Not much is known about the early life of St. Pope Anastasius I except that he was born around the year 330 in Rome, and was pious from an early age. As an adult, he cared nothing for material goods. He was married young, had at least one son, was widowed at an early age, and never remarried. His path to religious life is somewhat unknown. In the year 399, he was consecrated as pope, then immediately faced the Donatist heresy among North African Christians, and also a dispute about the orthodoxy of some of the writings of an early Church father named Origen. Anastasius only served two years as pope before his death.
CHALLENGE
Pope Anastasius I was unfamiliar with Origen’s works, so when the dispute about them arose he called a council that included his saintly friends: Augustine, Paulinus, and Jerome. Today, consider some area of your life where you could use some advice, and schedule a meeting with your most saintly friends to get their counsel.
Want to learn more about the Order of Mercy, also known as the Mercedarians? Mercy, Ransom, Redemption is a compilation of short stories about Mercedarian saints, blesseds, brothers, priests, and third order members of the Order.
