We see a lot of saints in the calendar through the year but one who everyone should know for the connection he has with the Early Church is the great St Polycarp.  His martyrdom was recorded for posterity by a contemporary and is one of the most illustrious gems of literature in the 2000 years of the Church.  It was the prototype of all future hagiography (writing about holy people) and incidentally has the first instance of preservation of the bones of the martyrs as relics.  It is brief like an epistle and is one of those documents that should be in an addendum of any bible.  That and the letters of St Ignatius of Antioch, also martyr and friend of St Polycarp! Enjoy!

New Advent is a tremendous resource and is the product of a local guy here in Denver.  He was catalogued hundreds of the Church Fathers, the Summa and other important readings and offers it gratis.  

 

Lent is a good time to read what the greats think.