+ Though of "optional memorial" ranking in the Church calendar, today's feast needs remembering by at least some of the churches in the world. Pope Sixtus II whose feast it is today is a rather remarkable saint. He was a Roman of Greek descent. Elected to the papacy in 257, he repaired the rift between the sees of Rome and Carthage that had developed over the issue of baptism and rebaptism. Like his predecessor Pope Stephen, Sixtus believed that baptism is a once-in-a-lifetime event, but unlike Stephen he tolerated those who rebaptized the heretics and schismatics when they desired to return to the Church. What was most important is that they returned; repeating something that can only be done once, does not cause it to be done twice, so for the sake of compassionate and lawful compromise Sixtus was for a peaceful solution. In fact, his biographer said of Sixtus: he was "a good and peace-making priest."
The events of his martyrdom are worth the remembrance of his feast day: he along with seven deacons of Rome was gathered for a liturgical service in a Roman cemetery. He was sitting in his "cathedra" – his episcopal chair - presiding over the ceremony, when soldiers of the Emperor Valerian – who changed his mind in midstream about Christians and began persecuting not just the general Christian population but also specifically bishops, priests and deacons – broke in and killed on the spot the pope (Sixtus) and four of his attending deacons: Lawrence, also a deacon, was martyred four days later. While Lawrence has his own special feast next Monday (August 10), today we celebrate the Christian heroism, and graced privilege of the martyrdoms of Pope Sixtus II and companion deacons.
Our first reading today – often read at funeral Masses – reminds us that the souls of the just are always in the hands of God – whether in life or in death; and when death may come upon them unawares, even at seeming inopportune times – they remain safely in the mind and heart of God – so long as in their lives on earth they persevered in believing in him, and living like they believed it. In the gospel passage Jesus forthrightly says to the Apostles: Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;
rather, (if you are to be afraid at all) be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. You are priceless in the sight of God; you are worth more than a flock of sparrows (who God also looks after in his providential care). Therefore, spend your energies telling others about me, and I will never stop telling my Father about you and the virtuous lives that you are trying to live in imitation of me; he will be pleased and you will have nothing to fear at the end of your lives – however they may end!
Blessed is the man who perseveres in life's trials, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life – as did Pope Sixtus and his attending companions and deacons.
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