Saint Hippolytus (170-235)
for August 13
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.
Read more about Saint Hippolytus (170-235)
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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.
