St. Melchiades, Pope and Martyr (311-314 AD), also called St. Militades.
HIS PAPAL ELECTION
This exemplary pontiff, whom St. Augustine calls 'the true child of the peace of Jesus Christ, the worthy father of the Christian people,' became the Vicar of St. Peter in the year 311 AD. This was during the fiercest storm of the very worst persecution ever unleashed by the Roman Empire upon Catholics. So many of his predecessors upon the papal throne had already been martyred, that surely when St. Melchiades was elected he knew it was tantamount to receiving a 'death warrant.' His election marked the end of a lengthy 'sede vacante' period where the Chair of Peter had remained empty for over a year, ever since Pope St. Eusebius had been exiled to Sicily by Emperor Maxentius and had died there. As the words of Christ to Peter on the Appian Way outside Rome's walls echo in our ears, "Quo Vadis, Petre?", we can speculate that perhaps it was quite arduous to find the holy man who would not flee from the Cross and Crucifixion. Yet willingly did St. Melchiades accept this suffering for Christ and His sheep. It is for this reason that he is honored with the title of 'martyr' even though he did not actually shed his blood for Jesus Christ. The Church honors him as sharing in the glory of the martyrs, not on account of his having suffered martyrdom, but because of the great trials he had to suffer during the persecution which afflicted the entire Church. (Consider for example how our Blessed Mother is the "Queen of all Martyrs." She did not suffer martyrdom, but her sorrows and suffering on behalf of her Son and all His disciples are greater than that of all the martyrs combined. As holy Simeon prophesied, a sword has pierced her Immaculate Heart.)
CHRISTIANITY IS LEGALIZED
The pontificate of St. Melchiades marks a very important period in the Church - the transition from persecution to peace (hence the apt quote by St. Augustine above). As early as 312 AD, liberty was granted to the Christian religion by Emperor Constantine following his victory over Maxenitus at the Battle of Milvian Birdge (28 Oct 312). Understandably, many Christians still viewed this decree with a certain suspicion and doubt, thinking that it would soon be reversed by an even more merciless persecution. Yet in Feb 313 AD, Constantine formalized this new law through his famed Edict of Milan, in which he also restored Church property previously confiscated. As if to give further proof to his actions, Constantine then presented Pope Melichiades with the Lateran Palace. It became the papal residence, the seat of Christian governance, and the Church built there became the Cathedral of Rome (The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior and Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist at the Lateran). Thus, Melchiades' name now graces the [traditional] calendar of the liturgical year, and appropriately for Advent, it reminds us of that peace which will soon descend upon us from Heaven at the Coming of Christ.
PONTIFICATE
According to the Liber Pontificalis, St. Melchiades was a North African native from the berber people. It also attributes to him the abolition of fastings on Thursdays (in honor of the Holy Eucharist) and on Sundays (in honor of the Resurrection) because certain heathens held holy fasts on these days. It fell upon him to begin reorganizing the ecclesiastical administration and the religious life of Christians in Rome, and by example, setting precedents for the Church Universal. St. Melchidaes also promoted the cult of the matyrs by bringing back to Rome from Sicily the remains of his predecessor, St. Eusebius. He had them interred in a crypt in the Catacombs of St. Callistus. The same Liber also states that Melchiades formalized the custom of taking the Holy Eucharist consecrated at the Pope's solemn Mass to the various other churches in Rome.
FIGHTING HERETICS
St. Melchiades presided over the First Lateran Synod (313 AD) in which he condemned Donatus as a schismatic heretic. Donatism is a rigorist heresy which was born in the fires of persecution. Donatists believed that the sacraments of 'traitorous' priests, e.g. those who sacrificed to idols or handed over the Sacred Scriptures to Roman authorities, were invalid and that any Christian who apostatized could never be readmitted to the Church, not even through the Sacrament of Penance. Following Pope Melchiades' decision, the Donatist Church continued to exist, even claiming it alone was the "true Church of Christ."
Refusing to accept rightful Church authority, the Donatists appealed the decision of the Lateran Synod to Emperor Constantine. Their actions foreshadow century long battles in which various states have attempted to supersede the authority of the Church and of Christ the King. It is interesting to note that the first such appeal was initiated by heretics. Constantine agreed to hold another Synod at Arles of Southern Gaul in 314 (thus he also set a precedent which would eventually lead to the calling of the first great Ecumenical Council at Nicea in 325 AD). Pope St. Melchiades was invited to preside at this Synod at Arles; but before it was held, he passed away peacefully on 10 Jan 314 AD. He too was buried in the Catacombs of St. Callistus and quickly venerated by the common faithful as a saint.
Since the Church ruled against the Donatists yet again, they became enemies of the state and continued to be imprisoned by Roman authorities. Yet they were a powerful force to be reckoned with even at the time of St. Augustine and only ceased to exist after the Muslim conquest of North Africa in the 7th and 8th centuries.
Some historical sources state that Pope Melchiades also strove against the heresy of Manichaeism. This religious philosophy was based on dualism (a good god and an equally powerful evil god are battling over the universe). It originated in Persia and claimed to be the most true religion as it was a synthetic blending of Babylonian folklore, Zoroastrian ideas, Buddhist ethics and Christian elements. St. Augustine temporarily fell prey to its seduction before becoming its greatest adversary and dealing it a death blow within Christian lands.
A PRAYER
Deign then, O father of Christian people, St. Melchiades, to pray for us to the Prince of peace, that in His approaching visit, He may quell our troubles, remove the obstacles to His grace, and reign as absolute Master over our heart, our mind, and our senses. Pray also that peace may reign in the holy city and Church of Rome, of which thou wast the Bishop, and which will honor thy venerable memory to the end of time: help her by thy intercession now that thou art face to face with the Living God, and hear the prayers which she addresses to thee.