“In Joy and Gladness…”

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An oral reflection for you in celebration of the feast of St. Polycarp:

 

 
 

(Quoted excerpts are from “A letter from the Church in Smyrna to the Church in Philomelium”, aka, “The Martyrdom of Polycarp”.)

2 thoughts on ““In Joy and Gladness…””

  1. Rodger's avatarRodger

    Hi Mary,
    Thank you for reminding me of the antiquity of the Church. Reading a little about Poycarp I found that he, as well as being an disciple of John, had many influential disciples of his own including St..Iraneus, and St. Ignatius of Lyon. And I suppose that we could trace the disciples of those Saints to and find other links to our Church’s past to our present. I find it comforting that God provides us teachers and apostles to guide us and that we don’t have to “figure out ” Christianity by ourselves.

  2. mary's avatarmary Post author

    Thanks, Rodger. Though it often seems like we still have a lot to “figure out”, your comment reminds me of how much I take for granted in what the early Church accomplished. Not only did the early Fathers (& Mothers) of the Church keep the faith alive, but they helped steer the Church away from many errors – and often suffered terribly because of their commitment to the truth.

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