Saint Polycarp

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On this cold Lenten morning, we are struck once again by the ardor of the Saint Polycarp. When invited to deny Christ Jesus his Master, the elderly Polycarp utters these words:

Eighty-six years I have served Christ,
and He never did me any wrong.
How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?

We are at once humbled and inspired by the ardor of this second-century martyr. Martyrs truly are our forebears as monks. But what have I done for Christ, what am I doing or Christ, what ought I to do for Christ, how have I ignored or lost sight of him and put other things in his place?  

Photograph of the lancet window in the transept of the Abbey church by Brother Daniel.

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