--- title: The One Thing We Can Learn from Cranky Saint Polycarp description: Despite constant attacks on him for his faith, St. Polycarp stayed true. Pam Spano shares what she learned from this snarky saint. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/02/23/one-thing-can-learn-cranky-saint-polycarp#) # The One Thing We Can Learn from Cranky Saint Polycarp Feb 23, 2017 8:30:34 AM  |  by [Pam Spano](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/pam-spano) [!["The One Thing We Can Learn from Cranky St. Polycarp" by Pam Spano (CatholicMom.com)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/St_Polycarp_Church_Icon_Miraculously_Extinguishing_Smyrna_Fire.jpg?width=800&height=477&name=St_Polycarp_Church_Icon_Miraculously_Extinguishing_Smyrna_Fire.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/St_Polycarp_Church_Icon_Miraculously_Extinguishing_Smyrna_Fire.jpg) By [Pvasiliadis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pvasiliadis) - Own work, [CC BY-SA 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), [Link](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2546186) > *"Don't you know who I am, Polycarp?" the heretic Marcion asked.* > > "Oh yes," said the saint, "I know the firstborn of Satan when I see him." This quote was my [introduction](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1940209196/catholicmom) to Saint Polycarp (155? or 166?) whose feast day we celebrate today. This cranky saint was a second-generation apostle who knew the original twelve. He accepted his gruesome martyrdom at the tender age of 86. [tweet "What a 21st-century #Catholic can learn from a cranky 1st-century martyr. By @CatholicReally"] So for the first time what is the one thing we can we learn from Saint Polycarp? Recently I wrote an article about how social media has left my heart broken. The viciousness that can be the internet reminded me of this saint, but perhaps his curmudgeonly attitude came from the fact that he was constantly sought out for persecution for that faith. When the governor of Smyrna demanded Polycarp recant his faith, Polycarp answered: "*How can I blaspheme against my king and savior?" *and *"Hear me clearly, I am Christian!"* Despite the constant attacks on him (and ultimately his martyrdom for the faith), Saint Polycarp believed that for all of his eighty-six years his King and Savior had *"done him no wrong."* [Life's been good to me so far](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNPWVi0sHac) and I have my faith in Jesus and His teachings to thank. As a convert, I have a clear view of my life ***before*** being Catholic and ***after***.  I learned from Saint Polycarp that my Savior has indeed "done me no wrong." [!["The One Thing We Can Learn from Cranky St. Polycarp" by Pam Spano (CatholicMom.com)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Saint-Polycarp-2.jpg?width=600&height=800&name=Saint-Polycarp-2.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Saint-Polycarp-2.jpg) Copyright 2017 Pam Spano. All rights reserved. **Have you ever heard of Saint Polycarp? What has this cranky saint taught you?** *Copyright 2017 Pam Spano* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F02%2F23%2Fone-thing-can-learn-cranky-saint-polycarp%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F02%2F23%2Fone-thing-can-learn-cranky-saint-polycarp%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F02%2F23%2Fone-thing-can-learn-cranky-saint-polycarp%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=The%20One%20Thing%20We%20Can%20Learn%20from%20Cranky%20Saint%20Polycarp) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F02%2F23%2Fone-thing-can-learn-cranky-saint-polycarp%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F02%2F23%2Fone-thing-can-learn-cranky-saint-polycarp%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Pam Spano](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Pam%20Spano%202024.jpeg) ### [Pam Spano](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/pam-spano) Pam Spano converted to the Catholic faith as an adult over 30 years ago. Her conversion story started when she sarcastically said to her Catholic boyfriend at the time, "I suppose if we were to get married, you would want me to convert." He thought for a moment and said, "Well, I am worried about your soul." And so the journey began ... ## Related Blog Articles [ I Was Convinced Saint Anthony Didn't Like Me Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/i-was-convinced-saint-anthony-didnt-like-me) [ Covered in Prayer in the Aftermath of Violence Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/covered-in-prayer-in-the-aftermath-of-violence) [ What Word Is God Calling You? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/what-word-is-god-calling-you) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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