Saint Ignatius of Antioch
Lives of the Saints
by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. edition
[1894]
- IGNATIUS, Bishop, Martyr.
- IGNATIUS, Bishop of Antioch, was the disciple of St. John. When Domitian persecuted the Church, St. Ignatius obtained peace for his own flock by fasting and prayer. But for his part he desired to suffer with Christ, and to prove himself a perfect disciple. In the year 107, Trajan came to Antioch, and forced the Christians to choose between apostasy and death. “Who art thou, poor devil,” the emperor said when Ignatius was brought before him, “who settest our commands at naught?” “Call not him ‘poor devil,'” Ignatius answered, “who bears God within him.” And when the emperor questioned him about his meaning, Ignatius explained that he bore in his heart Christ crucified for his sake. Thereupon the emperor condemned him to be torn to pieces by wild beasts at Rome. St. Ignatius thanked God, Who had so honored him, “binding him in the chains of Paul, His apostle.”
He journeyed to Rome, guarded by soldiers, and with no fear except of losing the martyr’s crown. He was devoured by lions in the Roman amphitheater. The wild beasts left nothing of his body, except a few bones, which were reverently treasured at Antioch, until their removal to the Church of St. Clement at Rome, in 637. After the martyr’s death, several Christians saw him in vision standing before Christ, and interceding for them.
Reflection.—Ask St. Ignatius to obtain for you the grace of profiting by all you have to suffer, and rejoicing in it as a means of likeness to your crucified Redeemer.
Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr red Memorial Eph 2:1-10/Lk 12:13-21 (473).
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/ignatius-of-antioch-611
CATHOLICISM SAINTS ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH
*This is a detail from the painting, Virgin and Child With St. Onophrius and St. Ignatius of Antioch, by Lorenzo Lotto. In the image, the Early Christian Bishop Ignatius, holding the martyr’s palm, presents the Child Jesus with his heart, which is inscribed with the letters of the Savior’s name. Before being thrown to lions in Rome, the Holy Martyr told his executioners that he carried the name of Jesus on his heart.
**Saint Ignatius of Antioch (also known as Theophorus) (ca. 35-107) was the third Bishop or Patriarch of Antioch and a student of the Apostle John. En route to his martyrdom in Rome, Ignatius wrote a series of letters, including one to Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who had also known John. These letters are an example of the theology of the earliest Christians. Important topics addressed in these letters include ecclesiology, the sacraments, and the role of bishops.
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignatius_of_Antioch
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Rom 13:12