Pope St. Damasus I was born around the year 305 in and/or outside the city of Rome. He is known for being responsible for encouraging the Roman state to change its religion to Christianity (which it did). St. Damasus’ parents were: his father Antonius (he became a priest at the Church of St. Lawrence) and his mother Laurentia. He began his ecclesiastical (of or relating to the Christian Church or it clergy) career as a deacon in his own father’s church. Soon after that, he went on to serve as a priest. During Damasus’ early years, Constantine I rose and ruled the Western Roman Empire. Constantine I (as emperor) issued the Edict of Milan in 313 (this granted religious freedom to all Christians in all parts of the Roman empire). But, a crisis surfaced when Licinius rejected the religious freedom. Licinius, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, and was in favor of paganism. St. Damasus I, Card 176- Loyola University Press (cards from religion class): “Damasus I was elected pope at a crisis-filled time in the Church. In addition there were divisions between the East and West in the Roman Empire. Damasus tried to make decisions that showed progress yet held onto tradition.” St. Damasus tried his …show more content…
Damasus did many things to help and support the Church. Pope Damasus I- Wikipedia: “He spoke out against major heresies (belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious doctrine) in the church (including Apollinarianism and Macedonianism) and encouraged production of the Vulgate Bible.” He has since been made a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, and his feast day is December 11 (my birthday). Pope Damasus I- Wikipedia: “Damasus I was active in defending the Catholic Church against the threat of schisms. In two Roman synods (368 and 369) he condemned Apollinarianism and Macedonianism, and sent legates to the First Council of Constantinople that was convoked in 381 to address these heresies.” He wanted to protect the Catholic Church with his authority, not bring it