"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21). This famous saying seems to indicate that whoever gives has the ability to remove what was given. If that is so, then how does the Catholic Church exist, except by the allowance of the state? It's a fair question that had to be dealt with by today's saint, Pope St. Sylvester I (AD 314-335). Emperor Constantine I granted the Church the right to freedom of religion in the 313 Edict of Milan. This was a great gift to the Church because now it could exist without fear of off-and-on persecution; it could preach and influence the populace so as to win disciples to Christ; and it had the backing of the emperor, who remained in power for over 30 years.
So how did St. Sylvester I deal with this strong and benevolent ruler? We don't know! There is not a lot of knowledge of St. Sylvester's rule, except by inference. We know he was pope at the same time as Constantine was emperor. We know that he approved of the decisions of the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, called by that same emperor. We know that the emperor donated buildings, land, and privileges to the Church. Yet, we know that the Church did not become the tool and "yes-man" of the emperor. That means that St. Sylvester must have been wise and skilled in diplomacy. That doesn't mean that Constantine didn't try to use the Church to further his imperial ambitions. He did. But the Church remained the Church and not a department of state. St. Sylvester I can guide us in the virtue of prudence so we can bring about God's will in the face of strong, and sometimes, oppositional, forces.
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