Devotion to faith – Had a deep devotion to Catholic faith - exemplified throughout their life
Devotion - to show love, loyalty and enthusiasm for an activity, person or cause; or religious worship.
To fulfil this criteria the saint must have been devoted and loyal to God and the Catholic faith, shown fortitude in the hardest of times and have preached the beliefs of Catholicism to as many as possible, spreading the good news just as Jesus called all Catholics to do. To satisfy this criteria the saint must have always followed God, even in the darkest of times.
"For I will walk by faith, even when I cannot see" - 2 Corinthians 5-7
How does St. Polycarp fulfil this criteria?
St Polycarp was nothing short of devoted. He stayed loyal to God even when he was faced with death. When he was asked to disown his faith and say, "away with the atheists", he denied the procounsel and the crowd the satisfaction of hearing this and stood strong talking of how he could not disown God no matter what. He stayed faithful to God saying and even thanked him for allowing him this death - the death of a martyr - saying,
"Father... I bless Thee, for having made me worthy of the day and the hour."
Throughout his life, Saint Polycarp also spread the good news, especially since he was a disciple of the apostle St John the Evangelist. Saint Polycarp was so devoted to God and Catholicism that he spent his whole life preaching, praying and being an ambassador of Jesus Christ.
St Polycarp undoubtedly satisfies this second criteria as he was completely devoted, both bodily and spiritually to God and the Catholic religion.
"Father... I bless Thee, for having made me worthy of the day and the hour."
Throughout his life, Saint Polycarp also spread the good news, especially since he was a disciple of the apostle St John the Evangelist. Saint Polycarp was so devoted to God and Catholicism that he spent his whole life preaching, praying and being an ambassador of Jesus Christ.
St Polycarp undoubtedly satisfies this second criteria as he was completely devoted, both bodily and spiritually to God and the Catholic religion.