October 14 2024 - St. Callistus and Christopher Columbus - God chooses the weak and makes them strong

 Often times, the Collect Prayers for the saints reflect something of their lives.  Today’s collect contained a prayer asking God to rescue us from the “slavery of corruption.” This is a reference to the fact that Pope Callistus, honored by the Church today, was once a slave.

Pope Callistus was originally born a slave in Rome in the late 2nd century.  Seeing natural intelligence in him, his slave-master appointed him to oversee a bank, but after a while the bank failed. Callistus, fearing that he would be killed due to the bank’s failure, fled Rome.  He was caught and sentenced to hard labor in the mines of Sardinia. But, as providence would have it, Callistus wasn’t in Sardinia long, thanks to the Pope, who bargained with the emperor to free many of the prisoners.

After his release, Callistus studied theology and became a deacon.  10 years later, Pope Zephyrinus summoned Callistus, to serve as his theological advisor. Callistus proved himself to be reliable and competent, and was himself elected Pope in 217. In 223, an anti-Christian riot swept through Rome, and Pope Callistus was martyred.

From slave to Pope; God works in mysterious ways. As St. Paul says, “God chooses the weak and makes them strong in bearing witness to Christ.”

We do not get to choose the details of our birth and status, but we do get to choose what we do with the gifts God has given us—our intellectual gifts, our creativity, the spiritual gifts we receive in our baptism. 

Our nation today celebrates Columbus Day. Columbus, a Catholic, utilized his genius, his curiosity and energy, to bravely venture into the unknown to explore this world. He was not motivated by greed or violence, but the desire for knowledge and to spread the Gospel. 

Christopher Columbus was not racist or imperialist or sexist or genocidal for wishing to spread Christianity to an unknown land and foreign people. And neither are we. For Christianity professes our belief in the fundamental value of every human life and a commitment to human flourishing by utilizing our God given gifts.  

We pray that the Lord may raise up countless Pope Callistus's and Christopher Columbus's, men and women of great faith, who are committed to using their gifts for the good of others, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That Catholics around the world will be ever more zealous in their preaching of the Gospel and manifesting the mercy of Christ for others.

For wisdom and mercy to guide the life of the Church, the decisions of government leaders, and the ordering of our personal lives.

That young people be inspired to respond generously to God’s call to sanctity, and for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

During this month of October, dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary, may Catholics take up this devotion with renewed vigor and trust in Our Lady’s never-failing intercession.

For the Knights of Columbus and all who look to the inspiration of Christopher Columbus, may they continue in good works and be examples of virtue and faith.

For all victims of war, for hurricane victims and for all affected by flooding and severe weather conditions, and for those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation, addiction, or disease: that they may know God’s sustaining grace.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.