St Polycarp (aka: things only I am interested in - most likely)

Today is the feast of the Archangels, which I love (pray for me, Raphael - see the book of Tobit)...but we also celebrate St Polycarp today...and ancient people fascinate me (see the Title and stop reading if your eyelids just got heavy :)

St Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle John. He was the Bishop of Smyrna (now a city in Turkey) in the late 100's. This was when the Emperor Trajan was taking over most of Europe; when the Roman Empire was at its greatest (60 million people); when Trajan died and Hadrian took over - and started building his wall; when Marcus Aurelius was born... this was when Polycarp was helping decide when Easter would be celebrated and he was writing to the Philippians (the Biblical letter people)...Polycarp was burned to death for following Christ when he was 86...His is one of the earliest Christian writings that are still preserved. Today, in the Office, I read some of his letter to those crazy Philippians :)

"Many desire to come into the joy [of believing in Jesus], knowing that you are saved by grace, not by works, - not by your actions but by the will of God through Jesus Christ... Leave aside empty vanities (me) and vulgar error, believing in him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead (God)...Do not judge, that you may not be judged; forgive and you will be forgiven; be merciful and you will receive mercy. For whatever you measure out to other people will be measured out to you also..." 

Isn't that still just great advice? 1,900 years later. Seriously.

And I finish with a prayer sung by many Catholics every Sunday (written in the 300's), the Te Deum:

"Keep us today, Lord, from all sin; have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy. Lord, show us your love and mercy; for we put our trust in you. In you, Lord, is our hope; and we shall never hope in vain."

Still true. Still my prayer (1600 years later).

Dang...