notice of God

(Image is portrait of JEsus found in the Catacombs of St. Callistus)

Romans 4:1-8; Ps 32 I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble; Luke 12:1-7

Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Callistus. He was born to a Christian slave in the 3rd century. Later in his life he was put in charge of a bank that eventually went broke. THus, he was on the run, until he was caught and sent to the mill (prison). He was ransomed and later ordained a deacon and put in charge of the Christian Cemetery that today still bears his name: Catacombs of St. Callistus just outside of Rome along the Appian Way. He became Pope Callistus in 217 and was martyred 223.

As I recall to mind St. Callistus, I cannot but think about my trip to the catacombs of Callistus several years ago. I had the opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist in the catacombs, surrounded by the tombs of Popes and martyrs and many of the remains of the early Christians.

It was very moving.

The profound aspect of the catacombs was the silence. It was an "uproar" of silence. As I journeyed through the catacombs, everywhere I looked I encountered frescoes or mosaics, or sculptures of hope and faith and love.

The silence resonated confidence.

The Good Shepherd clinging to the lamb is all over the walls and tombs. Also depicted are images of JEsus at work: raising Lazarus from the dead, making the blind to see, multiplying the loaves and fishes, changing the water in to wine.

IT is as if the martyrs are telling the visitors that JEsus continues to be active and that his work lives on in the life of faith and even in the death of those who die in faith.

There are no crosses in the catacombs but rather there are anchors which are symbols of hope. The Good Shepherd and the anchor stand out as the source of hope and confidence that resonate from the tombs of the catacombs.

We are always in his grip. This is the message of the catacombs that comes to the visitor in silence.

The voice of the martyrs continues to sing the praises of God in Christ.

The early greeks called the place of the dead a necropolis, which means city of the dead, but the Christians adopted a new name for the cemetery, they called them dormitories, a place of rest.

They knew death was not the end.

The catacombs put flesh on the gospel for today. JEsus tells us "there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known...Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. YOu are worth more than many sparrows."

Believe it, profess it, live it.

The catacombs present to every visitor true transparency. Transparency of faith only leads to confidence and trust. The martyrs have nothing to hide, and we should follow their lead.

We do not escape the notice of God.

Here are some links to the Catacombs online.

The first link is a Litany to the martyrs of the Catacombs: pray them today as an act of faith.

click here for litany

Here is a link to a virtual tour of the Catacombs

Virtual tour click here

Here is general information on the Catacomb themselves

Click here