St. Clement

St. Clement was the fourth pope. The historic facts about his life are sketchy, but most scholars think he began his reign around 80 A.D. He is thought to have been martyred under Trajan. One authentic letter of his, the Epistle of Clement has come down to us. Tertullian believed that Clement was ordained by St. Peter. Some sources have him as one of the seventy disciples of Jesus and he is said to have known St. Paul. St. Clement is pictured with an anchor for he is thought to have been killed by being thrown into the sea, tied to an anchor. The Basilica of St. Clement in Rome is one of the Eternal City’s most ancient churches. It is thought to have been built over St. Clement’s home. His name is in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I), the oldest Eucharistic prayer and his feast is November 23.