Saint Hippolyte?



"Who is Saint Hippolyte?"

We hear that question a lot. Can't find him in your Dictionary of the Saints? Try looking under Hippolytus. Early documents show that the Roman Catholic Church in Frenchtown was dedicated to Saint Hippolytus. How, why or when the name evolved into "Hippolyte" is a mystery, but it's been that way a very long time and nobody is about to change it now.





Saint Hippolytus

Born: before 170 ?
Died: 235 ?
Feast Day: August 13th
Emblem: Horses






The life of Saint Hippolytus is somewhat of a mystery itself. Most authorities do agree that he was born in the eastern Empire. He later moved to Rome, becoming a leading writer on Christian theology and worship. Hippolytus was a harsh critic of anyone that did not live up to his demanding standards. He censured Pope Calixtus I in 217, claiming he was too lenient in disciplinary and doctrinal matters. This caused his followers to elect Hippolytus the first antipope.

Fifteen years and three pontificates later this schism was finally ended when the anti-Christian emperor Maximinus sentenced both Hippolytus and Pope Pontian to death. They were sent to the penal colony in Sardinia where they reconciled their differences before their deaths. A year later Pope Fabian brought their remains back to Rome for a solemn burial.

Horses?

If you do look up Hippolytus in your Dictionary of the Saints, you will find that he is the patron saint of horses. How did a theologian and scholar, and the first antipope, become the patron saint of horses?

Only a few decades after his death, Hippolytus' legend was confused with a mythical figure of the same name. In "A History of the French Settlement in Crawford County", Dr. Paul T. Poux notes this figure was a Roman soldier martyred for his Christian faith, allegedly dragged to his death by horses. As a result, during the Middle Ages the cult of Saint Hippolytus was associated with the curing and protection of horses.

This story seems to be the one that the founders of the church in Frenchtown were familiar with. A painting of Saint Hippolyte, i.e. Hippolytus, dressed in military attire in front of a horse was proudly displayed in the Sanctuary during the latter 19th century. This painting can now be viewed in the hallway of the Religious Education Department.