From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   August 13th - Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus   
   (d. 235)   
      
   Two men died for the faith after harsh treatment and exhaustion in the mines   
   of Sardinia. One had been pope for five years, the other an antipope for 18.   
   They died reconciled.   
      
   Pontian. Pontian was a Roman who served as pope from 230 to 235. During his   
   reign he held a synod which confirmed the excommunication of the great   
   theologian Origen in Alexandria. Pontian was banished to exile by the Roman   
   emperor in 235, and resigned so that a successor could be elected in Rome.   
   He was sent to the "unhealthy" island of Sardinia, where he died of harsh   
   treatment in 235. With him was Hippolytus (see below) with whom he was   
   reconciled. The bodies of both martyrs were brought back to Rome and buried   
   with solemn rites as martyrs.   
      
   Hippolytus. As a presbyter in Rome, Hippolytus (the name means "a horse   
   turned loose") was at first "holier than the Church." He censured the pope   
   for not coming down hard enough on a certain heresy-calling him a tool in   
   the hands of one Callistus, a deacon-and coming close to advocating the   
   opposite heresy himself. When Callistus was elected pope, Hippolytus accused   
   him of being too lenient with penitents, and had himself elected antipope by   
   a group of followers. He felt that the Church must be composed of pure souls   
   uncompromisingly separated from the world, and evidently thought that his   
   group fitted the description. He remained in schism through the reigns of   
   three popes. In 235 he was also banished to the island of Sardinia. Shortly   
   before or after this event, he was reconciled to the Church, and died with   
   Pope Pontian in exile.   
      
   Hippolytus was a rigorist, a vehement and intransigent man for whom even   
   orthodox doctrine and practice were not purified enough. He is,   
   nevertheless, the most important theologian and prolific religious writer   
   before the age of Constantine. His writings are the fullest source of our   
   knowledge of the Roman liturgy and the structure of the Church in the second   
   and third centuries. His works include many Scripture commentaries, polemics   
   against heresies and a history of the world. A marble statue, dating from   
   the third century, representing the saint sitting in a chair, was found in   
   1551. On one side is inscribed his table for computing the date of Easter,   
   on the other a list of how the system works out until the year 224. Pope   
   John XXIII installed the statue in the Vatican library.   
      
   Comment:   
      
   Hippolytus was a strong defender of orthodoxy, and admitted his excesses by   
   his humble reconciliation. He was not a formal heretic, but an overzealous   
   disciplinarian. What he could not learn in his prime as a reformer and   
   purist, he learned in the pain and desolation of imprisonment. It was a   
   fitting symbolic event that Pope Pontian shared his martyrdom.   
      
   Quote:   
   "Christ, like a skillful physician, understands the weakness of men. He   
   loves to teach the ignorant and the erring he turns again to his own true   
   way. He is easily found by those who live by faith; and to those of pure eye   
   and holy heart, who desire to knock at the door, he opens immediately. He   
   does not disdain the barbarian, nor does he set the eunuch aside as no man.   
   He does not hate the female on account of the woman's act of disobedience in   
   the beginning, nor does he reject the male on account of the man's   
   transgression. But he seeks all, and desires to save all, wishing to make   
   all the children of God, and calling all the saints unto one perfect man"   
   (Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist).   
      
      
   Saint Quote   
   If the world goes against the truth, then Athanasius goes against the world.   
   -St. Athanasius   
      
   Bible Quote   
   1 At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who thinkest thou is the   
   greater in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus calling unto him a little   
   child, set him in the midst of them, 3 And said: Amen I say to you, unless   
   you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into   
   the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this   
   little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And he that   
   shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me.  (Matthew   
   18:1-5)   
      
   <><><><>   
   The following is a hymn-prayer from the Precious Blood Manual of the   
   Sisters of the Precious Blood:   
      
   O Sacred Heart of Jesus   
   I place my trust in Thee   
   Whatever may befall me, Lord,   
   Though dark the hour may be.   
      
   In all my joys, in all my woes,   
   Though no such thing but grief I see,   
   O Sacred Heart of Jesus,   
   I place my trust in Thee.   
      
   When those I love have passed away   
   And I am achingly distressed,   
   O Sacred heart of Jesus,   
   I fly to Thee for rest.   
      
   In all my trials great or small,   
   My confidence shall be   
   Unshaken as I cry, dear Lord,   
   "I place my trust in Thee."   
      
   This is my one sweet prayer, O Lord!   
   My faith, my trust, my love   
   But most of all, in that last hour   
   When death incline to Thee above.   
      
   Ah, then, sweet Saviour, may Thy face   
   Smile on my soul set free.   
   Oh, may I cry with rapturous love,   
   "I've placed my trust in Thee."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)