SS. Sixtus II, Pope and Martyr, and His Companions, Martyrs

St. Sixtus, who may have been of Greek extraction, was elected pope in August 257. On succeeding Stephen I (254–57), Sixtus became heir to the controversy that had originated during Stephen’s pontificate concerning the validity of baptism conferred by heretics. The Churches of Africa and Asia Minor held to their custom of rebaptizing heretics and schismatics, but Sixtus, like Stephen before him, upheld the Roman view that baptism, when properly administered even by heretics, was valid. With regard to this matter, Sixtus succeeded—where Stephen had failed—in restoring good relations with St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (see September 16). The year of Sixtus’s election to the papacy was also the year of Valerian’s (emperor 253–59) decree against the Christians, in which he did not exactly demand that they renounce their religious beliefs but merely demonstrate their loyalty by offering sacrifice to the gods. Because most Christians remained faithful to their beliefs and practices, the imperial decree turned into a full-scale persecution, with Church leaders as the main target. On August 6, 258, Sixtus, together with his seven deacons, was conducting a service in the cemetery of Praetextatus when imperial police discovered them and beheaded Sixtus and four of the deacons (Januarius, Magnus, Stephen, and Vincent). Two deacons (Felicissimus and Agapitus) were most probably martyred later that day, while the seventh (Lawrence) was martyred four days later (see August 10). The bodies of Sixtus and the four deacons were buried in the cemetery of Callistus on the Appian Way, directly across from the cemetery of Praetextatus. Sixtus was one of the most venerated martyrs of the Roman Church and, thus, his name was added to the Roman Canon. His epitaph was written by Pope Damasus I (see December 11).