14th

Pope Francis: 

“The thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity. I see the church as a field hospital after battle.”

Another article from America magazine: Francis the Diplomat - He sure doesn't act like a diplomat.

AND as the Synod on FAMILY continues, Pope Francis Adds to the event.  They have a WHOLE LOT of stuff to work on. Yesterday, the Cardinal Peter Erdo, the synod’s Relator, gave a summary report of more than 240 speeches or written presentations given during the first week.   They are working on discussing his report. (in 10 groups in Italian, English, French and Spanish)Input from the ten language groups will be synthesized by the synod fathers and composed into a Final Report.  (the original team of three plus the six new members appointed by the Pope).  The final report is expected to be released on the afternoon of October 18th, and will serve as the foundation for discussions and recommendations during the coming year in preparation for October 2015 Synod. 

Pope Francis Placed Prayer at Western Wall in Jerusalem

These people have a long road ahead of them. I think we should all pray they can continue the spirit of open discussion and cooperation that they have shown thus far. 

**Saint of the DAY**

Pope St. Callistus, Martyr-------October 14

The first record I read about Pope Callistus was intriguing. " Imagine that your biography was written by an enemy of yours. And that its information was all anyone would have not only for the rest of your life but for centuries to come. You would never be able to refute it -- and even if you couldno one would believe you because your accuser was a saint."

Callistus was a slave, his master put him in charge of a bank, he lost the money deposited, fled and was caught. He was released and given an opportunity to try to recover some of the money. He was too energetic in his work, and was arrested for brawling in a synagogue. He was sent to work in the mines of Sardinia for a time, until released through the intercession of the emperor's mistriess.

After a time, Callistus was given responsibility for a public Christian burial ground in Rome  He was ordained a deacon and became friend and adviser to the pope.  When he was elected pope in 219, he was bitterly attacked by the loosing cadidate, St. Hippolytus. (A renounded Roman theologian at the time, who became the first antipope a few years later.) 

The history is developed using a negative principle of reading history. The fact is that if worse things had happened, his enemy, Hippolytus would have mentioned them. 

Pope Callistus' major "fault" was an assertion of divine mercy, which Hippolytus felt was too lenient. It was mistakenly believed by him and other's already in schism, that there were some sins which were too terrible to be forgiven through confession.

Hippolytus detailed a number of things he felt Callistus allowed. They included extramarital sex and early forms of contraception, that Callistus more likely did not 'allow' but was willing to absolve when penitants sought reconciliation.

History is full of things which show us that as time goes on, people do not seem to change much. We are still full of contention, unwilling to reconcile with others, and focused on our own interpretations.

Divine Mercy HELP US!