Spiritual Reflection

I’m sure you have heard this said many, many times. Today we celebrate the feast of a Saint who really never did lose his dream, St. Callistus of Rome.

As a young man he was put into slavery in Rome and suffered because of mistakes he made. As a slave he was put in charge of funds collected by Christians to help the poor and he lost the money. He tried to escape more punishment by jumping into the river but was rescued and sent back to his master. He was sent to work in the mines in Sardinia and got his freedom with the Pope’s Edict of Freedom for all slaves.

Now he wanted to dedicate his life to helping those who suffer. He became a deacon and began a ministry to educate and serve the poor and those who suffered. He had the personal experience to understand the pain. His reputation as a caring minister spread and he received the ultimate appreciation in being elected a Pope. While his early life was a nightmare, his dream of freedom and service to those who suffer came true.