Saint Polycarp was a disciple of St. John the Evangelist and Apostle. While Polycarp's life is mostly known through the account of his martyrdom, he was an important figure in the early Christian Church and is remembered as a saint and martyr by Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians alike.

Polycarp was born around the year 69 AD and grew up among the Greek-speaking Christians of the Roman Empire. He received the teachings of individuals who had seen and known Jesus during his earthly life, including St. John, with whom he studied personally. Through this connection to Jesus' first disciples and apostles, Polycarp helped protect the Catholic Church against early attempts to deny Jesus' bodily incarnation and full humanity.

St. Irenaeus, another Catholic teacher of the second century, wrote that Polycarp "was not only instructed by apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ; but he was also, by apostles, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna." Polycarp wrote a letter to the Philippians, reminding them not to surrender their faith to false teachers claiming to have a more intellectually refined gospel.

But Polycarp's faith in Jesus was not just a matter of words. When he became aware that government authorities were seeking to stamp out the Catholic Church's claim of obeying a higher authority than the Emperor, he retreated to a country house and occupied himself with constant prayer. He received a vision of his death and informed his friends that he must be burned alive. He was eventually captured and taken to an arena for execution, where he refused to worship the emperor and was burned alive, just as he had prophesied.

While Polycarp's life was cut short by persecution, his witness to the faith has continued to inspire Christians throughout the centuries. His devotion to Jesus and willingness to endure martyrdom rather than deny his faith is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices that many early Christians made for their beliefs.

Today, the Catholic Church continue to honor the legacy of Saint Polycarp and other martyrs who gave their lives for their faith. Their witness reminds us of the importance of standing firm in our convictions and trusting in God's grace even in the face of adversity.

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Giovanni Theristi
2. Saint Serenus the Gardener
3. Saint Willigis of Mainz
4. Saint Primianus of Ancona
5. Saint Alexander Akimetes