St. Pontian succeeded St. Urban in the Pontifical See in 230. After the assassination of Alexander Severus in 235, he was exiled by the Emperor Maximus to the mines of Sardinia. He bore his suffering and persecution patiently for Christ and attained the crown of martyrdom in that same year.
Exiled together with St. Pontian was a priest named Hippolytus, one of the most important 3rd-century theologians of the Roman Church. Born about 170, he was already a priest and a personage of note when Origen heard him preach at Rome in 202. During the first part of his life he produced the Scriptural writings that constitute the best part of his works (he wrote the earliest commentary on Scripture, that of the Book Daniel), and defended the faith.
About 215m he wrote the Apostolical Tradition (for which he is probably best known), which contains the earliest known ritual of ordinations and is the equivalent of a Roman Ritual. After becoming involved in unfortunate controversies and even regarded as a kind of antipope, Hippolytus returned to the fold and continued to defend the Church against all her enemies. Finally, he gave his life for the faith together with Christ’s Vicar on earth about year 236.
PRAYER: Lord, may the outstanding constancy of Your Martyrs increase our love for You and fill our hearts with ever greater firmness of faith. Amen.