Calixtus I, Pope and martyr

Biography

He was a slave and as such, he spent a hard youth and youth. He visited several places where he led a very hard life. Once released, he retired near Rome to a kind of desert and spent about ten years there dedicated to study and meditation. Calixto matured during those years and his name began to be heard among Christian circles. He reached the ears of Pope Saint Ceferinus, who called him to his presence. He was captivated by those qualities that visibly appeared in that mature man with a deep knowledge of the Christian faith. Recognizing these qualities and his great ingenuity, he entrusted him with the expansion and construction on the Via Appia of the Cemetery or Catacombs that would later and forever bear his name. The Christians of his time recognized the illustrious qualities that adorned the deacon Calixtus and not only in financial matters or the construction of catacombs, but in the field of science, prudence, piety and government skills. For this reason, when Pope Ceferinus died, they set their sights on Calixtus and elected him to succeed him as Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff. Some heresies were beginning to flourish at that time and the new Pope fought bravely against them. The two main ones were these: "SABELIANISM" which made almost no distinction between the Persons of the Holy Trinity, with confusions that bordered on heresy and the "MONTANISTS" who were those who defended an exaggerated rigorism of customs and, above all, with those who had been somewhat weak during the persecutions and now wanted to return, repentant, to the Catholic Church. Saint Calixto always wanted to be more of a father than a judge. More defender than condemner. This brought him many insults and contradictions, but he always endured them with great fortitude and great charity. Saint Callistus was convinced of one truth above all: the goodness of God and his great mercy toward repentant sinners. Tertullian and his henchmen rose up against the Pope and made him suffer greatly, until his precious life was crowned with the palm of martyrdom, which he probably received in the year 222.