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?
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.
