Upon The Feast Of St. Polycarp Of Smyrna

Student of St. John the Apostle, Bishop of Smyrna. It's likely that the letter that John passed on to the Church at Smyrna from the book of Revelation found its way into Polycarp's hands.

Here's the prayer penned by St. Polycarp, issued just before his stadium martrydom at age 86:

Lord God almighty, Father of Jesus Christ, your dear Son through whom we have come to know you, God of the angels and powers, God of all creation, God of those who live in your presence, the race of the just: I bless you. You have considered me worthy of this day and hour, worthy to be numbered with the martyrs and to drink the cup of your Anointed One, and thus to rise and live forever, body and soul, in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit.

St. Polycarp, ora pro nobis!