Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr
Memorial
Saint Ignatius of Antioch, also called Theophorus, was born in Syria, around the year 50 and died at Rome between 98 and 117. He is one of the Apostolic Fathers, Bishop of Antioch and possibly, he was among the auditors of John the Apostle.A very ancient work, called "Martyrium Ignatii" is considered to be an eyewitness account of the martyrdom of St. Ignatius and the events leading up to it.
During the reign of Emperor Trajan, Ignatius was sentenced to death because he refused to renounce the Christian faith. Traveling through Asia Minor and Greece, from Syria to Rome to his death, Ignatius wrote seven letters of encouragement, instruction and inspiration to the Christians in those communities.
This letters are today a great treasure of the Church, an important testimony to the development of catholic theology, considering the small number of existent writings from this period of Church history.
Ignatius was sentenced to be eaten by lions in the Colosseum. His body has been entombed under St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Ignatius' martyrdom and his important contribution to the development of Church doctrine make it fitting that his name should occur in the Canon of the Mass.
St Ignatius is the first to use the Greek word katholikos, meaning universal, whole, and complete, in his writings to describe the Church:
"Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be; as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful to baptize or give communion without the consent of the bishop. On the other hand, whatever has his approval is pleasing to God. Thus, whatever is done will be safe and valid." From: "Letter to the Smyrnaeans 8", J.R. Willis translation.
In his letter to the Smyrnaeans, Ignatius wrote on the Eucharist:
"Take note of those who hold heterodox opinions on the grace of Jesus Christ which has come to us, and see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God. . . . They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which that Father, in his goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes." From: "Letter to the Smyrnaeans" 6:2–7:1
And his famous quotation, from the letter to the Romans:
"I am writing to all the Churches and I enjoin all, that I am dying willingly for God's sake, if only you do not prevent it. I beg you, do not do me an untimely kindness. Allow me to be eaten by the beasts, which are my way of reaching to God. I am God's wheat, and I am to be ground by the teeth of wild beasts, so that I may become the pure bread of Christ."
From: "Letter to the Roman".
