August 13, 2012 
Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Saint of the day
Saint Hippolytus (170-235)
Saint Hippolytus was a presbyter in Rome. He had a strong passion for discipline and was a very important theologian and a productive religious writer. He maintained that the pope should come down harder on heretics and stop listening so closely to a deacon by the name of Callistus. When Callistus was elected pope, Hippolytus felt that he was not hard enough on penitents. Others felt the same way, and they named Hippolytus as antipope. In 235, during a persecution, Hippolytus and the pope, Saint Pontian, were exiled together to the mines on the island of Sardinia. Saint Pontian had been pope for five years. Hippolytus had been antipope for 18 years. Not long after his banishment, Hippolytus was reconciled to the Church as well as to Saint Pontian. Hippolytus died after cruel treatment and fatigue in the mines.
Reflection
Despite his intense altercations with certain Christian groups, Saint Hippolytus was willing to look past his mistreatment and to reconcile with others. This--forgiveness and acceptance--is a fundamental tenet of the Christian faith. Think of all the times that God, or people in your life, have forgiven you. Think of the times that you have forgiven others. Isn't it liberating? This is why Jesus teaches us to forgive.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, please help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me, no matter what harm they do to me.
Liturgical season information
Lectionary: 413
Place in Year: Ordinary Time
Color of decorations and priest's vestments: Green
Daily readings
Reading 1: Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28c
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14
Gospel: Matthew 17:22-27
View complete readings on USCCB.orgMeditations
Meditation for Responsorial Psalm
We hear that "Heaven and earth are filled with God's glory" today in the psalm, but sometimes it is hard to recognize God's glory on earth. There are natural disasters, violence, diseases, and even the little arguments we have with those we love - how are we supposed to recognize God's glory amidst all of this? It takes the eyes of faith. Rather than focusing on all the negative, work hard to see the goodness of creation in everything and everyone around you. God's glory is revealed in a smile, a kind word, or a beautiful sunset. Try to notice at 10 glorious moments today - write them down, and share them with the people you love. Your time of sharing might reveal God's glory to someone else who didn't see it!
