Page 82 - Saints of the Month: February

Saints of the Month: February

Marcion met St. Polycarp at Rome, he asked
the aged Saint if he knew him. “Yes,” St.
Polycarp answered, “I know you for the
first-born of Satan.” These were the words
of a Saint most loving and most charitable,
and specially noted for his compassion to
sinners. He hated heresy, because he loved
God and man so much. In 167, persecution
broke out in Smyrna. When Polycarp heard
that his pursuers were at the door, he said,
“The will of God be done; ” and meeting
them, he begged to be left alone for a little
time, which he spent in prayer for “the
Catholic Church throughout the world.” He
was brought to Smyrna early on Holy
Saturday; and, as he entered, a voice was
heard from heaven, “Polycarp, be strong.”
When the proconsul besought him to curse
Christ and go free, Polycarp answered,
“Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He
never did me wrong; how can I blaspheme
my King and Saviour?” When he threatened
him with fire, Polycarp told him this fire of
his lasted but a little, while the fire
prepared for the wicked lasted forever. At
the stake he thanked God aloud for letting
him drink of Christ’s chalice. The fire was
lighted, but it did him no hurt; so he was
stabbed to the heart, and his dead body was
burnt. “Then,” say the writers of his acts,
“we took up the bones, more precious than
the richest jewels or gold, and deposited
them in a fitting place, at which may God
grant us to assemble with joy to celebrate

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