Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus

Their story

Hippolytus was a learned priest in Rome in the early third century and the most important theologian of the Roman Church in his time. His writings include one of the oldest descriptions of how the Church celebrated baptism and the Eucharist, and a prayer he recorded is the basis of the Second Eucharistic Prayer used at Mass today. But Hippolytus was also stern and proud. He believed the popes of his time were too lenient toward sinners who wanted to return to the Church, and he broke away and allowed his followers to elect him as a rival bishop of Rome. Pontian became pope in 230, and the division continued. Then, in 235, the emperor Maximinus began a persecution aimed at Church leaders. He arrested both Pontian and Hippolytus and sent them to the mines on the island of Sardinia, a sentence that was almost certain death. Pontian resigned as pope so that the Church in Rome could choose a new leader, the first pope known to have done so. In the harsh conditions of the mines, the two rivals came together. According to tradition, Hippolytus was reconciled with the Church and urged his followers to return to unity. Both men died in Sardinia from their sufferings. Their bodies were brought back to Rome and buried with honor on the same day, August 13, by Pope St. Fabian. They are honored together as martyrs, and as a sign that Christ can heal even the deepest divisions.