Feb. 23rd - St. Polycarp

 

 Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Polycarp.

About the year 80 AD, when Polycarp was very young, he embraced Christianity and became a disciple of St. John the Apostle, who made him the bishop of Smynra. One of his most famous disciples was St. Irenaeus. In the writings of St. Irenaeus, he states that Polycarp was a disciple of John the Apostle, and that Polycarp knew people, who had seen Jesus.

About the year 158, Polycarp went to Rome to consult with the pope, about the Easter celebration, because there was a difference between the East and the West. It was agreed at that both the East and West Church, could follow their own custom of celebrating Easter.

Due a persecution of Christians, he was arrested, and brought before the proconsul. Because he refused to deny Jesus Christ, he was sentenced to be burned to death.

In a letter about his martyrdom it states, “When they tried to fasten him with nails, he said, “Let me as I am. The One who gives me strength to endure the fire, will also give me strength to stay quite on the pyre, even without the precaution of nails.” So, they did not fix with nails, but only fastened him instead. Looking up to heaven, he prayed, “May I be received among the martyrs in your presence today, as a rich and pleasing sacrifice.” When he had finished the prayer, the officials lit the fire. But, when a great flame burst out, it became like a dome, encircling his body. His body became like baked bread, and not like burnt flesh. So sweet a fragrance came from him…that it was like that of burning incense.”

Because he was not burned, one of the executioners pierced him with a sword, which caused his death and resulted in such a great amount of blood, that it extinguished the fire. His body was then later burned, and his bones were collected by Christians, to be preserved, in a church in Rome.

And so, we pray, that through the prayers of St. Polycarp, we may share in Christ’s cup of suffering, and some day rise to eternal life, praising God with Mary, and all the angels and saints, together with the glorious company of martyrs.