“At Rome, the birthday of Pope St. Silvester, who baptized the emperor Constantine the Great, and confirmed the Council of Nicaea. After performing many other holy deeds, he rested in peace.“
Roman Martyrology for the 31st December
Son of a devout mother
“Eusebius of Caesarea compiled his legend, and Saint Blaise, in a council of seventy bishops, recommended it as worthy of being read by Catholics.“
Jacobus de Voragine: The Golden Legend. Readings on the Saints, Princeton University Press 1993, p. 63
This article will not recall the whole legend of Saint Sylvester’s life but only dip its toes into a few bits and pieces of general information about him and about a debate involving him concerning the designation of Saturdays for fasting alongside Wednesdays and Fridays.
Sylvester was born as the son of a Roman man by the name of Rufinus and of a devout mother called Justa. His mother taught him the faith when he was a child and then gave him into the hands of a priest for a solid formation.
He was ordained a priest by Pope Marcellinus, who was the bishop of Rome from 296 to 304. After the death of Pope Melchiades, who reigned from 311 to 314, Sylvester “was elected supreme pontiff by the entire populace“ (ibid.).
As pope he built the so-called “Lateran Basilica“, which is the cathedral church of the diocese of Rome, and thus the seat of the bishop of Rome, as well as other churches.
Jacobus de Voragine describes Saint Sylvester I as
“(…) angelic in appearance, polished in speeech, shapely in body, holy in his actions, wise in council, Catholic in his faith, patient in hope, and unstinting in charity.“
Jacobus de Voragine: The Golden Legend. Readings on the Saints, Princeton University Press 1993, p. 63
Saint Sylvester I introduced fasting on Saturdays
“He had the names of all orphans, widows, and poor people collected in a register, and saw to it that their needs were provided for. He decreed that Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays were to be observed as fast days, and Thursday to be solemnized like Sunday.“
Jacobus de Voragine: The Golden Legend. Readings on the Saints, Princeton University Press 1993, p. 63
Eastern Catholics objected to the fasting rule for Saturday, so that a sort of debate emerged concerning the question whether Saturday is a solemn day like Sunday, which was the opinion of the Eastern Catholics, or a day of fasting like Wednesday and Friday. After all, Saturday is the Sabbath that was kept as a feast day by the Jewish people.
“To the Greek Christians who said that Saturday should be solemnized rather than Thursday, Silvester responded that this was not right, both because what he ordered was in conformity with the apostolic tradition and because Saturday should commemorate the Lord‘s lying in the tomb. The Greeks replied: ‘Christ was buried for only one Saturday, and his burial is observed by fasting once every year.‘ Silvester: ‘Just as every Sunday celebrates the glory of the Resurrection, so every Saturday honors the Lord‘s burial.‘ So the Greeks gave in regarding Saturday but continued to argue forcefully about Thursday, saying that there was no reason for Christians to solemnize that day. Silvester, however, upheld the dignity of Thursday on three counts: on that day the Lord ascended into heaven and instituted the sacrament of his body and blood, and the Church confected the holy chrism. Finally all parties gave their assent to this reasoning.“
Jacobus de Voragine: The Golden Legend. Readings on the Saints, Princeton University Press 1993, p. 63
Saint Sylvester I, pray for us!