A Blessing from one of the first Popes

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and with all that have anywhere in the world been called by God and through Him, through whom be to Him glory and honor and power and majesty and everlasting dominion, from eternity to eternity. Amen. +Pope St. Clement I

From his Letter to the Corinthians, which can be read in full at this link:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/stc14001.htm

Pope St. Clement I was the fourth Pope, reigning from about 88 until his martyrdom in 101. So he was the third Pope since St. Peter the Apostle became the first Pope. He became Pope when only sixty years had passed since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was contemporary with people who knew Jesus Christ, his Apostles and disciples, and Mary, in person. In fact Pope St. Clement I died very close in time to when St. John the Evangelist, the longest living of the Apostles and the only one not to be martyred, died of natural causes in his extreme old age. So during the century of Jesus Christ the system of Popes, established by St. Peter, is well evidenced and functional.

I am always flabbergasted at Christians who deny the lineage of the Popes. You can read his epistle (his letter and what can be considered a first encyclical, since it is of teaching with authority in the lineage from St. Peter) with eyes, hold it in your hands, and then hear people say the Popes weren't "real" or "authoritative." God bless and help those who have resisted and hindered the faith with uncharitable intentions for so long.

How appropriate are one of his verses, number 23, to people today! Read it and see:

The all-merciful and beneficent Father has compassion on such as fear Him; willingly and with tender regard He bestows His graces on such as approach Him single-minded. Therefore let us not be double-minded, and let not our soul mistrust, seeing His gifts are all-surpassing and glorious. May the Scripture text never apply to us that says: Wretched are the double-minded who doubt in their heart and say: "We have heard these things even in the days of our fathers; but, mark you, we have grown old and nothing of all this has happened to us!" You fools! Compare yourselves to a tree. Take a vine: first it sheds its foliage; then it puts forth a bud; then a leaf; then a flower; and after that, a green, sour grape; finally, there is a bunch of fresh, ripe grapes. You see, it takes but a short time to bring the fruit of the plant to maturity. In truth, quickly and suddenly will His will be accomplished, as also the Scripture testifies when it says: Quickly will He come and will not tarry; and suddenly will the Lord come to His temple--the Holy One, for whom you are looking.

Pay heed also to what he wrote in paragraph 13:

13. Let us, therefore, brethren, be of a humble frame of mind, ridding ourselves of all arrogance and haughtiness and foolishness and passion, and do what the Scripture says; for the Holy Spirit declares: Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, or the strong man of his strength, or the rich man of his riches; but, if anyone boasts, let his boast be in the Lord; thus he will seek and do what is right and just. Especially let us be mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spoke when inculcating gentleness and long-suffering. This is what He said: Show mercy, that you may be shown mercy; forgive, that you may be forgiven; as you treat others, so you shall be treated; as you give, so you shall receive; as you judge, so you shall be judged; as you show kindness, so kindness shall be shown to you; the measure you use in measuring shall be used in measuring out your share. With this commandment and these precepts let us strengthen ourselves, that we may live in obedience to His holy words, with humility in our hearts; for the Holy Scripture says: On whom shall I look but on him who is gentle and meek and trembles at hearing my words?