Dear Parishioners, Friends, and Visitors to the Cathedral,
When our Lord established His Church, it was so that
His saving mission and the truth of the Gospel would
continue until the end of time – safeguarded by the
Apostles and their successors (the Bishops), and passed
from one generation to the next. On February 23rd, the
Church celebrates a man who formed one of the very first
links in this chain of Tradition – Saint Polycarp. He was
born around the year AD 70, likely to Christian parents,
and if not, then he converted to Christianity at a very young
age. Polycarp was a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist, learning the faith
from a man who was one of the Twelve Apostles, whom the Lord had chosen
Himself. He was a much admired and holy man, beloved by the Church of
Smyrna (modern day Turkey), where he eventually became bishop. Living
during the great era of persecution, when Christians we forced to deny their
faith and worship the emperor or be put to death, Polycarp was a stalwart
witness to Jesus Christ.
When the persecutions against Christians flared up in Smyrna, and
Christians were being fed to wild animals in the arena, there came a call
from the crowd for more blood. Polycarp was known to be the leader of these
Christians and so a mob was dispatched to bring him to the amphitheater.
As he was brought into the arena, the mob jeered at him and shouted with
delight for his execution. The proconsul, however, seeing a gray-haired 86 year
old man, urged him to renounce his faith and burn incense to the emperor
so that he might die peacefully at a contented old age. The Saint, however,
replied: “if you imagine that I will swear by Caesar, you do not know who I
am. Let me tell you plainly, I am a Christian… for 86 years I have served Jesus
Christ and He has never abandoned me. How could I curse my blessed King
and Savior?” The proconsul continued to urge him, but Polycarp remained
resolute in his witness to Christ, and because of his obstinacy, it was decided
that he should be burned alive.
The following is an account of his martyrdom recorded by an eyewitness
of the Church of Smyrna: “There and then he was surrounded by the material
for the pyre. When they tried to fasten him also with nails, he said: “Leave
me as I am. The one who gives me strength to endure the fire will also give me
strength to stay quite still on the pyre, even without the precaution of your
nails”. So they did not fix him to the pyre with nails but only fastened him
instead. Bound as he was, with hands behind his back, he stood like a mighty
ram, chosen out for sacrifice from a great flock, a worthy victim made ready
to be offered to God… [Then looking up to heaven, he gave praise and thanks
to the Lord, and willingly offered up his life to God in prayer] When he had
said “Amen” and finished the prayer, the officials at the pyre lit it. But, when
a great flame burst out, those of us privileged to see it witnessed a strange
and wonderful thing. Indeed, we have been spared in order to tell the story to
others. Like a ship’s sail swelling in the wind, the flame became as it were a
dome encircling the martyr’s body. Surrounded by the fire, his body was like
bread that is baked, or gold and silver white-hot in a furnace, not like flesh
that has been burnt. So sweet a fragrance came to us that it was like that of
burning incense or some other costly and sweet-smelling gum.”
Polycarp’s execution was not going according to plan and so he was
finally stabbed to death. This saintly man received the faith that had been
passed on to him, and through the witness of his life, passed on faith on to
the next generation. What kind of link will our lives be in this great chain of
tradition?
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
1007 Superior Ave. E • Cleveland OH 44114-2582
http://SaintJohnCathedral.com • 216-771-6666
Cathedral
Lenten Mission
God’s Motive:
MERCY
Sunday, February 28
Parish -Mission
- Sundays, February
6:30 pm
28, March
6, &March
13, following
the 5:30 pm
Sunday,
6
Mass. The
Mission
will be preached by
- 6:30
pm
Mercedarian
Fr.March
James
Sunday,
13 Mayer. The theme:
- 6:30MERCY.
pm
God’s Motive:
Please plan to join
us for
three
Lenten
Jointhis
us for this
three part
part Lenten
Mission,Mission, to
wherein Father James Mayer, O.de M.
help will
us help
to reflect
on God’s limitless mercy.
us to reflect on
God’s limitless mercy.
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
1007 Superior Ave E • Cleveland OH 44114 • SaintJohnCathedral.com
Evening of Confession - “How good
it feels to come back to Him whenever we are
lost.” Pope Francis tells us. Please join us for
An Evening of Confession, February 24,
2016 from 5-8 pm. Individual confessions
will be heard throughout the evening. If
you have family members or friends who
are away from the Catholic Church, please
invite them to come home this Lent, and
to experience God’s gift of healing through
the sacrament of reconciliation.
The 11th Annual Easter Luncheon
at the Bishop Cosgrove Center, sponsored
by the Cathedral Social Action Ministry,
will take place on March 19. Approximately
300-350 meals will be served. Volunteers
are needed as Servers and Runners, & as
Hospitality (to meet and greet guests).
Please let us know if you are interested in
participating to make this event a success
by contacting Kalani Hirsch prior to the
luncheon at <kalhirsch08@gmail.com> or
216-374-4681.