⛪ Saint Polycarp - Bishop, Martyr

⛪ Saint of the Day : January 26

ST. POLYCARP, Bishop of Smyrna, was a disciple of St. John. He wrote to the Philippians, exhorting them to mutual love and to hatred of heresy. When the apostate 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 the birthday of the martyr to his life in heaven!"

⛪ Reflection —If we love Jesus Christ, we shall love the Church and hate heresy, which rends His mystical body, and destroys the souls for which He died. Like St. Polycarp, we shall maintain our constancy in the faith by loves of Jesus Christ, Who is its author and its finisher.

Source : Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]

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Saints in January

• ⛪ Blessed Archangela Girlani - Religious
• ⛪ Saint Marcella - Widow
• ⛪ Saint Aldegundis - Abbess
• ⛪ Blessed Sebastian Valfrè - Priest
• ⛪ Saint Adelelmus of Burgos
• ⛪ Saint Martina - Martyr
• ⛪ Saint Hyacintha of Mariscotti - Religious
• ⛪ Saint David Galván-Beremúdez - Priest and Martyr
• ⛪ Blessed Columba Marmion - Irish monk and the third Abbot of Maredsous Abbey
• ⛪ Saint Francis of Sales
• ⛪ Saint Cyril of Alexandria
• ⛪ Saint John Chrysostom
• ⛪ Saint Paula of Rome - Patroness of the Order of Saint Jerome
• ⛪ Blessed José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero - Priest
• ⛪ Blessed Francesco Zirano - Franciscan Priest, Martyr
• ⛪ Saint Poppo - Abbot of Stavello - Abbot of Stavelot - Malmedy
• ⛪ Saint Ananias of Damascus - Missionary, Martyr & Patron of St. Paul
• ⛪ Blessed Teresa Grillo Michel
• ⛪ Saint Dwynwen
• ⛪ Blessed Anthony of Amandola
• ⛪ The Conversion of Saint Paul
• ⛪ Blessed Henry Suso
• ⛪ Martyrs of Podlasie or Martyrs of Pratulin
• ⛪ Saint Artemas of Pozzuoli - Teenage Martyr

SAINT OF THE DAY

• ⛪ Saint John Payne: Martyr of England’s Faith
• Saint Nicetius of Lyon
• ⛪ Blessed Zofia Czeska-Maciejowska: Mother of Mercy and Education
• ⛪ Saint Lodovico Pavoni: Apostle of Youth and Work
• ⛪ Blessed Giuseppe Girotti: A Martyr of Charity and Truth
• ⛪ Blessed Karl of Austria
• ⛪ Saint Mary of Egypt: From Sinner to Desert Saint
• ⛪ Saint Hugh of Châteauneuf: A Holy Shepherd of Faith
• ⛪ Saint of the Day : January
• ⛪ Saint of the Day : June
• ⛪ Saint Simon Marie Antoine Just Ranfer De Bretenieres - Priest
• ⛪ Saint Sylvester of Assisi
• ⛪ Saint Conon the Gardener
• ⛪ Saint John of the Cross
• ⛪ Saint Peter of Pappacarbone - Bishop of Policastro
• ⛪ Saint Adrian and Natalia of Nicomedia - Martyrs
• ⛪ Saint Casimir of Poland - Confessor
• ⛪ Saint Luke Casali - Monk & Priest
• ⛪ Saint Angela of the Cross Guerrero y González - Virgin and Foundress
• ⛪ Saint Chad of Mercia
• ⛪ Saint Katharine Drexel - Foundress
• ⛪ Saint Agnes of Bohemia - Princess, Philanthropist and Abbess
• ⛪ Blessed Giovanna Maria Bonomo - Nun, Mystic
• ⛪ Pope Saint Felix III
• ⛪ Saint Swidberth of Kaiserwerdt - Monk