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Luke 14:27
Patron Saint of the Society of the Cross
Hippolytus of Rome
It is thought that he was born towards 170-175, —
where, we do not know. He calls himself a disciple of St. Irenaeus, but this may easily be understood of his intellectual training
through books written by the Bishop of Lyons. However this may be, St. Hippolytus appears c. 212 as a presbyter of the Roman Church
and a recognized scholar. It is equally possible that Origen heard a homily by Hippolytus when he went to Rome about the year 212.
At this date Zephyrinus was pope, and Callixtus his adviser. The accession of Callixtus to the papacy, in 217, brought about a complete
break. Hippolytus opened a schism and set up a rival church, of which he became the bishop. This situation lasted for eighteen years,
until 235, when the persecution of Maximinus broke out. This was directed especially against the heads of the Church. Without discriminating
between the two rivals, the pope and the anti-pope, the Emperor ordered both Pontianus, the second successor of Callixtus, and Hippolytus
to be seized and deported to the unhealthly island of Sardinia, where they both soon died.
Hippolytus was the most important theologian and the most prolific religious writer of the Roman Church in the pre-Constantinian era.
One such important writing attributed to Hippolytus is “The Apostolic Tradition”. The Society of the Cross uses “The Apostolic Tradition”
as its source for liturgy and sacramental services and that is one of the reasons we have made Hippolytus our patron saint.
The other
reason he is our patron saint is the example he provides in standing up for the ancient traditions of the church which was passing
away due to innovations of clergy. He is an example of courage, boldness and fortitude to us today. We like Hippolytus must seek to
minister to those of our age without compromising the ancient traditions and beliefs that the church has held dear for centuries and
which are under attack today by apostate clergy.
Jeremiah 6:16-17 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for
the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
Jeremiah 18:15 Because
my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient
paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;