Wheat of God...

"The death of the martyrs blossoms in the FAITH of the living." 
- Pope St Gregory the Great

Born in Syria, Ignatius converted to Christianity and eventually became bishop of Antioch. In the year 107, Emperor Trajan visited Antioch and forced the Christians there to choose between death and apostasy. Ignatius would not deny Christ and thus was condemned to be put to death in Rome.

Ignatius is well known for the seven letters he wrote on the long journey from Antioch to Rome. Five of these letters are to Churches in Asia Minor; they urge the Christians there to remain faithful to God and to obey their superiors. He warns them against heretical doctrines, providing them with the solid truths of the Christian faith.

The sixth letter was to Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who was later martyred for the faith. The final letter begs the Christians in Rome not to try to stop his martyrdom. Ignatius bravely met the lions in the Circus Maximus.

"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.   

The only thing I ask of you  is to allow me to offer the libation of my blood to God.

I am the wheat of the Lord; may I be ground by the teeth of the beasts to become the immaculate bread of Christ."~ St Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Romans

St Ignatius of Antioch

Bishop and Martyr

Church Father

First Century - d. 107

Disciple of St John the Evangelist
First to use term "Catholic" Church

Feast Day - October 17

Image- painting:  The Christian Martyrs Last Prayer - Jean Leon Gerome (+1904) 

 

"My desire is to belong to God." ~ St Ignatius of Antioch

Click here: Matthew Leonard On St. Ignatius of Antioch - YouTube (3:30 mins)

Click here: St. Ignatius of Antioch - YouTube (2 mins)

St Ignatius of Antioch, pray for us!

Bring JOY to the face of your soul...

"Since Christ Himself said in reference to the bread: "This is My Body," 
who will dare remain hesitant? And since with equal clarity

He asserted: "This is My Blood," who will dare entertain any doubt 

and say that this is not His Blood?... - St Cyril of Jerusalem

   An except from The Bread of Heaven and the Cup of Salvation, 

   St Cyril of Jerusalem, Early Church Father

"Do not, then, regard the Eucharistic elements as ordinary bread and wine:  

they are in fact that Body and Blood of the Lord, as He Himself has declared.  

Whatever your senses may tell you, be strong in faith.

You have been taught and you are firmly convinced 

that what looks and tastes like bread and wine is not bread 

and wine but the Body and Blood of Christ.  You know also how David 

referred to this long ago, when he sang:  Bread gives strength to man's heart 

and makes his face shine with the oil of gladness.  

Strengthen your heart, then, by receiving this bread as spiritual bread, and bring joy to the face of your soul. May purity of 

conscience remove the veil from the face of your soul so that by contemplating 

the glory of the Lord, as in a mirror, you may transformed from glory to glory 

in Christ Jesus our Lord.  To Him be glory for ever and ever.  Amen."

St Cyril of Jerusalem
313-386

Bishop of Jerusalem

Scripture scholar, Catechist par excellence
Doctor of the Church, Early Church Father

Feast Day - March 18

 

St Cyril admonished catechumens surrounded by heresy:

 "Make your fold with the sheep;

flee from the wolves:

depart not from the Church."

Click here: St. Cyril of Jerusalem - YouTube (2 mins)

St Cyril of Jerusalem, pray for us!