August 13 - Saints Pontian, Pope and Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs—Optional Memorial

Read entire reflection online >>>August 13: Saints Pontian, Pope and Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs—Optional MemorialUnknown–c. 235Saint Hippolytus—Patron Saint of horsesSaint Pontian—Patron Saint of Carbonia and Montaldo Scarampi, ItalyPre-Congregation canonizationLiturgical Color: RedQuote: But let each of the faithful be zealous, before he eats anything else, to receive the Eucharist; for if anyone receives it with faith, after such a reception he cannot be harmed even if a deadly poison should be given him. But let each one take care that no unbeliever tastes the Eucharist, nor a mouse nor any other animal, and that nothing of it fall or be lost; for the Body of Christ is to be eaten by believers and must not be despised. The cup, when thou hast given thanks in the name of the Lord, thou hast accepted as the image of the blood of Christ. Therefore let none of it be spilled, so that no alien spirit may lick it up, as if thou didst despise it; thou shalt be guilty of the blood, as if thou didst scorn the price with which thou hast been bought. ~From the Apostolic Tradition, by Saint HippolytusPrayer:Saint Pontian and Hippolytus, you both served the Church during a difficult period in which the nature of the Most Holy Trinity was called into question. You defended the truth and taught it tirelessly. As a result of your fidelity, you both died for the faith, reconciled to God and to each other. Please pray for me, that I will always seek reconciliation, especially with other Christians, and will always remain faithful to the one true faith. Saints Pontian and Hippolytus, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.Source: Free RSS feed from mycatholic.life — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.Image: Dieric Bouts, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons