CONCERNING S. HIPPOLYTUS, PRIEST OF ANTIOCH, MARTYR.
Third century.
CommentaryHippolytus, Priest and Martyr of Antioch (S.)
[1] Illustrious is the memory of S. Hippolytus, Priest and Martyr, in all the Martyrologies of the Latins. Usuard, the Vulgate Bede, Ado, Notker, Bellinus: At Antioch, the passion of Blessed Hippolytus the Martyr, The birthday of S. Hippolytus, who, having been somewhat deceived by the schism of Novatian, by the working of the grace of Christ was corrected and returned to the charity of the Church, for which and in which he afterward consummated an illustrious martyrdom. The more recent writers agree: Maurolycus, Galesinius, Canisius. More briefly the old Roman and the manuscripts of S. Jerome and others: At Antioch, the passion of S. Hippolytus. Wandelbert:
And the third day sounds of Hippolytus for the city of Antioch. More fully the Roman Martyrology: At Antioch, the passion of Blessed Hippolytus the Priest, who, having been somewhat deceived by the schism of Novatian, but by the working of the grace of Christ corrected and returned to the unity of the Church, for which and in which he afterward consummated an illustrious martyrdom. He, being asked by his people which sect was the truer, execrating the dogma of Novatian and declaring that the faith which the chair of Peter guards was to be held, offered his throat to the sword. Peter de Natali, book 3, chapter 60, Galesinius, and Ferrari record him on 28 January.
[2] Prudentius excellently describes the recantation of S. Hippolytus in his hymn 11 On the Crowns:
I find that Hippolytus, who once as a Priest Had embraced the schism of Novatian, denying what is ours to follow, Promoted to the distinction of martyrdom, bore The luminous rewards of a bloody death. Nor marvel that the old man, once of a perverted dogma, his conversion from the schism, Was enriched with the gift of the Catholic faith. When now the victor was being seized by the raging foe, His soul exulting, for the destruction of the flesh, He went, accompanied by many in the love of his people, Asked which sect was the better; He answered: Flee, O wretched ones, the execrable schisms Of Novatian: return yourselves to the Catholic peoples. Let one faith prevail, which was established in the ancient temple, Which Paul maintains, which the chair of Peter holds. What I taught, I am ashamed to have taught: I discern a venerable Martyrdom, Which I had thought to be absent from the worship of God. When with these words he had turned the people from the wrong path, And had shown them to follow where the right way calls, And offered himself as a guide of the right, scorning the byways, He who was formerly the author of error, etc.
Baronius recites the same from Prudentius, volume 2, year 255, number 34, where he rightly observes that three Hippolytus Martyrs are conflated into one by Prudentius: this Priest of Antioch, the Roman Soldier who is venerated on 13 August, and the Bishop of Portus who is venerated on 22 August.