“He was so obviously a good and holy man that he pleased Jews and Gentiles as well as all Christian peoples.“
Jacobus de Voragine: The Golden Legend. Readings on the Saints, Princeton University Press 1993, p. 715
Basilica of Saint Clement, bishop of Rome and holy martyr
This year in April I went on a pilgrimage to Rome, traveling by myself. On one of the days spent there I visited the Basilica of Saint Clement. The earliest structures of this church which have been excavated underground the present structure, by the Dominicans in charge of it, date back to the fourth century. According to the Roman Martyrology, Saint Clement‘s body “was taken to Rome during the pontificate of Nicholas I, and placed with due honors in the church which had been previously built under his invocation“, that is during the 9th century. It is believed that this church had been erected on the site of Clement’s home who had been “born of noble Roman stock“ (Golden Legend, p. 710).
The recovering of his body must be understood as a miraculous recovering for having been “banished to Chersonesus“, on the Crimean peninsula, under the Emperor Trajan, who ruled from 98 to 117, Saint Clement subsequently was “crowned with martyrdom“ when he was thrown into the Black Sea to drown, “an anchor tied to his neck“ (Roman Martyrology). On the 23rd November each year the “birthday of Pope Saint Clement“, holy martyr, is commemorated.
The letter of this bishop of Rome, successor of Saint Peter, to the church at Corinth was among the first ancient patristic documents that I read in the fall of 2018 as I was curious to find out the truth about the Church. Thus, four and a half years later, I felt great thankfulness while praying in the Basilica of Saint Clement in Rome.
Saint Clement‘s letter to the Corinthians: “Love hath no schism; love maketh no sedition“
Back then it was very interesting and a first eye-opener for me, a Protestant by origin set on a trajectory of inquiring about the true nature of the Church, to read in the letter Saint Clement of Rome sent from “the Church of God which sojourneth at Rome, to the Church of God which sojourneth at Corinth“ (First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians 0: 1) that “we ought to do everything in order“ and that “the offerings and liturgies“ God “hath not commanded to be done at random or in disorder, but at fixed times and seasons“ (ibid. 40: 1-2):
“But when and by whom he wisheth them to be fulfilled he himself hath decided by his supreme wills; that all things, being done piously, according to his good pleasure, might be acceptable to his will. They, therefore, who at the appointed seasons make their offerings are acceptable and blessed; for while following the laws of the Master they do not completely sin. For to the High Priest were assigned special services, and to the priest a special place hath been appointed; and on the Levites special duties are imposed. But he that is a layman is bound by the ordinances of laymen. Let each of you, brethren, in his own order, give thanks unto God, continuing in a good conscience, not transgressing the fixed rule of his ministry, with all gravity.“
The First Epistle of Saint Clement of Rome to the Corinthians, translated by Charles H. Hoole, 40: 3 – 41: 1
He teaches that the “Apostles received for us the gospel from our Lord Jesus Christ; our Lord Jesus Christ received it from God“ (ibid. 42: 1) and that the Apostles “went forth preaching the good tidings that the kingdom of God was at hand“ (ibid. 42: 3) and “appointed their firstfruits to be bishops and deacons over such as should believe“ (ibid. 42: 4).
The letter is sent – through and alongside “men who are faithful and prudent“ to be “witnesses between yourselves and us“ (ibid. 63: 3), namely “Claudius Ephebus“, “Valerius Bito“ and “Fortunatus“ (ibid. 65: 1) – in order to remind the brothers in Christ sojourning in the city of Corinth that they “must by righteousness and truth and long-suffering approve (themselves) with piety to almighty God, being of one mind, without malice, in love and peace with earnest obedience“ (ibid. 62: 2) and that they shall “put an end (…) to the unlawful wrath of (their) discord“ (ibid. 63: 2), for a “foul and unholy sedition, alien and foreign to the elect of God“ (ibid. 1: 1), a “sedition against (their) presbyters“ (ibid. 47: 6), has been taking place among them – kindled by “a few headstrong and self-willed persons“ (ibid. 1: 1).
“Justice and peace are afar off“ now among the Corinthians because “each walketh according to his own evil lusts, having taken up unjust and unholy envy“ (ibid. 3: 4). Saint Clement also bemoans the toxic effects of this act of disobedience and disorder on the whole body of Christ by stating that their “schism has perverted many; hath cast many into despondency; many into doubt; all of us into grief“ (ibid. 46: 9).
With the authority of the successor of Saint Peter, bishop of the Church of Rome first among all churches, Saint Clement intervenes, commands, and advises unto restoring “peace among (themselves)“ (ibid. 63: 4), calling upon those “that have laid the foundation of the sedition“ to “submit (themselves) to the presbyters, and be chastised by repentance, bending the knee of (their) hearts“ (ibid. 57: 1), noting that “if some should be disobedient to the things spoken by (God) through us“ they shall know “that they will entangle themselves in no small transgression and danger“ (ibid. 59: 1).
Patiently he calls the “leaders of the sedition and division“ (ibid. 51: 1) to repentance, for “audacity, self-will, and boldness belong to them who are accursed of God; but moderation, humility, and meekness, to them that are blessed of God“ (ibid. 30: 8), reminds the Corinthians that “God chasteneth us because he is good, to the end that we should be admonished by his holy discipline“ (ibid. 56: 16), and offers up and asks for prayers “for those who have fallen into any transgression“, praying “that moderation and humility may be given unto them, to the end that they should submit themselves“ – not “unto us, but unto the will of God“ (ibid. 56: 1).
The letter is a long one because it is shot through with numerous references to Sacred Scripture in order to show the Corinthians the example of the blessed forefathers in the faith. In the first few chapters Saint Clement reminds them that once they were known for a “sober and seemly piety in Christ“ (ibid. 1: 2), “submitting (themselves) to them that have the rule over (them)“ (ibid. 1: 3), “were simple and sincere without malice one toward another“ (ibid. 2: 5) and that back then “all sedition and all schism were abominable unto (them)“ (ibid. 2: 6).
“Love hath no schism; love maketh no sedition; love doth all things in harmony; in love all the elect of God have been made perfect. Without love nothing is acceptable unto God.“
The First Epistle of Saint Clement of Rome to the Corinthians, translated by Charles H. Hoole, 49: 5; 50: 5
“Blessed are we, beloved, if we do the commandments of God in the harmony of love, so that through love our sins may be forgiven us.“
Saint Clement of Rome, holy martyr, pray for us!