Today, August 13, is the Memorial of Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus. I find the story of these two great martyrs of the faith one of the more poignant in the history of the Church.
It may be that Hippolytus was a disciples of St. Ireneaus, bishop of Lyon in southeast Gaul (now France). Both saints were zealous defenders of the orthodox faith against the heresies of their day, as manifested in their writings. St. Irenaeus is famous for his treaties Against Heresies, in which he battles the many false teachings the Church faced in her earliest centuries, especially Gnosticism. Hippolytus wrote his Refutation of All Heresies for the same purpose, again focusing mostly on Gnosticism.
It seems, however, that Hippolytus was too aggressive in his zeal to wipe out heretics, for he accused Pope St. Zephyrinus (199-217) and the priests of Rome for being too lenient toward heretics, accusing the Holy Father of espousing modalism, a heresy that denies the distinct personages of the Holy Trinity. When Zephyrinus died, St. Callixtus I was elected pope, and reigned from 217-223. Hippolytus accused him, as well, of being a modalist, of being too lenient toward heretics, and of being too eager to reconcile sinners to the Church. Hippolytus seems to have seen heretics everywhere, and his zeal carried him right out of the Church for, frustrated with Pope Callixtus, Hippolytus declared himself pope! As such, he became the first antipope in Church history. Hippolytus’ schism lasted about eighteen years, through the pontificates of Pope St. Urban I (223-230) and Pope St. Pontian (230-235).
As for Pope Pontian, he dedicated much of his pontificate, by necessity, to fighting off the heresies that inflicted many who claimed Christ but denied the orthodox teaching of the Church. He also condemned the theologian Origin. Origin of Alexandria was a renouned theologian in his own day, and is still highly regarded today for much of his thought. But Pontian condemned his teachings on the pre-existence of souls and on universal salvation. Pontian, too, had to address the ongoing schism started by Hippolytus.
Sadly, Roman persecutions cut short Pontian’s reign. In 235, Maximinus Thrax seized the Roman throne and, in short order, demanded the arrest and imprisonment of Christian leaders. Among those leaders arrested were Pontian and Hippolytus, both sentenced to work in the mines of Sardinia. Suffering side-by-side in the mines, the pope and the antipope were reconciled. Hippolytus repented of his schismatic ways and the Church was one again. Knowing that he could never carry out his duties while imprisoned, Pontian resigned his pontificate, becoming the first pope to do so. Pope St Anterus was elected to succeed him, but he died less than two months later. Pope St Fabian was then elected to the Chair of Peter and reigned as universal pastor from 236 to 250. Pope Fabian arranged for the return of Pope Pontian and Hippolytus’ bodies to Rome. St Pontian was buried in the crypt in the Catacomb of Callixtus, and St. Hippolytus in a cemetery on the Via Tiburtina.
I love the story of Sts Pontian and Hippolytus because it is the story of two Christian brothers who were at great odds against each other, but when push came to shove, they knew what mattered, and that is the things that last forever. They put aside their differences, reconciled, and died together as brothers in Christ. They both loved Jesus and His Church, and that shared love brought them together as one in Christ.
Too often, Christians, whether for reasons of different Christian traditions, or political, social, or cultural reasons, or even for a history of betrayal or being let down by the other – too often, Christians allow these sores to fester to the point where reconciliation seems impossible. Like an infection, they sap our energy, blind our vision, dim our hearing, and create obstacles to our living the fullness of our life, even our life in Christ.
If there is a brother or sister in Christ who has hurt you, or betrayed you, or insulted you, or disparaged you, or caused you trauma in some way, and you have separated yourself from them, consider Sts Pontian and Hippolytus as your patrons and pray for reconciliation. Hopefully, it won’t require duel imprisonment for the faith to inspire a reconciliation! If you have prayed about it, but still cannot bring yourself to reach out to them, at the very least develop the pattern of praying for them. St. Thomas Aquinas said that true love of neighbor consists in genuinely desire what is good for the other. Genuinely desiring what is good for your Christian brother or sister who has hurt you in some way will impact your own heart and your own soul and bring you, and maybe even the other, closer to Christ.
Lord, may the loyal suffering of your saints, Pontian and Hippolytus, fill us with your love, and make our hearts steadfast in faith. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
From: The Liturgy of the Hours, Optional Memorial of Pontian, Pope and Martyr, and Hippolytus, Pope and Martyr
Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.
Thoughts and Prayers for the Faithful 