Pope Saint Lucius I

Berkeley, Monday, February 24, 2026 11:32 Pm

It is quite late.

Pope Lucius died on March 5, 254.

Saint Cornelius might be on this story.

Something that I have learned or least came to my curiosity is that we celebrate or commemorate the memory of the death date, starting from our Lord Jesus. Yes, we also celebrate His birthday. But for several of the Saints, if not all, we commemorate the day on which they were either killed or the day the day they passed away for natural causes. Of course, this won’t apply to the Archangels. What about Saint Elijah?

In any case, the memorial date caught my attention, one day while preparing food for the day, and listening to a part of a podcast about Saint Polycarp. It was probably a podcast from the Augustinian Institute, but I am not sure. One of the speaker was saying that since the Apostles father we commemorate the memorials. Before Christ, probably?, it was commemorated the birth day? Not factual information here. I do not have time to look into that further, but a bit of details to think further why we only remember the date on which the Saints passed away. Probably, a low hanging fruit is because on that date they, likely, were received into heaven.

Well, Pope Lucius, I will try to learn a bit about you and your time. But I cannot not learn too much in depth.

Day 1. Feb 24. Without knowing too much about you, yet, Pope Lucius I. Thank you for carrying our faith in likely times that were harder to do it. Guide one time, vocation, focus, attention, service to the Lord. Please Lord send us the Holy Spirit upon us to do Your Will. Folks talk about perfection. What is that? If I might provide some direction on this. Please guide me to keep going under pressure. Do not release that load and pressure my Lord. It is usually good. But give me strength, focus, energy, attention, intelligence, and overall wisdom to carry the loads and perform duties. Help me to be attentive to the community, surroundings, and love, and give my best self. Saint Lucius, I and all the angels help me or teach me on the way.

Day 2. Feb 26. Pope St. Lucius I conserved his given birth name for his papacy. He “was sent into exile shortly after his election in 253. After his return to Rome, he opposed the rigorism of the Novatians, who refused absolution to Christians who had lapsed during persecutions. Pope St. Lucius allowed them to return to the Church after a suitable penance.” [Text from reference 2] Also, the podcast on reference [1] seems interesting.

Pope LuciusI. thanks for your faith and dedication. Help me to growth in virtue to the heights of a Catholic life. Intercede to the Lord, so He can guide my path, walk with the angels, and learning from God Himself and from the Saints. One could find love in the truth and that is in the Lord.

Who the Novatians were?

Day 3. Feb 27. Pope Lucius I was a Roman by birth according to the Liber Pontificalis [3,4]. Emperor Gallus (251-253) banished Pope Lucius from Rome almost immediately after being elected [3]. This can be due to the thing that by removing the head of the church, they might be able to get rid of Christianity. But the Church is larger than that. The faith is on the people of God. And Lord has his ways. Pope Lucius I was pope from June 25, 253 until March 5, 254. His exilium was short, and the exact place is unknown. He was back to Rome soon, with numerous Christians, because the newly proclaimed emperor, Valerian (253-260), was at first favorably disposed towards Christians. [3]

Day 4. Feb 28. I will get back to what one can find or rescue from the limited information regarding Pope Lucius I. Well. It seems that there are a region that is call Zealand or Sjaelland. It is in Denmark. Pope Lucius I is the Patron Saint of the Region including Copenhagen (see Fig 1 below). Saint Lucius I body is buried at the Catacombs of Saint Callisxtus in Rome. (See fig 2) [ref 5, 6]. Catacombe di San Callisto is located in the Via Appia Antica, South of the Almone stream, east of the Tiber River, which in this case is the left bank. Right and left banks of a river are determined based on the flow direction.

It is not too far from the the Basilica di San Paolo.

Also, Saint Peter encounter the Lord Jesus carrying a cross on the Via Appia, when Saint Peter was fleeing away. Saint Peter asked to the Lord, Quo vadis, Domine? The Lord said to Rome to be crucified again. Peter return.

There is not issue or being wrong or make error. The thing is to be acknowledge them. Ask to the Lord for guidance. Find a way back to correct them or to be face the problems, even if that includes metaphorical or literal crucifixion.

I might keep doing those brief reviews of Saints. I think that will be my focus here after, or as the Lord guides me. I lay out a few sources. Read or understand a bit more about their lives. Get some facts. I might pray the situation of learning about them. That is one of the discernments to ask to the Lord.

I have already learn from some of the Saints several gifts. i.e. Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Blessed Jordan of Saxony, the gift of holding the ground and debate about the faith. Saint Peter Claver gift of service, justice and living as a gift. From Sain Lucius I, I am learning the gift of loyalty, wisdom, judgement, piety, and courage. Of course, from each of those great human beings, including Saint Polycarp, and all the Saint, also Saint Albert the Great, overall one learns about carrying the faith to a next generation. It is so important at every level. Of course, more at the papacy level. But we can find that in the smaller things and actions the faith is also carried to a next generation. the Lord knows his ways. We are His creation.

Day 5. Mar 1. I invested quite a bit of time on the stats and search terms of this website. It is somehow a bit of honesty to keep moving forward. But it is a bit of a rabbit hole to make conclusions based on the stats. In any case. That is a detour. And if I continue working on this side. I need to get more and more professionally focused with what I do. It might not be truth.

But of course, there are risks on sharing details.

Facts can be dry. But one might honor with his time people who have carried this faith. What can I learn?

When Pope Lucius I returned to Rome, he received a letter from Cyprian, who was bishop of Carthage, and who is also a Saint. Bishop Cyprian congratulated Pope Lucius for his will to suffer for the faith. In Saint Cyprian letter was the suggestion that perhaps God has recalled Pope Lucius so he might undergo actual martyrdom in the mist of his flock. [3]

Day 6. Mar 2. There is almost nothing know from short pontificate from Saint Lucius. However, one of the letters from Saint Cyprian implies that Pope Lucius I followed, stood in the same ground than his predecessor (?) Pope Cornelius regarding restoring to communion Christians, who had apostatized during persecution. A suitable penance was required for their restoration to communion. This was holding a firm ground and position. He made no concessions to antipope Novatian and his adherents. [3] See also further reading.

Pope Lucius. Please guide me through courage. Loyalty. Wisdom.

Help me to become a man.

Day 7. Mar 2. The antipope Novatian were still active during his reign or term. Pope Lucius made no concessions to the Novatians. Another topic that was debated during his reign was the validity of the baptism by heretics. This subject was covered on a letter received from Bishop Dionysus of Alexandria. That subject also was hot topic of debate during his predecessor. [3] There is not much known about Pope Lucius I [1], except of what one can find in the Epistle from Cyprian and in the Ecclesiastical letter of Eusebius. Also, in what is mentioned above, in the letter from Bishop Dionysus. Links to the letters from Cyprian and Eusebius are below, under further reading. I do not have a clear knowledge yet regarding the letter from Bishop Dionysus.

Day 8. Mar 3. The Liber Pontificalis reported that he was martyred by beheading. However, earlier tradition dialogue of the 4th -century Liberian Catalogue suggests that he died a natural death. [3]

Pope Lucius I help me to decide if I should continue doing those few facts of novena for the Saints. At the end it is time. Please pray for me.

Day 9. Mar 4. Saint Pope Lucius. Pray for us. Holy Spirit guide me to learn if this will be the last novena. I have plenty to learn and to read. And to write. In private and in public. Thanks Pope Lucius I for keeping the faith and church for one generation more from around 253 until your death in 254. Please intercede to the Lord to guide my life with energy and love.

I pray for those who asked me for their prayers.

Help me to answer the question if I should keep doing those novenas?

Goodbye Saint Lucius I. Until someone, or myself reads this. Who knows if the cycle of novenas would fall again on a March 5, if I continue doing it. Also, although sounds wrong, which usually brings problems for the other side of acceptance. But if a novena falls again on March 5, I might need to commemorate other Saints who has that date as remembrance date.

But why one pray for the Saints intercession then. I should not forget you, if I also do not want to be forgotten, if things works that way. Please guide my life to a highest good. To love, peace, courage, prudence.

But that is already too much for a public, vulnerable prayer?

The Lord knows. And it is good to remember the Saints, Prophets, Patriarchs, and living members of the body of Christ, which is the Church.

TKS! 3/5/26

Some resources: