APRIL 26 – SS. CLETUS AND MARCELLINUS, POPES, MARTYRS.
ST. CLETUS was the third Bishop of Rome, and succeeded St. Linus, which circumstance alone shows his eminent virtue among the first disciples of St. Peter in the West. He sat twelve years, from 76 to 89. The canon of the Roman mass, Bede, and other martyrologists style him a martyr. He was buried near St. Linus, on the Vatican, and his relics still remain in that church.
ST. MARCELLINUS succeeded St. Caius in the Bishopric of Rome in 296, about the time that Diocletian set himself up for a deity, and impiously claimed divine honors. In those stormy times of persecution, Marcellinus acquired great glory. He sat in St. Peter’s chair eight years, three months, and twenty-five days, dying in 304, a year after the cruel persecution broke out, in which he gained much honor. He has been styled a martyr, though his blood was not shed in the cause of religion.
REFLECTION: It is a fundamental maxim of the Christian morality, and a truth which Christ has established in the clearest terms, and in innumerable passages of the Gospel, that the cross or sufferings and mortification are the road to eternal bliss. They, therefore, who lead not here a crucified and mortified life, are unworthy ever to possess the unspeakable joys of His kingdom. Our Lord himself, our model and our head, walked in this path, and His great Apostle puts us in mind that he entered into bliss only by his blood and by the cross.
WORD OF THE DAY
PREAMBLES OF FAITH. The main premises of reason on which the act of divine faith depends as on its rational foundation. They are mainly three: 1. the existence of God; 2. his authority, or right to be believed because he knows all things and is perfectly truthful; and 3. the fact that he actually made a revelation, which is proved especially by miracles or fulfilled prophecies performed in testimony of a prophet’s (or Christ’s) claim to speaking in the name of God. (Etym. Latin praeambulus, walking in front: prae, in front + ambulare, to walk.)
Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)
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Some people claim that if a Pope does or say something against the faith, that he automatically loses his office, but that is not true. At least, not when he is under duress. This happened to Pope Marcellinus during the cruel persecution of Diocletian. Overcome with terror, he offered incense to the idols of the gods. Later he was sorry for his sin, and he went to the Council of Sinuesso, wearing a hairshirt. He openly confessed his sin, and deemed himself unworthy to be Pope. The bishops refused to judge him, and said; “it is not possible for the supreme Pontiff to be judged by anyone, but you yourself, weigh your case in your own mind, and pronounce your own judgement. He then deposed himself, but was re-elected immediately. In other words, the bishops would not accept his resignation. They recognised that he had offered incense to the idols, under severe threat (and fear), and was therefore not culpable. Marcellinus did penance, and when the Emperor heard about the matter, he was again arrested, and this time sentenced to be beheaded. Thus he died a martyr. Nobody dared to bury him, because he had declared himself unworthy of christian burial. After 35 days st. Peter himself appeared to his succesor Pope Marcellus, and said: “Brother Marcellus, why do you not bury me? Marcellus replied: “Have you not yet been buried, my Lord?” st. Peter: “I consider myself unburied, as long as Marcellinus is unburied” “But don’t you know, my Lord”, Marcellus asked,”that he laid a curse on anyone who buried him?” st. Peter;”Is it not written that he who humbles himself shall be exalted? You should have kept this in mind! Now go and bury him at my feet” Marcellus went straight away and carried out the orders laudably. (From blessed Jacobus of Voragine’s sacred “Legenda Aurea” c. 1260 A.D.). That is a beautiful story of a humble ( and true, valid) Pope, who made a mistake, regretted it, and did penance. He became a Saint.