Commemoration of Ss. Hippolytus and Cassian, Martyrs
IV Classis
“Let him that thinketh himself to stand, take heed lest he fall.”
A Reflection on 1 Corinthians 10:6–13 and Luke 19:41–47 in the Light of Traditional Catholic Teaching
As we find ourselves in the quiet cadence of a weekday Mass in the ninth week after the Octave of Pentecost, the Church gives us, through the Epistle and Gospel of the day, a sobering reminder of Divine justice and the dangers of presumption. The tone is penitential and reflective, fitting for a midweek Mass of the IV class, especially with the added gravity of commemorating the holy martyrs Ss. Hippolytus and Cassian, whose own witness bears testimony to steadfastness in the face of worldly judgment.
I. The Pattern of the Fathers – A Warning (1 Cor. 10:6–13)
St. Paul, writing to the Corinthians, draws our eyes back to the wilderness generation of Israel, “Now these things were done in a figure of us, that we should not covet evil things, as they also coveted.” (1 Cor. 10:6). The Apostle sees in the wandering Israelites a mirror of the Church’s members: recipients of divine favor, baptized into Moses through the Red Sea, fed with supernatural food (a type of the Holy Eucharist), yet many fell. Why? Because of idolatry, fornication, murmuring, and tempting Christ.
St. John Chrysostom, in his commentary on this passage, admonishes:
“The Apostle recalls to their minds the fearful examples of those who received benefits, and yet perished through their own folly… They had miracles, yet murmured; sacraments, yet sinned. He that is high in grace must not think himself safe, but must remain vigilant.” (Hom. XXIII in 1 Cor.)
Here, Paul’s intention is not despair, but humble vigilance. The Christian, fortified by the sacraments, must not presume immunity from temptation or fall. For “God is faithful,” yes—but His mercy does not cancel His justice. This is a timeless warning against laxity, especially for those within the visible Church who take grace for granted.
St. Augustine echoes this when he writes:
“Let us not rely on our own strength; even Peter fell when he trusted in himself. Our help is from the Lord, and in Him alone is our stability.” (Sermon 147)
II. The Tears of the Savior – Divine Lamentation (Luke 19:41–47)
The Gospel presents us with the poignant image of Our Lord weeping over Jerusalem. “If thou also hadst known, and that in this thy day, the things that are to thy peace…” (Luke 19:42). The same city that welcomed the Messiah with Hosannas will soon cry out for His crucifixion. Christ’s lamentation is not one of surprise, but of sorrowful foresight—a divine mourning over rejected grace.
St. Ambrose draws attention to the loving severity of the Lord:
“He wept over the fall of the city, and yet He justly inflicted punishment upon it. In Christ, mercy and judgment are perfectly joined. He warns before He chastises, and even in punishment, His heart is moved with compassion.” (Expositio in Lucam 10.59)
The Lord’s weeping is followed by cleansing. Entering the Temple, He casts out the profaners: “My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” (Luke 19:46). This sequence—the weeping, the warning, and the cleansing—is a liturgical and moral pattern. Our Lord comes to His people, warns them, and purifies His sanctuary.
St. Bede the Venerable comments:
“The Lord first mourns the loss of those who refuse correction, then He purifies the Temple, which represents the soul. Let each of us open the gates of our soul, that Christ may enter and drive out every inordinate affection.” (Homilies on the Gospels, Book I)
III. The Martyrs’ Witness – Constancy in Trial
On this same day, we commemorate Ss. Hippolytus and Cassian, martyrs of the early Church. St. Cassian, a teacher by profession, was condemned to death by being stabbed with the styluses of his own pupils—an image of ironic justice and a testimony to his courage. St. Hippolytus, once at odds with the Church, is believed to have reconciled before his death and was martyred by being dragged to death by horses. Both stand as icons of endurance and fidelity.
In these martyrs, the warnings of St. Paul and the lament of Christ find a response of obedience and steadfastness. They fell not into the sins of murmuring or idolatry, but clung to Christ unto death. They understood that the grace of God must be guarded with fear and trembling, not presumption.
Conclusion: Let Him Who Thinks He Stands…
This liturgical Wednesday invites us into a serious interior examen. Are we presuming upon God’s grace? Have we allowed His temple—our soul—to become defiled with the noise and commerce of the world? Do we weep over our sins as Christ wept over Jerusalem? Do we, like the martyrs, hold fast to the truth even unto persecution?
Let us take courage from the Apostle: “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able, but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor. 10:13)
But let us also not forget the admonition:
“Let him who thinketh himself to stand, take heed lest he fall.”
Let us weep with Christ, fight with Cassian, and die with Hippolytus, that we may stand at last with the saints in glory.