Difference between revisions of "Pope Sixtus I" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | The Xystus who is commemorated in the [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] [[Canon of the Mass]] is [[Sixtus II|Xystus II]], not Xystus I. | + | '''Pope Saint Sixtus I''' was the [[bishop]] of [[Rome]] from about 117 or 119 C.E. to 126 or 128 C.E., succeeding [[Pope Alexander I]]. The spelling '''Xystus''' is also used for the first three popes of that name. He was succeeded by Pope Telesphorus. |
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| + | Like most of the very early supposed popes, very little is known about Sixtus. Several sources call him a martyr, but the Xystus who is commemorated in the [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] [[Canon of the Mass]] is [[Sixtus II|Xystus II]], not Xystus I. He is also credited as having instituted several Roman Catholic liturgical and administrative traditions, but historians believe that these were attributed to him by later writers who were interested in bolstering the claim that the papacy's ancient claims to supremacy. | ||
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| + | Like most of his predecessors, he was believed to be buried near Peter's grave in the Vatican, although their are differing traditions concerning where his body lies today. His feast is celebrated on April 6. | ||
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| + | ==Biography== | ||
Sixtus was a [[Rome|Roman]] by birth, and his father's name is given as Pastor. The ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]'', credits him with instituting the following three ordinances: | Sixtus was a [[Rome|Roman]] by birth, and his father's name is given as Pastor. The ''[[Liber Pontificalis]]'', credits him with instituting the following three ordinances: | ||
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The eighteenth century English Roman Catholic hagiographer [[Alban Butler]] (''Lives of the Saints'', 6 April) states that Pope [[Clement X]] gave some of his relics to [[Cardinal de Retz]], who placed them in the Abbey of St. Michael in Lorraine. The Xystus who is commemorated in the [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] [[Canon of the Mass]] is [[Sixtus II|Xystus II]], not Xystus I. | The eighteenth century English Roman Catholic hagiographer [[Alban Butler]] (''Lives of the Saints'', 6 April) states that Pope [[Clement X]] gave some of his relics to [[Cardinal de Retz]], who placed them in the Abbey of St. Michael in Lorraine. The Xystus who is commemorated in the [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] [[Canon of the Mass]] is [[Sixtus II|Xystus II]], not Xystus I. | ||
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Revision as of 23:17, 29 November 2008
| Sixtus I | |
|---|---|
| |
| Birth name | Sixtus or Xystus |
| Papacy began | 117 or 119 |
| Papacy ended | 126 or 128 |
| Predecessor | Alexander I |
| Successor | Telesphorus |
| Born | ??? Rome, Italy |
| Died | 126 or 128 Rome, Italy |
| Other popes named Sixtus | |
Pope Saint Sixtus I was the bishop of Rome from about 117 or 119 C.E. to 126 or 128 C.E., succeeding Pope Alexander I. The spelling Xystus is also used for the first three popes of that name. He was succeeded by Pope Telesphorus.
Like most of the very early supposed popes, very little is known about Sixtus. Several sources call him a martyr, but the Xystus who is commemorated in the Catholic Canon of the Mass is Xystus II, not Xystus I. He is also credited as having instituted several Roman Catholic liturgical and administrative traditions, but historians believe that these were attributed to him by later writers who were interested in bolstering the claim that the papacy's ancient claims to supremacy.
Like most of his predecessors, he was believed to be buried near Peter's grave in the Vatican, although their are differing traditions concerning where his body lies today. His feast is celebrated on April 6.
Biography
Sixtus was a Roman by birth, and his father's name is given as Pastor. The Liber Pontificalis, credits him with instituting the following three ordinances:
- that only sacred ministers are allowed to touch the sacred vessels;
- that bishops who have been summoned to the Rome can only accepted back by their diocese after presenting letters from the pope
- that after the Preface in the Mass the priest shall chant the Sanctus together with the people.
The Felician Catalogue of popes and the various martyrologies style him martyr, which is not the case with several earlier popes which the Liber Pontificalis calls martyrs. However, Irenaeus of Lyons, writing in the second century, says nothing of his martyrdom. His successor, Telesphorus, is the first bishop of Rome after Saint Peter whom Irenaeus designates a martyr.
Sixtus was reportedly buried in the Vatican, beside the tomb of St. Peter. His relics are said to have been transferred to Alatri in 1132, although others contend that they are still in the Vatican Basilica.
An image of Pope Saint Sixtus can be seen on a fresco at Chalivoy-Milon in the Berry and is reproduced here: http://picasaweb.google.com/JuliannaLees/ChalivoyMilon
According to the Liberian Catalogue of popes, he ruled the Church during the reign of Hadrian "a consulatu Negro et Aproniani usque Vero III et Ambibulo," that is, from 117 to 126. Eusebius states in his Chronicon that Sixtus I was pope from 114 to 124, while his Historia Ecclesiastica, using a different catalogue of popes, claims his rule from 114 to 128. All authorities agree that he reigned about ten years.
The eighteenth century English Roman Catholic hagiographer Alban Butler (Lives of the Saints, 6 April) states that Pope Clement X gave some of his relics to Cardinal de Retz, who placed them in the Abbey of St. Michael in Lorraine. The Xystus who is commemorated in the Catholic Canon of the Mass is Xystus II, not Xystus I.
| Roman Catholic Popes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Alexander I |
Bishop of Rome Pope 115–125 |
Succeeded by: Telesphorus |
Notes
"Pope St. Sixtus I" in the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.
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