In the Spirit of Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr
Feast: January 26 (III Classis)
On this blessed day, Holy Church commemorates Sanctus Polycarpus, venerable Bishop of Smyrna and glorious Martyr of Christ. A disciple of the Apostle Saint John and a steadfast defender of the Faith, Saint Polycarp stands as a living witness to the divine charity extolled in today’s Epistle and Gospel: the charity that lays down its life for the brethren and fears not those who kill the body.
The Epistle, taken from 1 John 3:10–16, pierces to the heart of Christian identity:
“In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doth not justice is not of God, nor he that loveth not his brother… We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.”
Saint Augustine comments on this passage with solemn clarity:
“Love, and do what you will… if you hold your peace, do it out of love; if you cry out, do it out of love; let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good.” (In Epist. Joannis ad Parthos, Tract. 7)
This is no sentimental affection, but caritas, the supernatural charity infused by grace — the love of God poured into our hearts, that makes us not only love but suffer and even die for our brethren. Thus, Saint John concludes:
“In this we have known the charity of God, because He hath laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
Is this not the very pattern of Saint Polycarp? His martyrdom — not rash but obedient, not proud but meek — was the flowering of a life rooted in charity. According to the Martyrdom of Polycarp, when urged to blaspheme Christ to save his life, the saint replied:
“Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”
In these words, we see the echo of today’s Gospel from Matthew 10:26–32:
“Fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him that can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Saint John Chrysostom, in his Homilies on Matthew, declares:
“Christ speaks not of threats alone, but also of the rewards that await us, so that we may cast away all fear… for what is more fearful than hell? And what more desirable than the kingdom of heaven?”
Indeed, Polycarp feared not the fire of the pyre, for he feared more the eternal flames. He bore witness — martyria — not in secret but in the face of the Roman authorities, confessing Christ before men. Thus was fulfilled the promise of our Lord:
“Every one therefore that shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.”
What does this mean for us, who live not under persecution but amid indifference, skepticism, or even ridicule? We may not be called to shed our blood, but the Church Fathers remind us that there is also a “white martyrdom” — the dying to self, the bearing of daily crosses, the patient witness of fidelity.
Saint Gregory the Great writes:
“Each one, according to his strength, offers to God something of himself; for some pour forth their blood in martyrdom, others by daily discipline crucify the desires of the flesh.” (Homiliae in Evangelia, II, 35)
Thus, the imitation of Saint Polycarp lies open to us all. In the love of the brethren, in the fearless confession of the Faith, and in the daily offering of our lives in union with Christ’s sacrifice, we become living witnesses.
Let us conclude with a prayer in the spirit of today’s liturgy:
O God, who givest us joy by the yearly solemnity of blessed Polycarp, Thy Martyr and Bishop: mercifully grant that we may rejoice in his protection whose heavenly birthday we celebrate. Through our Lord Jesus Christ… (Collect, Missale Romanum, Jan. 26)
May the example and intercession of Saint Polycarp strengthen us to love without fear, confess without shame, and persevere without compromise — unto life everlasting.