Clement I was the fourth pope to lead the Roman Church. Clement was a follower of St. Peter and potentially even St. Paul. Clement is famous for his letter to the Corinthians, the community which received two of Paul’s most famous letters. Clement’s letter is written in response to a schism in the community in Corinth but we know little else about this pope from historical records.

The legend of his martyrdom has been passed on throughout the centuries, however, chronicles an unusual path from papacy to execution. According to this ancient legend, the Roman populace rioted to have Christians expelled, and Clement, as the Bishop of Rome, was expelled to work in a marble quarry. There were many Christians who were forced to work there, and Clement encouraged and supported them.

The guards at the quarry noticed that he was converting many of his fellow workers to Christianity. Subsequently, Clement was ordered to be executed by drowning. An anchor was tied around his neck and Clement was thrown into the sea.

In the letter to the Corinthians, Clement writes:

Beloved, how blessed and wonderful are God’s gifts! There is life everlasting, joy in righteousness, truth in freedom, faith, confidence, and self-control in holiness. And these are the gifts that we can comprehend; what of all the others that are being prepared for those who look to him. Only the Creator, the Father of the ages, the all-holy, knows their grandeur and their loveliness.

Clement I is a patron saint of those who work on the water and of marble workers (like this man). Some of his relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on campus, and this stained glass image to the right from the Basilica shows Pope St. Clement I—on the right, holding the anchor to symbolize his martyrdom—among other martyrs of the faith. Clement’s image is used here with permission from Catholic.org.

Pope St. Clement, pope and patron saint of those who work on the water—pray for us!