Callistus I

Tertullian tore his dalmatic.
Hippolytus had a cow.
Both became schismatic
when Callistus stood the prow.

He had a heart for sinners,
for concubines and such.
His patience with beginners
they found a bit too much.

They fled from the forgiving,
the laxity and taints.
But there’s hope for all us living
if all three died as saints.

—Mike Aquilina

Next
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Books for Christmas—2025

George Weigel

Surveys indicate that reading books is dropping precipitously across all age groups. This is a tragedy in…

What We’ve Been Reading—Autumn 2025

The Editors

First Things staff share their most recent autumn reading recommendations.

Walker Percy’s Pilgrimage

Algis Valiunas

People can get used to most anything. Even the abyss may be rendered tolerable—or, for that matter,…