February 23--St. Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr

St. Polycarp was a second generation Christian, taught by St. John the Evangelist.  He led his community of Smyrna in Asia Minor to follow Jesus through differences of opinions within the Church, heresies, and persecutions.

St. Polycarp is a model for when we disagree with others within the Church.  In his day, there were two different dates of celebration of Easter.  In the East, where Polycarp lived, Easter was celebrated the day after Passover began.  In the West, it was celebrated on the Sunday of the week following the Passover.  St. Polycarp went to Rome to discuss the differences.  Although they did not agree on the issue, it did not result in schism.

But when he was approached by a heretic who claimed that God of the Old Testament was not the same as the Father of Jesus, St. Polycarp stated:  “I recognize you, yes, I recognize the son of Satan.”  There was no accommodation on differences in the faith.  Finally, when he was pressed to renounce Jesus in order to save himself from death by swearing by Caesar, St. Polycarp answered:  “If you imagine that I will swear by Caesar, you do not know who I am. Let me tell you plainly, I am a Christian.”

St. Polycarp shows us how to live with differences, with error, and with persecution.  He predates Bl. John XXIII’s famous dictum:  "Unity in necessary things; liberty in doubtful things; charity in all things."  These are words to live by.