SAINT URBAN I—A.D. 223

 

ON the death of Saint Calixtus, Saint Urban I, a noble Roman, was created pontiff, in 223. He baptized many persons belonging to the Roman nobility, among others Saint Cecilia and her husband Valerianus. He ordered that all the vessels used in the sacred mysteries should be of silver. It is not astonishing, therefore, that silver chalices were in use before this pontificate. On this subject Novaes tells us that when Saint Boniface was asked whether it was allowable to celebrate with vessels of wood, he replied: "Formerly golden priests used wooden chalices; now wooden priests use golden chalices."

It was Urban who ordered that Christians should receive the chrism only from the hands of the bishops, whence has been mistakenly attributed to him the institution of the sacrament of confirmation. It is as certain that that sacrament was instituted before Saint Urban as it is that Christ and the apostles preceded that pope.

It s affirmed that he ordered that the thrones of the bishops should be made higher, so that they might judge the faithful; and it was on that account that those thrones are also called tribunals.

He suffered martyrdom in the year 230 under Alexander Severus. But let us not on that account withdraw the praises we have bestowed upon that emperor. Caesarotti has well explained that, when that prince was absent from Rome, men who were obstinately attached to the old laws irritated the populace and consigned the Christians to martyrdom.

Many preceding decrees allowed the maltreatment of the Christians under various pretexts, and the imprisonment of Romans who conspired against the state. The condemnation, therefore, could easily mention some legally punishable offence without saying that the only real cause of proceeding against the accused was because they were Christians.

In five ordinations Saint Urban I created eight bishops, five priests, and nine deacons.

He was buried n the cemetery of Pretextatus, on the Appian Way, near the gate of Saint Sebastian.

The head of that pontiff is venerated in the Church of Saint Mary, in the Trastevere, in the chapel of the Madonna of Strada Cupa. which was richly ornamented and consecrated by Cardinal the Duke of York, commendatory of that basilica. The ceremony took place on the 14th of November, 1762. That chapel had been given by the chapter to that cardinal, who was brother of Prince Charles Edward. His Eminence was the last of the Stuarts, and died in 1788. He had on his medals the title of Henry IX, King of England.

 

SAINT PONTIANUS—A.D. 230

 

SAINT PONTIANUS, son of Calpurnius, was created pontiff on the 26th of June, A.D. 230. Some learned men think, with Platina, that it was this pope who ordered the singing of the Psalms in the Church, both by day and by night; but other writers maintain that the custom is older. It is possible that Saint Pontianus published a decree on this subject, for the better regulation of the ecclesiastical practice. This latter is the opinion of Sangallo.

In ten ordinations Saint Pontianus created shix bishops, six priests, and five deacons. He governed the Church more than five years.

His body, martyrised in the island of Tavolato, near the island of Sardinia, was removed to Rome, by order of Pope Saint Fabian, and buried in the cemetery of Calixtus. His martyrdom has been likened to that of Saint Stephen, as he was stoned to death. There is a beautiful legend that the stones and rocks hurled at him all miraculously fell short. As night fell, Saint Pontianus cried aloud: "Lord Jesus, wilt thou not give me also the martyr's crown?" Instantly the next stone struck him on the forehead, and he fell dead. Two epistles are attributed to him, but they are evidently apocryphal.

 

 

SAINT ANTERUS—A.D. 235

 

WE find, as the next sovereign pontiff, Saint Anterus, a Greek, said to have been born at Petilia, in Calabria. Graecia Magna, but, according to other authors, at Policastro. He was the son of Romulus, who is said to have been born n Sardinia. Anterus was elected pope on the 9th of September, A.D. 235. He governed the Church only one month. He created one bishop, for the city of Fondi. He suffered martyrdom because he ordered greater strictness in searching into the acts of the martyrs, exactly collected by the notaries appointed by Saint Clement I.

Anterus was interred in the cemetery of Calixtus, on the Appvan Way, whence his ashes were removed to the Church of Saint Sylvester, in the Campus Martiuas. They were discovered on the 17th of November, 1595, when Pope Clement VIII rebuilt that church, which had fallen into ruins.

 

SAINT FABIAN—A. D. 236