St. Hippolytus was an anti-pope - and a saint.

The Martyrdom of Saint Hippolytus, 

according to the legendary version of Prudentius (Paris, 14th century)

Perfect death for a schismatic, huh?  

What?

More Catholic than the Pope?

It's all rather complicated...

Hippolytus - according to Magnificat was upset with Pope Callistus because he was too lenient - too soft 'toward the Sabellian* heresy'.  Sound familiar?

How many people are upset with Francis because he is too lenient on heretics and homos?

OMG!  What if someone makes himself pope in opposition to Pope Francis now?

You know what?  I don't think it matters - so long as he dies a martyr.

That is why I always say: "It's all good."

It also drives Catholic fundamentalists nuts.



*In Christianity, Sabellianism (also known as modalism, modalistic monarchianism, or modal monarchism) is the trinitarian belief that the Heavenly Father, Resurrected Son and Holy Spirit are different modes or aspects of one monadic God, as perceived by the believer, rather than three distinct persons within the Godhead - that there are no real differences between the three, such that there is no identity for the Spirit or the Son.

Neo-Sebellius.**

The term Sabellianism comes from Sabellius, a theologian and priest from the 3rd century. - Wiki

(Ed. note: I think Oneness Pentecostals are pretty much modalists - Remember Francis met with Pentecostals recently in Italy and some Catholics were upset? That's why.  I'm serious.)


Anyway... Fun with facts.

Pope Poodle I

Song for this post, the grand ole opry classic:

She could never be a saint, but she thought she could be a martyr if they killed her quick... durn, durn, durn ... Ohhhhhhhhh! She could never be a saint...

Sung to the tune of: Gypsy Joe and Me.


**H/T Jeron