POPES
by Deb McCoy | Aug 2, 2020 | Popes, Saints
POPE SAINT STEPHEN I A Roman by birth, Stephen’s father was Jovius. after that we know nothing of Stephen until Liber Pontificalis, the ancient book of the popes, describes him as an archdeacon under Pope Lucius I. As Lucius assumed that he would be martyred, he...
by Deb McCoy | Jul 28, 2020 | Popes
A man known to be religious, moral, ascetic and an intellectual, Formosus did not fare well in the history books. Born around 816, Formosus spent his life in the Church but, much to his chagrin, did not have a calm life. Pope Nicholas I (858-867) appointed Formosus...
by Deb McCoy | Jul 18, 2020 | Popes
Pope Stephen, as was most common of popes in the Dark Ages, was the son of a wealthy Roman aristocrat whose name was Hadrian. At an early age, the child was seen to be very intelligent. To further his potential, as a young man, he was educated by a relative, Bishop...
by Deb McCoy | Jul 7, 2020 | Popes, Saints
Pope Adrian III was a controversial, short-lived pope. He was born in Rome, probably around 834. This would have set him up to be a child during the attacks of the Saracens on Rome and its environs in 846. Nothing is known of the early life of Adrian. He was elected...
by Deb McCoy | Jul 2, 2020 | Popes
Pope Marinus I, mistakenly referred to as Pope Martinus II, had a short, but controversial papacy. The man, Marinus, must have been an intellectual of some repute, considering the responsibilities and assignments he was given. Born in Gallese, in the province of...
by Deb McCoy | Jun 21, 2020 | Popes
Pope John was a native of Rome, born in the first quarter of the 9th century, some say in 816. His father was known as Gundus. As a young man, John witnessed the sack of Rome by the Saracens. During that battle, the enemy partly destroyed Old St. Peter’s Basilica...
