April 22: Pope Saint Soter

April 22 marks the feast day of a saint which little is known about—Pope Saint Soter (died 177). Born to a Greek father in Latium, Italy, Saint Soter became the twelfth pope, raised to the Papacy upon the death of Saint Anicetus in 173. He is remembered for his love and charity of persecuted Christians, as well as his bravery during a time in which it was dangerous to be a Christian, let alone the pope!

Letters written to Saint Soter have survived, addressed to him by Saint Dionysius of the Corinthian church and others. These letters reference the fatherly love with which Saint Soter wrote to and help up the congregation of the Church, offering prayers and financial assistance to all in need—those imprisoned in Rome, those Christians sent to work in the dangerous mines for failing to renounce their faith, and those who lived in the remotest of Churches (like Corinth at the time), extending the charity of the Church well beyond that of his predecessors.

From the letter of Saint Dionysius: "From the beginning it has been your custom to do good to all the brethren in many ways, and to send alms to many churches in every city, refreshing the poverty of those who sent requests, or giving aid to the brethren in the mines, by the alms which you have had the habit of giving from old, Romans keeping up the traditional custom of the Romans; which your blessed Bishop Soter has not only preserved, but has even increased, by providing the abundance which he has sent to the saints, and by further consoling with blessed words with brethren who came to him, as a loving father his children… Today, therefore, we have kept the holy Lord's day, on which we have read your letter, which we shall always have to read and be admonished, even as the former letter which was written to us by the ministry of Clement."

While little is known regarding the death of Pope Saint Soter, he is considered a martyr as those who served as pope during that time period were generally martyred for their faith. His body is buried in the Callistus cemetery in Rome. At his tomb are written the words, “Pope Saint Soter, Master of Charity, Pray for us!”

While we know little about his life, the charitable works and principles of Pope Saint Soter remain extant, inspiring us to evaluate our lives. Who could we be more loving and charitable to? How better could be model our lives after Saint Soter,? How better could we model our lives after Our Blessed Mother, the perfect model of Christian charity?



Day 112 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Charitable hearts; For all those who suffer for their faith.
Requested Intentions: For the repose of the soul of M (J); Financial security and employment (A); For financial security (M); Health and recovery of Cardinal Sean Brady (R); Healing from a chronic illness (J); Deepening of faith and true conversion for a family (J); Successful employment (H); Restoration of a marriage (J); For a friend’s daughter, seeking medical treatment for a blood disorder (D); For the grace and conversion of a loved one (Z); For a beloved son’s return to the faith (A); For the improved health and recovery of a mother (G); For health, blessings, and protection (K); For an improvement in a difficult employment situation (T).