The legacy of Pope Callistus I, who passed away around 222 AD, has been clouded by accounts written by one who strongly opposed him, Saint Hippolytus. This makes discerning the true story of Callistus challenging, as the principal records we possess come from someone who saw him as an adversary.

Hippolytus, known for his strict adherence to Church doctrine, was deeply disturbed by Callistus’ compassionate approach towards sinners. Callistus believed in forgiveness and allowed those who had committed grievous sins to rejoin the Church after public penance. Additionally, his endorsement of marriages between free individuals and slaves highlighted his progressive stance on equality, which Hippolytus viewed as the degradation of the Church.

Hippolytus’ writings suggest Callistus was once a slave, a fact that could have led to biases in his accounts, given the class distinctions of the era. Callistus had managed a bank, which unfortunately failed. While Hippolytus claims this was due to Callistus’ mismanagement for personal gain, it seems improbable that such responsibility would be given to someone untrustworthy.

Subsequent events led to Callistus facing various punishments, including forced labor and exile to the mines. Interestingly, despite Hippolytus’ negative portrayal, Callistus found favor and was granted an income and a position, suggesting there might be more to his story than meets the eye.

Later, under Pope Zephyrinus, Callistus returned to Rome. Zephyrinus, although well-intentioned, struggled with theological nuances. Callistus emerged as a guiding force, shaping Church teachings. Upon Zephyrinus’ death in 219, despite the opposition of Hippolytus and others, Callistus ascended to the papacy. His reign saw him confronting heresies, exemplified by his banishment of the heretic Sabellius.

His papacy came during a pivotal time. The Church grappled with its identity: should it rigidly adhere to old doctrines or be more inclusive? Callistus, leaning on Christ’s teachings, opted for inclusivity, emphasizing the Church’s mission to the world.

Although recorded as a martyr, details of Callistus’ martyrdom remain elusive. While no official persecutions were underway, it’s conceivable he perished in anti-Christian riots.

In retrospection, while it’s regrettable that our primary source about Callistus is tainted with bias, his story underscores the Church’s vast embrace. The Church welcomed both a stringent traditionalist like Hippolytus and a progressive, former slave like Callistus, showing that within its walls, there’s room for diverse perspectives and backgrounds. It serves as a testament to the universal and all-encompassing love of the Church.

Photo credit: Lawrence OP via Flickr
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    • Sᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴏᴍᴇ! Gʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴊᴏʙ ғᴏʀ sᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛs, And Jobless Persons sᴛᴀʏ-ᴀᴛ-ʜᴏᴍᴇ ᴍᴏᴍs ᴏʀ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅɪɴɢ ᴀɴ ᴇxᴛʀᴀ ɪɴᴄᴏᴍᴇ. Yᴏᴜ ᴏɴʟʏ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴜᴛᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʀᴇʟɪᴀʙʟᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴇᴛ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. Mᴀᴋᴇ $80 ʜᴏᴜʀʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴛᴏ $13,000 ᴀ ᴍᴏɴᴛʜ ʙʏ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ʟɪɴᴋ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴛᴛᴏᴍ ᴀɴᴅ sɪɢɴɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ. qa Yᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴇᴇᴋ. . .
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  1. It is true that the catholic church is guided by the holy spirit.. it is the true church of christ which he promise that he will accompanied it until the end of time..

  2. O God, who raised up Pope Saint Callistus the First to serve the Church and attend devoutly to Christ’s faithful departed, strengthen us, we pray, by his witness to the faith, so that, rescued from the slavery of corruption, we may merit an incorruptible inheritance. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

  3. Ecce Crucem Domini!
    Fugite partes adversae!
    Vicit Leo de tribu Juda,
    Radix David! Alleluia!
    Saint Anthony pray for us.
    Pope Saint Callistus, pray for us. Restore Rome.

  4. PLEASE PRAY TO POPE SAINT CALLISTUS, GOD, JESUS CHRIST, HOLY SPIRIT, MY SON, GUARDIAN ANGELS, THE WORLD, MYSELF, FAMILIES, SAINTS, ANGELS, PRIESTS, NUNS, FRIENDS, ENEMIES, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS. AMEN

    • Sᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴏᴍᴇ! Gʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴊᴏʙ ғᴏʀ sᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛs, And Jobless Persons sᴛᴀʏ-ᴀᴛ-ʜᴏᴍᴇ ᴍᴏᴍs ᴏʀ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅɪɴɢ ᴀɴ ᴇxᴛʀᴀ ɪɴᴄᴏᴍᴇ. Yᴏᴜ ᴏɴʟʏ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴜᴛᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʀᴇʟɪᴀʙʟᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɴᴇᴛ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. Mᴀᴋᴇ $80 ʜᴏᴜʀʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴛᴏ $13,000 ᴀ ᴍᴏɴᴛʜ ʙʏ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ʟɪɴᴋ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴛᴛᴏᴍ ᴀɴᴅ sɪɢɴɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ. qs Yᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴇᴇᴋ. . .
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