St. Sylvester

St. Sylvester – December 31st

In her liturgy the Church reproduces every phase of the life of her divine Founder.

Scarcely was He born than the Infant-God was persecuted by Herod; the Church while still in her cradle sent to heaven her first martyr in the person of the deacon Stephen, and her first twenty-five Popes met their death as martyrs. On his return from Egypt Jesus grew in age and wisdom at Nazareth where he spent some years in peace; during the pontificate of Sylvester I (314-35), after three hundred years of persecution the Church began to enjoy that freedom which is her greatest boon. She spread throughout the Roman empire and the Council of Nicea (325), under Sylvester’s presidency, which pervades the whole Christmas liturgy. “At the first Council of Nicea”, the Breviary tells us, “the Catholic faith concerning the divinity of Christ was expounded by three hundred and eighteen bishops; Arius and his sect were condemned. At the request of the Fathers of the Council Sylvester again confirmed this Council at a Synod held in Rome at which Arius was condemned afresh.”

St. Sylvester was buried at the cemetery of Priscilla on the via Salaira under a small basilica which he himself had caused to be built.