The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-10-13
MINIATURE LIVES OF THE SAINTS.
October IA.
ST. CALLIsTUs, POPE, MARTYR.


Early in the third century Callistus, then
O. deacon, was intrusted by Pope St.
Zanhvrinus with the rule of the clergy, and
sat by him over the cemeteries of the
Christisns at Rome. The charge was no
ght one. He who undertook iG became,
in sense, the guardian and judge of his
brethren, with an authority only second to
that of the bishop; and at the death of
Zepbyrinus, Callistus, according to the
Roman usage, succeeded to the Apostolic
See. A decree is ascribed to him appoint
ing the four fasts of the Ember seasons,
Int his name is best known in connection
with the old cemetery on the Appian Way,
which was enlarged and adorned by him,
and is called to this day the Catacomb of
st. Callistus.
In it were laid IS. Sebastian, Cornelius,
Damascus, and, as the legend over the
entrance tells us, 900 martyrs and 46
Popes, "whose bodies are buried in peace;
who came out of great tribulation, having
endured for the name of Christ the pains
of death, that they might obtain an inher-
itance in the house of the Lord" Calls
tus added another name to the list of those
grand silent Pontiffs who fed and governed
the flock of Christ, and, at last, after the
example of the Good Shepherd, whose
worthy Wears they were, gave their lives
for the sheep. He was martyred October
14tb, 223.
During the persecution under the En-
peror Severus, St. Callistus was driven to
take shelter in the poor and popnlous
quarters of the city (; yet, in spite OF these
troubles, and of the care of the Church,
which pressed SO heavily upon him, be
made diligent search for the body of Cali
podius, one of his clergy who had suffered
martyrdom shortly before. When he had
found it he was full of joy, and buried 1t,
with hymns of praise, in the cemetery
which was afterwards called by his name.
October Is.
ST. THERESA.
When a child of seven years Theresa ran
away from her home at AVila in Spain,
in the hope of being martyred by
the Moors. Being brought back and asked
the reason OF her flight, she replied, 81
want to see God, and 1 must die before
can see Him" She then began with her
brother to build hermitage in the garden,
and was often heard repeating For ever,
for ever" A foolish love for romances for
a while cooled her fervor, and it was some
twelve years later that she became Car
melite nun. Frivolous conversations again
checked her progress towards perfection,
but at last, in her thirty first year, she
gave herself wholly to God. Terrible
spiritual desolations now purified her soul.
BY these che learned to realise 80 intensely
the presence of God, that all sin seemed
to her committed in Him, and che
said "that we receive more harm from one
venial offence than from all the powers of
hell combined" A vision showed her the
very place in hell to which her own light
faults would have led her; and shelived ever
afterwards in the deepest distrust of SELF
She was called to reform her Order, favor
ed with distinct commands from our Lord,
and her heart was pierced with divine
love; but she dreaded nothing 80 much as
delusiop, and to the last acted only under
obedience to her confessor, which both
made her strong and kept her safe. She
died on October 4th, 1882.
"True it is," said the Saint, "that l am
the weakest and most wicked of all crea-
lures but yet believe that whoever will
humble himself, though he be strong, and
not trust in himself, but in one who has
experience in these matters, will not lose
anything. For myself l can say that if
our Lord had not shown me this truth, and
had not also enabled me to treat very
familiarly with persons who were given to
mental prayer, 1 should still have gone on
falling and rising, till had fallen headlong
into hell. God alone it was who gave me
the helping hand. May Ho be praised
forever! Amen"
October is.