Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Saint Polycarp

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.