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February 23, 2006 Memorial of Saint Polycarp, bishop and martyr Psalm: Thursday 11 Reading IJas 5:1-6 Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten,your gold and silver have corroded,and that corrosion will be a testimony against you;it will devour your flesh like a fire.You have stored up treasure for the last days.Behold, the wages you withheld from the workerswho harvested your fields are crying aloud;and the cries of the harvestershave reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure;you have fattened...

February 23, 2005Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent Psalm: Wednesday 11 Reading IJer 18:18-20 The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem said,"Come, let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah.It will not mean the loss of instruction from the priests,nor of counsel from the wise, nor of messages from the prophets.And so, let us destroy him by his own tongue;let us carefully note his every word." Heed me, O LORD,and listen to what my adversaries say.Must good be repaid with evilthat they should dig a pit to take my life?Remember that I stood before youto speak in their...

FEBRUARY 24 The Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrnam Concerning the Martyrdom of the Holy Polycarp (Palm DOC) ST POLYCARP, BISHOP OF SMYRNA, MARTYR From his acts, written by the church of Smyrna in an excellent circular letter to the churches of Pontus, immediately after his martyrdom, a niece abridged by Eusebius, b. 4, c. 14 highly esteemed by the ancients. Joseph Scaliger, a supercilious critic, says that nothing in the whole course of church history so strongly affected him as the perusal of these acts, and those relating to the martyrs of Lyons; that he never read...

February 23, 2004Memorial of Saint Polycarp, bishop and martyr Psalm: Monday 11 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading IJas 3:13-18 Beloved:Who among you is wise and understanding?Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom.But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts,do not boast and be false to the truth.Wisdom of this kind does not come down from abovebut is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,there is disorder and every foul practice.But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,then peaceable, gentle, compliant,full of mercy...