Monday, March 17 : Saint Polycarp

Let us hold constantly to our hope, and to the guarantee of our uprightness, that is, Jesus Christ: “He himself bore our sins in his own body on the cross”, yet “he committed no sin and no deceit was found in his mouth” (1Pt 2,24.22). Yet he endured it all for us, so that we might live in union with him. So let us be imitators of his endurance, and if we suffer for his sake, let us glorify him. For he set us this example in himself (Jn 13,15), and this is what we have believed… So stand fast in these things, and follow the Lord’s example, steadfast in faith and immovable, loving the brotherhood, devoted to one another, united in truth, giving way to one another in the gentleness of the Lord, despising nobody… For I am sure that you are well trained in the sacred scriptures and nothing is hidden from you, but this has not been granted to me. Only, as it says in these scriptures: “Be angry but do not sin,” and “do not let the sun set on your anger” (Eph 4,26). Blessed is the man that remembers this, which I believe is the case with you. But may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal High Priest himself (Heb 2,17), Jesus Christ, the son of God, build you up in faith and truth, and in all gentleness and without anger and in patience and long-suffering and endurance and purity. And may he give you your part and lot with his saints, and to us with you, and to all who are under heaven who shall believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and in his Father who raised him from the dead. Pray for all the saints. Pray also for emperors and authorities and rulers, and for those who persecute you and hate you and for the enemies of the cross, in order that your fruit may be manifest among all men, so that you may be perfect in him.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team