St Polycarp
Today we will remember the life that was lived by St. Polycarp. St. Polycarp, was the bishop of Smyrna, he was also the disciple of St. John the Apostle and he was also friends with St. Ignatius of Antioch, he was a revered Christian leader during the first half of the second century.
St. Ignatius, was on his way to Rome to be martyred, and he had decided to visit St. Polycarp who was in Smyrna during that time, and later on he wrote him a personal letter. The Asia Minor Churches had actually recognized St. Polycarp’s leadership by choosing him as a representative to meet with Pope Anicetus to discuss the date of the Easter celebration in Rome which was a very major controversy in the early Church.
When St. Polycarp was 86, he was led into the crowded Smyrna stadium in order to be burned alive. The flames were not able to harm him, however, he was eventually killed by a dagger. The centurion actually ordered that the saint’s body burned. The “Acts” of St. Polycarp’s martyrdom are the earliest preserved, fully reliable account of a Christian martyr’s death. St. Polycarp had died during the year 155. St. Polycarp is the patron saint of relief from earaches.
Prayer to St. Polycarp
St. Polycarp intercede that we may be able to have the courage, faith and strength we need in order to stay away from all temptation and evil.
Amen
St. Polycarp pray for us
St. Joseph pray for us
May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.
Works cited
Information (read from, not taken):
Franciscan media. “Saint Polycarp." https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-polycarp. Accessed September 9, 2021.
Images: