February 23 – Saint Polycarp

Heavenly Father, Saint Polycarp was part of the first generation of Christians who met Jesus not by direct experience but by Sacred Tradition.  He told his community to “follow the example of the Lord, ‘firm and unchangeable in faith, loving each other, united in truth,’ helping each other with the mildness of the Lord, despising no man.”  I give to You my personal encounters with Jesus.  Help me to see Him as He really is, to feel His love, and to hear Him clearly.  Teach me to follow His example by standing strong in the Faith and loving others unconditionally.  Saint Polycarp, pray for me.  Amen.

Quotes for Today

Saint Polycarp (69-155), Bishop

Now may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal high priest himself, the Son of God Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and truth and in all gentleness and in all freedom from anger and forbearance and steadfastness and patient endurance and purity, and may he give to you a share and a place among his saints, and to us with you, and to all those under heaven who will yet believe in our Lord and God Jesus Christ and in his Father who raised him from the dead.”

For it is good to be cut off from the sinful desires in the world, because every sinful desire wages war against the spirit, and neither fornicators nor men who have sex with men (whether as the passive or as the active partner) will inherit the kingdom of God, nor will those who do perverse things.”

For everyone who does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is antichrist; and whoever does not acknowledge the testimony of the cross is of the devil; and whoever twists the sayings of the Lord to suit his own sinful desires and claims that there is neither resurrection nor judgment — well, that person is the firstborn of Satan.”

The prayer above is from Terry Modica’s book Daily Prayers with the Saints.

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