Dec. 31 Saint Sylvester Pope. breski1December 31, 2009 Sylvester was pope from 31 January 314 to 31 December 335, succeeding Pope Miltiades. He filled the See of Rome at a very important era in the …More
Dec. 31 Saint Sylvester Pope.
breski1December 31, 2009 Sylvester was pope from 31 January 314 to 31 December 335, succeeding Pope Miltiades. He filled the See of Rome at a very important era in the history of the Catholic Church, but very little is known of him.[3]
The accounts of the papacy of Pope Sylvester I preserved in the Liber Pontificalis (7th or 8th century) are little else than a record of the gifts said to have been conferred on the Church by Emperor Constantine I,[4] but it does say that he was the son of a Roman named Rufinus.[5]
During his pontificate were built the great churches founded at Rome by Constantine, e.g. the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, St. Peter's Basilica, and several cemeterial churches over the graves of martyrs.[5][6]
Saint Sylvester did not himself attend the First Council of Nicaea in 325, but he was represented by two legates, Vitus and Vincentius, and he approved the council's decision.
Part of the Symmachian forgeries, the Vita beati Sylvestri (c. 501–508), which has been preserved in Greek and Syriac; and in Latin in the Constitutum Sylvestri, is an apocryphal account of an alleged Roman council, introduced legends of Sylvester's close relationship with the first Christian emperor. They also appear in the Donation of Constantine.[5]
breski1December 31, 2009 Sylvester was pope from 31 January 314 to 31 December 335, succeeding Pope Miltiades. He filled the See of Rome at a very important era in the history of the Catholic Church, but very little is known of him.[3]
The accounts of the papacy of Pope Sylvester I preserved in the Liber Pontificalis (7th or 8th century) are little else than a record of the gifts said to have been conferred on the Church by Emperor Constantine I,[4] but it does say that he was the son of a Roman named Rufinus.[5]
During his pontificate were built the great churches founded at Rome by Constantine, e.g. the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, St. Peter's Basilica, and several cemeterial churches over the graves of martyrs.[5][6]
Saint Sylvester did not himself attend the First Council of Nicaea in 325, but he was represented by two legates, Vitus and Vincentius, and he approved the council's decision.
Part of the Symmachian forgeries, the Vita beati Sylvestri (c. 501–508), which has been preserved in Greek and Syriac; and in Latin in the Constitutum Sylvestri, is an apocryphal account of an alleged Roman council, introduced legends of Sylvester's close relationship with the first Christian emperor. They also appear in the Donation of Constantine.[5]
DECEMBER 31, 2010
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
[2]
-------------------------
LOOKING FOR YOU
December 31, 2010
Seventh Day of the Octave of Christmas
Father Ernest Daly, LC
John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to
be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be
through him …More
DECEMBER 31, 2010
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
[2]
-------------------------
LOOKING FOR YOU
December 31, 2010
Seventh Day of the Octave of Christmas
Father Ernest Daly, LC
John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to
be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be
through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to
testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was
not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light,
which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the
world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not
know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not
accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become
children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not
by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but
of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and
we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of
grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This
was he of whom I said, 'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead
of me because he existed before me.'" From his fullness we have all
received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given
through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has
ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has
revealed him.
Introductory Prayer: Jesus, I believe that you are the Word come
into the world. I know you speak to me of the Father, of his truth
and love. I know that I can trust you to bring me to the Father. In
spite of the smallness of my heart, you come in search of me. Thank
you for coming to look for me.
Petition: Help me look for you more today, Lord.
1. He Came to His Own Our God came looking for us. "It is not that
we have loved God, but that he has first loved us" (Cf. 1 John
4:10). What is it that so attracts God to us? The Bible uses images
of the love of a spouse or a parent to help us understand how deeply
God desires to make us his own. He knows that this is where our true
happiness lies. Often, he looks for man in mysterious ways, but in
Jesus Christ he plainly shows himself and his desire to be with us.
Do I appreciate the gift of the Incarnation? Do I understand a bit
better each day how humbly and powerfully God looks for my love?
2. Born of God Our transformation into Christ is a gift. God offers
us this gift, and if we are open to it, he deeply changes our
relationship with him. Through Christ we have confidence to come
before the Father and call him our "Father," not just our "Creator."
Through Christ we have the power to lay aside sin and put on the
holiness of God. Through Christ we have the possibility of leaving a
mark on the history of salvation, helping to bring his Good News to
the world. This comes from God's goodness and mercy. Do I appreciate
the gift of my divine adoption? Do I try to live as a new man or
woman, born of the Spirit?
3. Full of Grace and Truth Jesus Christ shows us what it is to be
truly human. The power and beauty of his life, the unselfishness of
his total love, help us see the heights to which we are called. He
shows us that it is possible to be holy. He leads the way; we have
only to follow in his footsteps. With him we can be confident that
the good we have done in our lives will last forever. Do I let myself
fall in love with Christ each day? Am I fascinated with him to the
level that I discover something new in him each day? Can I say that
each day he wins me more and more for his cause?
Conversation with Christ: Lord, thank you for coming to look for
me. Today I want to look for you, too. Help me to discover you in
faith. Help me to see the signs of your presence in the Church, the
sacraments, and the good you sow in those around me. Give me new
ears and an open heart to listen to your Word, and to welcome you
into my life.
Resolution: Today I will speak with someone about Jesus' love for
us as demonstrated through his Incarnation.
meditation.regnumchristi.org
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
[2]
-------------------------
LOOKING FOR YOU
December 31, 2010
Seventh Day of the Octave of Christmas
Father Ernest Daly, LC
John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to
be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be
through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
it. A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to
testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was
not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light,
which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the
world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not
know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not
accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become
children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not
by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but
of God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and
we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of
grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This
was he of whom I said, 'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead
of me because he existed before me.'" From his fullness we have all
received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given
through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has
ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has
revealed him.
Introductory Prayer: Jesus, I believe that you are the Word come
into the world. I know you speak to me of the Father, of his truth
and love. I know that I can trust you to bring me to the Father. In
spite of the smallness of my heart, you come in search of me. Thank
you for coming to look for me.
Petition: Help me look for you more today, Lord.
1. He Came to His Own Our God came looking for us. "It is not that
we have loved God, but that he has first loved us" (Cf. 1 John
4:10). What is it that so attracts God to us? The Bible uses images
of the love of a spouse or a parent to help us understand how deeply
God desires to make us his own. He knows that this is where our true
happiness lies. Often, he looks for man in mysterious ways, but in
Jesus Christ he plainly shows himself and his desire to be with us.
Do I appreciate the gift of the Incarnation? Do I understand a bit
better each day how humbly and powerfully God looks for my love?
2. Born of God Our transformation into Christ is a gift. God offers
us this gift, and if we are open to it, he deeply changes our
relationship with him. Through Christ we have confidence to come
before the Father and call him our "Father," not just our "Creator."
Through Christ we have the power to lay aside sin and put on the
holiness of God. Through Christ we have the possibility of leaving a
mark on the history of salvation, helping to bring his Good News to
the world. This comes from God's goodness and mercy. Do I appreciate
the gift of my divine adoption? Do I try to live as a new man or
woman, born of the Spirit?
3. Full of Grace and Truth Jesus Christ shows us what it is to be
truly human. The power and beauty of his life, the unselfishness of
his total love, help us see the heights to which we are called. He
shows us that it is possible to be holy. He leads the way; we have
only to follow in his footsteps. With him we can be confident that
the good we have done in our lives will last forever. Do I let myself
fall in love with Christ each day? Am I fascinated with him to the
level that I discover something new in him each day? Can I say that
each day he wins me more and more for his cause?
Conversation with Christ: Lord, thank you for coming to look for
me. Today I want to look for you, too. Help me to discover you in
faith. Help me to see the signs of your presence in the Church, the
sacraments, and the good you sow in those around me. Give me new
ears and an open heart to listen to your Word, and to welcome you
into my life.
Resolution: Today I will speak with someone about Jesus' love for
us as demonstrated through his Incarnation.
meditation.regnumchristi.org
Sylvester was pope from 31 January 314 to 31 December 335, succeeding Pope Miltiades.[2]
He filled the See of Rome at a very important era in the history of the Catholic Church, but very little is known of him.[3]
The accounts of the papacy of Pope Sylvester I preserved in the Liber Pontificalis (7th or 8th century) are little else than a record of the gifts said to have been conferred on the Church …More
Sylvester was pope from 31 January 314 to 31 December 335, succeeding Pope Miltiades.[2]
He filled the See of Rome at a very important era in the history of the Catholic Church, but very little is known of him.[3]
The accounts of the papacy of Pope Sylvester I preserved in the Liber Pontificalis (7th or 8th century) are little else than a record of the gifts said to have been conferred on the Church by Emperor Constantine I,[4] but it does say that he was the son of a Roman named Rufinus.[5]
During his pontificate were built the great churches founded at Rome by Constantine, e.g. the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, St. Peter's Basilica, and several cemeterial churches over the graves of martyrs.[5][6]
Saint Sylvester did not himself attend the First Council of Nicaea in 325, but he was represented by two legates, Vitus and Vincentius, and he approved the council's decision.
Part of the Symmachian forgeries, the Vita beati Sylvestri (c. 501–508), which has been preserved in Greek and Syriac; and in Latin in the Constitutum Sylvestri, is an apocryphal account of an alleged Roman council, introduced legends of Sylvester's close relationship with the first Christian emperor. They also appear in the Donation of Constantine.[5]
Legacy
Long after his death, the figure of Sylvester was embroidered upon in a fictional account of his relationship to Constantine, which successfully seemed to support the later Gelasian doctrine of papal supremacy, papal auctoritas ("authority") guiding imperial potestas ("power"), the doctrine that is embodied in the forged "Donation of Constantine" of the eighth century. In the fiction, of which an early version is represented in the early sixth-century "Symmachean forgeries" emanating from the curia of Pope Symmachus (died 514), the Emperor Constantine was cured of leprosy by the virtue of the baptismal water administered by Sylvester. The Emperor, abjectly grateful, not only confirmed the bishop of Rome as the primate above all other bishops, he resigned his imperial insignia and walked before Sylvester's horse holding the pope's bridle as the papal groom. The generous pope, in return, offered the crown of his own good will to Constantine, who abandoned Rome to the pope and took up residence in Constantinople.[7] "The doctrine behind this charming story is a radical one," Norman F. Cantor observes: "The pope is supreme over all rulers, even the Roman emperor, who owes his crown to the pope and therefore may be deposed by papal decree". Such a useful legend quickly gained wide circulation; Gregory of Tours referred to this political legend in his history of the Franks, written in the 580s.
Pope Sylvester II, himself a close associate of Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor, chose the name Sylvester in imitation of Sylvester I.
In the West, the liturgical feast of Saint Sylvester is on 31 December, the day of his burial in the Catacomb of Priscilla.[5] This is the last day in the year and, accordingly, in German-speaking countries and in some others close to them, New Year's Eve is known as Silvester. In other countries too, the day is usually referred to as Saint Sylvester's Day or the Feast of Saint Sylvester. In Brazil, the long-distance running event Corrida Internacional de São Silvestre (Saint Silvester Road Race) occurs every year on 31 December.[citation needed]
[edit] Fictional
The Donation of Constantine is a document fabricated in the second half of the eighth century, purporting to be a record by the emperor himself of his conversion, the profession of his new faith, and the privileges he conferred on Pope Sylvester I, his clergy, and their successors. According to it, Pope Sylvester was even offered the imperial crown, which, however, he refused.[8]
"Lu Santu Papa Silvestru", a story in Giuseppe Pitrè's collection of Sicilian fables, recounts the legend as follows: Constantine the king wants to take a second wife, and asks Sylvester. Sylvester denies him permission, calling on heaven as witness; Constantine threatens him and Sylvester, rather than give in, escapes into the woods. Not long after Constantine falls ill; when he is desperate of ever regaining his health he sees a dream which commands him to send for Sylvester. He obeys, and Sylvester receives his posse in his cave and swiftly baptizes them, whereafter (having shown them several miracles) they lead him back to Constantine, whom he baptizes also. In this story Constantine and his posse are not pagans but Jews.[9]
Another myth has Sylvester slaying a dragon. He is often depicted with the dying beast.[10]
[edit] See also
List of 10 longest-reigning popes
[edit] References
^ Patron Saints Index: Pope Saint Sylvester I
^ Annuario Pontificio (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2008 ISBN 978-88-209-8021-4), p. 8*
^ Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford University Press 2005 ISBN 978-0-19-280290-3), article "Sylvester I, St"
^ 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica
^ a b c d "Pope St. Sylvester I" Catholic Encyclopaedia
^ Helen Dietz: "The Eschatological Dimension of Church Architecture". The Biblical Roots of Church Orientation. 2005
^ Reported in Norman F. Cantor, The Civilization of the Middle Ages, 1993:177.
^ Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford University Press 2005 ISBN 978-0-19-280290-3), article Donation of Constantine
^ Pitrè, Giuseppe, Fiabe, novelle e racconti popolari siciliani, Volume terzo, Palermo 1875. pp. 39–42
^ [1]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (Eleventh ed.). Cambridge University Press.
[edit] External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sylvester I
The Life of St. Silvester, the Pope who slew a Dragon
Opera Omnia by Migne
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Sylvester_I
He filled the See of Rome at a very important era in the history of the Catholic Church, but very little is known of him.[3]
The accounts of the papacy of Pope Sylvester I preserved in the Liber Pontificalis (7th or 8th century) are little else than a record of the gifts said to have been conferred on the Church by Emperor Constantine I,[4] but it does say that he was the son of a Roman named Rufinus.[5]
During his pontificate were built the great churches founded at Rome by Constantine, e.g. the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, St. Peter's Basilica, and several cemeterial churches over the graves of martyrs.[5][6]
Saint Sylvester did not himself attend the First Council of Nicaea in 325, but he was represented by two legates, Vitus and Vincentius, and he approved the council's decision.
Part of the Symmachian forgeries, the Vita beati Sylvestri (c. 501–508), which has been preserved in Greek and Syriac; and in Latin in the Constitutum Sylvestri, is an apocryphal account of an alleged Roman council, introduced legends of Sylvester's close relationship with the first Christian emperor. They also appear in the Donation of Constantine.[5]
Legacy
Long after his death, the figure of Sylvester was embroidered upon in a fictional account of his relationship to Constantine, which successfully seemed to support the later Gelasian doctrine of papal supremacy, papal auctoritas ("authority") guiding imperial potestas ("power"), the doctrine that is embodied in the forged "Donation of Constantine" of the eighth century. In the fiction, of which an early version is represented in the early sixth-century "Symmachean forgeries" emanating from the curia of Pope Symmachus (died 514), the Emperor Constantine was cured of leprosy by the virtue of the baptismal water administered by Sylvester. The Emperor, abjectly grateful, not only confirmed the bishop of Rome as the primate above all other bishops, he resigned his imperial insignia and walked before Sylvester's horse holding the pope's bridle as the papal groom. The generous pope, in return, offered the crown of his own good will to Constantine, who abandoned Rome to the pope and took up residence in Constantinople.[7] "The doctrine behind this charming story is a radical one," Norman F. Cantor observes: "The pope is supreme over all rulers, even the Roman emperor, who owes his crown to the pope and therefore may be deposed by papal decree". Such a useful legend quickly gained wide circulation; Gregory of Tours referred to this political legend in his history of the Franks, written in the 580s.
Pope Sylvester II, himself a close associate of Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor, chose the name Sylvester in imitation of Sylvester I.
In the West, the liturgical feast of Saint Sylvester is on 31 December, the day of his burial in the Catacomb of Priscilla.[5] This is the last day in the year and, accordingly, in German-speaking countries and in some others close to them, New Year's Eve is known as Silvester. In other countries too, the day is usually referred to as Saint Sylvester's Day or the Feast of Saint Sylvester. In Brazil, the long-distance running event Corrida Internacional de São Silvestre (Saint Silvester Road Race) occurs every year on 31 December.[citation needed]
[edit] Fictional
The Donation of Constantine is a document fabricated in the second half of the eighth century, purporting to be a record by the emperor himself of his conversion, the profession of his new faith, and the privileges he conferred on Pope Sylvester I, his clergy, and their successors. According to it, Pope Sylvester was even offered the imperial crown, which, however, he refused.[8]
"Lu Santu Papa Silvestru", a story in Giuseppe Pitrè's collection of Sicilian fables, recounts the legend as follows: Constantine the king wants to take a second wife, and asks Sylvester. Sylvester denies him permission, calling on heaven as witness; Constantine threatens him and Sylvester, rather than give in, escapes into the woods. Not long after Constantine falls ill; when he is desperate of ever regaining his health he sees a dream which commands him to send for Sylvester. He obeys, and Sylvester receives his posse in his cave and swiftly baptizes them, whereafter (having shown them several miracles) they lead him back to Constantine, whom he baptizes also. In this story Constantine and his posse are not pagans but Jews.[9]
Another myth has Sylvester slaying a dragon. He is often depicted with the dying beast.[10]
[edit] See also
List of 10 longest-reigning popes
[edit] References
^ Patron Saints Index: Pope Saint Sylvester I
^ Annuario Pontificio (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2008 ISBN 978-88-209-8021-4), p. 8*
^ Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford University Press 2005 ISBN 978-0-19-280290-3), article "Sylvester I, St"
^ 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica
^ a b c d "Pope St. Sylvester I" Catholic Encyclopaedia
^ Helen Dietz: "The Eschatological Dimension of Church Architecture". The Biblical Roots of Church Orientation. 2005
^ Reported in Norman F. Cantor, The Civilization of the Middle Ages, 1993:177.
^ Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford University Press 2005 ISBN 978-0-19-280290-3), article Donation of Constantine
^ Pitrè, Giuseppe, Fiabe, novelle e racconti popolari siciliani, Volume terzo, Palermo 1875. pp. 39–42
^ [1]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (Eleventh ed.). Cambridge University Press.
[edit] External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sylvester I
The Life of St. Silvester, the Pope who slew a Dragon
Opera Omnia by Migne
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Sylvester_I