St. Polycarp, pray for us.
Sister Marie, Servant of God, pray for us.
The Feast Day of St. Polycarp of Smyrna
February 23 is the feast day of St. Polycarp of Smyrna, who was martyred around 155 or 165 a.d.
for more visit http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12219b.htm and http://catholicexchange.com/2011/01/26/143305/
St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote one of his letters to Polycarp while Ignatius was en route to his martyrdom. It was Polycarp who later had the letters of St. Ignatius preserved. In the late second century, St. Irenaeus of Lyons wrote that he had learned by heart what Polycarp told him, including some things that Polycarp, in turn, had learned from the Apostle John.
Prayer:
O sweet Saviour Christ, in your undeserved love for us you were prepared to suffer the painful death of the cross: let me not be cold or even lukewarm in my love for you.
Lord help me to face the truth about myself. Help me to hear my words as others hear them, To see my face as others see me; Let me be honest enough to recognise my impatience and conceit;
Let me recognise my anger and selfishness; Give me sufficient humility to accept my own weakness for what they are. Give me the grace – at least in your presence – to say. ‘I was wrong – forgive me.’
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, increase in us faith and truth and gentleness and grant us part and lot among the saints.
— St. Polycarp 69-115
