It’s the Feast of Saint Polycarp, 3rd Class, with the color of Red. In this episode: the meditation: “The Healing of the Leper”, today’s news from the Church: “Leo XIV or the Diplomacy of Synthesis”, a preview of the Sermon: “Thirsty for Truth: Leading Others to Christ”, and today’s thought from the Archbishop.
Saint Polycarp of Smyrna stands as a living bridge between the apostles and the age of martyrs, a man whose faith was shaped directly by those who had known Christ. Born around the year 69, Polycarp was a disciple of Saint John the Apostle, and through him received the faith not as theory but as lived memory. He became bishop of Smyrna in Asia Minor and shepherded his flock for decades with calm authority, known for his simplicity, fidelity to tradition, and deep love for the truth handed down from the beginning.
Polycarp lived during a time when the Church was still defining itself amid persecution and doctrinal confusion. He opposed early heresies not with clever novelty, but with steady insistence on what he had received. When confronted by false teachers, he famously responded not with debate but with clarity, calling error what it was and refusing to compromise. His pastoral leadership was marked by gentleness toward sinners and firmness toward those who distorted the Gospel. Christians across the region respected him as a father whose faith was rooted in personal witness rather than speculation.
Late in life, Polycarp was arrested during a local persecution. His martyrdom, recorded in one of the earliest Christian martyr accounts, reveals the character of the man as clearly as any sermon. Brought before the Roman authorities, he was urged to swear by the emperor and curse Christ. Polycarp answered with words that have echoed through the centuries: “Eighty and
