Saints to Know
February 23, 2024
St. Polycarp was martyred after refusing to renounce his faith in Christ. When asked to swear by Caesar, Polycarp famously responded, “Since you pretend not to know who and what I am, hear me declare with boldness: ‘I am a Christian.'” He was condemned to die by being burned at the stake, but according to legend, the flames did nothing to harm him. After this miraculous occurrence, the soldiers killed Polycarp with the sword.
Tertullian wrote, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” We give thanks to God today for the supernatural courage of St. Polycarp and all martyrs and ask that they would intercede for us, that our faith would be made stronger.