MEMORIAL: FEBRUARY 23
St. Polycarp was a second generation Christian. This means that He learned about Jesus from the Apostles. St. Polycarp was a disciple of John the Beloved Disciple and was friends with St. Ignatius of Antioch. St. Polycarp became the bishop of Smyrna and was known for his defense against heresies. At the age of 86, he was captured and thrown into the arena. Instead of being fed to the animals, Polycarp was ordered to be burned alive. However, the flames did not touch him, and he was reported to have turned a glowing golden brown, like baked bread. In addition, there was said to be a sweet smell emanating from the fire, rather than burning flesh. Seeing that Polycarp was unhurt by the flames, he was stabbed to death. St. Polycarp is the patron saint of earaches because it is said that he would have rather gone deaf than hear heresies.
