He was the second bishop of Antioch after St Peter (the first being Evodius). He was arrested (some writers believe that he must have been denounced by a fellow-Christian), condemned to death, and transported to Rome to be thrown to the wild beasts in the arena. In one of his letters he describes the soldiers who were escorting him as being like “ten leopards, who when they are kindly treated only behave worse.”
In the course of his journey he wrote seven letters to various churches, in which he dealt wisely and deeply with Christ, the organisation of the Church, and the Christian life. They are important documents for the early history of the Church, and they also reveal a deeply holy man who accepts his fate and begs the Christians in Rome not to try to deprive him of the crown of martyrdom.
He was martyred in 107 and his feast was already being celebrated on this day in fourth-century Antioch.
Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, qui sanctórum mártyrum confessiónibus Ecclésiæ tuæ sacrum corpus exórnas, concéde, quæsumus, ut hodiérna glória passiónis, sicut beáto Ignátio magnificéntiam tríbuit sempitérnam, ita nobis perpétuum munímen operétur. Per Dóminum.
Almighty, ever-living God,
the sufferings of the martyrs adorn the Church,
which is the Body of Christ.
As we celebrate the martyrdom of Saint Ignatius of Antioch,
grant that it may be for us a constant source of strength,
as it was for him the entry into glory.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Almachtige eeuwige God, door het getuigenis van de martelaren geeft Gij aanzien aan uw kerk. Wij vragen dat de herdenking van de dood en de verheerlijking waarin de heilige Ignatius de ware grootheid heeft gevonden, ook ons sterkte en bescherming geeft. Door onze Heer Jezus Christus, uw Zoon, die met U leeft en heerst in de eenheid van de heilige Geest, God, door de eeuwen der eeuwen.
Amen.
