spirit of mercy Callixtus mitigated some of the strict penances required of individual sinners. He firmly condemned various heretical sects, leading to libelous attacks by Hippolytus and Tertullian. Callixtus also expanded the church’s cemetery on the Appian Way, resting place of many martyrs, that to this day bears his name. Despite the absence of a general persecution, violence against Christians was occasionally instigated by private Roman citizens. It is likely during one of these outbursts that Callixtus met his martyrdom, after a reign of about five years.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for October 14th

AT Rome, on the Aurelian road, the birthday of blessed Callistus, pope and martyr. By order of the emperor Alexander, after being a long time kept in prison without food, and daily scourged with rods, he was finally hurled from the window of the house in which he had been shut up, and cast into a well, and thus merited the triumph awarded to conquerors.

At Caesarea, in Palestine, St. Fortunata, virgin and martyr, during the persecution of Diocletian. After having been subjected to the rack, to fire, to the teeth of beasts and other torments, she gave up her soul to God. Her body was afterwards conveyed to Naples, in Campania.

Also, the Saints Carponius, Evaristus, and Priscian, brothers of the said blessed Fortunata, who having their throats cut, obtained likewise the crown of martyrdom.

Also, the Saints Saturninus and Lupus.

At Rimini, St. Gaudentius, bishop and martyr.

At Todi, St. Fortunatus, bishop, who, as is mentioned by blessed Gregory, was endowed with an extraordinary gift for casting out unclean spirits.

At Wurtzburg, St. Burchard, first bishop of that city.

At Bruges, in Belgium, St. Donatian, bishop of Rheims.

At Treves, St. Rusticus, bishop.

The same day, the departure out of this world of St. Dominic Loricatus.

In Italy, St. Bernard, confessor.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.