St. Ignatius of Antioch
St. Ignatius of Antioch (died c. 108 AD) was Bishop of Antioch and a disciple of St. John the Apostle. His seven letters written on the way to martyrdom in Rome are invaluable testimonies to early Christian faith and Church structure.
He was the first to use the term 'Catholic Church.'
Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be; as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic church.
It is better for me to die in behalf of Jesus Christ, than to reign over all the ends of the earth.
Now I begin to be a disciple. Let fire and cross, flocks of beasts.. all the torments of the devil come upon me, so that I alone may attain to Jesus Christ.
I am God's wheat, and I am being ground by the teeth of wild beasts, so that I may become the pure bread of Christ.
Prayer to St. Ignatius
St. Ignatius, it was said thou converted to Christianity as a child. Along with St. Polycarp, thou wert said to be a disciple of St. John the Evangelist. St. Peter himself appointed thee bishop of Antioch. Because thou called thyself Theophorus, or ‘God bearer’, a tradition arose that thou wert one of the children Christ Himself held and blessed in the Gospels. Thou tookest thy duties as bishop seriously – protecting thy flock from heresy, being a gentle pastor, and protecting thine people from persecutions. When thou wert asked to make a sacrifice to the gods and refused, thou wert arrested and sent to Rome. On the way thou wrote several letters to the people of Antioch. Under Emperor Trajan, thou wert sent to the colosseum to be devoured by lions. Thou died as a brave soldier of Christ.
Saints around December 20
Get the full library
130+ saints, in your pocket
Their Lives, sayings and prayers, A to Z and by feast, with search. The Church calendar, the holy icons, and the saying of the day on your Home Screen. All in Axios! for iPhone, iPad and Android.