The 7th of August is the feast day of Pope Saint Sixtus II.
Pope St. Sixtus II died in 6 August 258. He started his papacy on 31 August 257. Though nothing is mentioned of his early life, he is mentioned in the Roman Canon of the Mass. He helped the relationship between Rome and the Eastern and African churches to mend, which was threatened to schism due to the controversy over rebaptism of converted heretics that was raised by the heretic Novatianism. He believed that baptism was a once in a life time event, though he tolerated those who were rebaptised. He was the pontiff for only one year die to the persecution of the Roman Emperor Valerian on Christians. Pope St. Sixtus II was forbidden to celebrate mass, though he continued to do so in secret. During Mass in a cemetery chapel, Roman soldiers ambushed them and beheaded him as well as four of his eight attendants. Four days later, Saint Lawrence was also martyred.
