Good morning everyone,
Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Clement, who was probably either the second or third of the Bishops of Rome after Saint Peter, Being charged with the responsibility to maintain the place of the Lord's house as a place of prayer (cf Lk 19:46) and to continue building up the Body of Christ in the lives of His people, Clement is believed to have held that office from the year 88 A.D. until his death in 99 A.D. (or 101 A.D).
Few details are known about Clement's life. He was said to have been consecrated (Ordained a Bishop) by Saint Peter and he is known to have been a leading member of the church in Rome in the late first century. Clement's only genuine existing writing is his letter to the Church at Corinth in response to a dispute in which certain of the priests of the Corinthian church had been deposed. He asserted the authority of the presbyters (priests) as rulers of the church on the grounds that the apostles had appointed them to be leaders. His letter, which is one of the oldest existing Christian documents outside the New Testament, was read in churches along with other epistles, some of which later became part of the New Testament scriptures. These works were the first to affirm the apostolic authority of the clergy.
Clement was imprisoned by authority of the Roman Emperor Trajan. During that time he was recorded to have led a ministry among fellow prisoners. Thereafter he was executed by being tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea. May this holy man intercede for us so that we too may be close to others, helping them all to recognize God's presence in their lives and the ways we are invited to live joyfully by the light of faith.
Have a great day.
Few details are known about Clement's life. He was said to have been consecrated (Ordained a Bishop) by Saint Peter and he is known to have been a leading member of the church in Rome in the late first century. Clement's only genuine existing writing is his letter to the Church at Corinth in response to a dispute in which certain of the priests of the Corinthian church had been deposed. He asserted the authority of the presbyters (priests) as rulers of the church on the grounds that the apostles had appointed them to be leaders. His letter, which is one of the oldest existing Christian documents outside the New Testament, was read in churches along with other epistles, some of which later became part of the New Testament scriptures. These works were the first to affirm the apostolic authority of the clergy.
Clement was imprisoned by authority of the Roman Emperor Trajan. During that time he was recorded to have led a ministry among fellow prisoners. Thereafter he was executed by being tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea. May this holy man intercede for us so that we too may be close to others, helping them all to recognize God's presence in their lives and the ways we are invited to live joyfully by the light of faith.
Have a great day.
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