Today July 28th

Today is the double feast (esp. in Milan) of Pope St. Victor and Pope St. Innocent. I think there might be a lesson for us in the story of their lives.

St. Victor (reigned 189-199 AD) felt he had to use the power of excommunication on the Eastern and Middle Eastern bishops who were dead set on celebrating Easter on the 14th of Nisan, even if it fell on a weekday. Victor said nix; it's the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. He was right, but he learned from another saint: St. Irenaeus, who wisely pointed out that Christian brotherhood is of a higher priority than any matter of discipline. As has been pointed out, discipline can be changed; doctrines can not. And charity covers a multitude of sins, as they say. So, he didn't excommunicate them, but he still insisted on consistency, as a pope should.

He also had to deal with a heretic arriving from Byzantium tickling the ears of the faithful with stories about Jesus just being a wonderful man and exalted teacher of ethics. He is very special to those of us who love the Latin Mass, since he was the first pope to say it in Latin. Neat.

He died during the persecution of Septimus Severus, but there is no actual proof he died as a martyr, even as outspoken and fearless as he was.

Innocent I (reigned 401-417 AD) really is most famous for an important concept: Roma locuta, causa finita est. ("Rome has spoken; the case is closed.") The reason this adage is attributed to him is because the African bishops who condemned Pelagianism and the denial of the orthodox notion of grace applied to Rome for approval and Innocent commended them, saying, "In all matters of faith bishops throughout the world should refer to St. Peter." And so they should.

He very clearly and yet pastorally stated that all "greater causes" should be referred to Rome, thus establishing the juridical primacy of Rome. He defended clerical celibacy and St. John Chrysostom, who'd been blindsided and condemned at the illicit Synod of the Oak. Innocent tried to get John reinstated to his see, but the emperor wouldn't let him. I'll bet every pope can feel his pain.

He is controversial -- or would be in this day and age, especially among hardline political types -- because in the face of terrorism, he did negotiate with the enemy: he bravely tried to buy back hostages from the barbaric Goths who invaded and conquered Rome. Not that the refusal to bargain isn't a noble sentiment as well. I'm just telling you what Pope St. Innocent did. He died in 417; I don't know how successful he was in the hostage thing -- but he did make the grade: he became a saint. And what is the only tragedy? Not to become one.