Inbox Inspiration: November 20, 2019: Saint Clement of Rome

Saint Clement of Rome

Dear Friends, 
Clement was Bishop of Rome and Pope from 88 until his death in 99.
He was the fourth Pope or third successor of Saint Peter,
preceded by Popes Linus (64-76) and Cletus (76-88), also canonized saints.
Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp of Smyrna are regarded as the Church’s Apostolic Fathers.
These are Church Fathers who lived in the first and early second centuries and either knew one of the apostles directly or were significantly influenced by them.
Regarding Clement, few reliable details are known about his life.
He was probably banished from Rome during one of the Emperor’s persecutions and martyred for his faith.
The one thing Clement is definitely known for is an epistle or letter to the church in Corinth, written in the year 96.
It is considered the earliest authentic Christian document outside the New Testament.
In this epistle, Clement deals with issues of disunity in the Corinthian church.
Saint Clement inspires us to stay glued to our Christian roots and to remember the basics of faith that make us one.
His feast day is November 23 in the Catholic calendar.
 
“Let us then serve in his army, brothers, following his blameless commands with all our might. The great cannot exist without the small, nor the small without the great; they blend together to their mutual advantage. Take the body, for example. The head is nothing without the feet, just as the feet are nothing without the head. The smallest parts of our body are necessary and valuable to the whole. All work together and are mutually subject for the preservation of the whole body. Our entire body, then, will be preserved in Christ Jesus, and each of us should be subject to his neighbor in accordance with the grace given to each.”
From Letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement of Rome.

“All you holy men and women, Saints of God, pray for us.” 
Father Michael Schleupner