ST PASCHAL I., POPE - 11 FEBRUARY

SAINT PASCHAL I., POPE

Paschal I, Pope (817-824) - his date of birth is unknown; he died in April, May, or June, 824. He was the son of a Roman named Bonosus.

While still young he joined the Roman clergy and was taken into the papal patriarchate (Lateran Palace) where he was instructed in the Divine Service and the Holy Scripture.

HE WAS CONSECRATED AND ENTHRONED

Leo III having appointed him superior of the monastery of St Stephen near the Basilica of St Peter in the Vatican, he took care of the pilgrims who came to Rome.

On the death of Stephen IV (January 24, 817) Paschal was unanimously chosen as his successor. On the following day he was consecrated and enthroned. He entered into relations with Emperor Louis, sending him several ambassadors in rapid succession.

HE REMAINED ON FRIENDLY TERMS WITH THE FRANKISH NOBILITY

In 817 he received from the emperor a document, "Pactum Ludovicianum", confirming the rights and possessions of the Holy See. This document with later amendments is still extant.

Paschal remained on friendly terms with the Frankish nobility and sent a special legation with rich gifts to the marriage of King Lothair I, son of Emperor Louis. In spring, 823, Lothair went to Rome and on April 5 he was solemnly crowned emperor by Paschal.

HE WAS CROWNED EMPEROR BY THE POPE

Although the pope himself opposed the sovereignty of the Frankish emperors over Rome and Roman territory, high officials in the papal palace, especially Primicerius Theodore and his son-in-law Leo Nomenculator, were at the head of the party which supported the Franks, and advocated the supremacy of the emperor. Shortly after the departure of King Lothair in 823, both these officials were blinded and killed by the pope's servants.

THE CRIME COMMITTED BY THE POPE'S SERVANTS

Paschal himself was accused of being the originator of this deed, but he cleared himself of suspicion by an oath. The ambassadors sent to Rome by Emperor Louis to investigate the affair could not punish the perpetrators, as the pope declared the murdered officials guilty of treason. Paschal supported new missionary expeditions which went out from the Frankish Empire. He sent a letter of introduction to Bishop Halitgar of Cambria, and appointed Archbishop Ebo of Rheims as papal legate to the pagan countries in Northern Europe.

THE ICONOCLASTS UNDER LEO THE ARMENIAN

In 814 under Leo the Armenian, the Iconoclastic controversy broke out with renewed violence in the Byzantine Empire. Theodore, the great champion of orthodoxy, wrote repeatedly to Pope Paschal, who encouraged him to persevere. At the same time Theodosius of Constantinople, unlawfully made patriarch by Emperor Leo, sent a legation to the pope. The latter, however, remained loyal to the cause of Theodore, and dispatched legates to Leo to win him from the Iconoclasts, but without success.

HE RECEIVED THE MONKS KINDLY

Numerous monks who had been driven out of Greece by Leo came to Rome where the pope received them kindly, assigning them places in the newly-erected monasteries, such as St Praxedis, St Cecilia, SS. Sergius and Bacchus, near the Lateran Palace.

COMPLETING AND BEAUTIFYING CHURCHES

Paschal was very active in completing, restoring, and beautifying churches and monasteries. The basilicas of St Praxedis, St Cecilia, and S. Maria in Dominica were completely rebuilt by him. The mosaics, which at that time ornamented the apses of these three churches as well as the chapel of St Zeno in St Praxedis, demonstrate today the deterioration of this art.

HE WAS INTERRED IN THE CHURCH OF ST PRAXEDIS

In St Peter's he erected chapels and altars, in which the remains of martyrs from the Roman catacombs, especially those of SS. Processus and Marinianus, were placed. He also placed the relics of many Roman martyrs in the church of St Praxedis where their names are still legible. The discovery of the relies of St Cecilia and companions, and their translation to the new church of St Cecilia in Trastevere, are well described in "Liber Pontificalis". He made great improvements in the choir of the church of S. Maria Maggiore. Paschal was interred in the church of St Praxedis, and is honoured as a saint on May 14 [May 16, February 11].

Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Paschal may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

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