St. Ignatius

Saint Ignatius of Antioch

Bishop & Martyr

Ignatius, known also as Ignatius Theophorus or “Ignatius the God-Bearing”, converted to Christianity at a young age. Like his friend St. Polycarp, Ignatius was a disciple of St. John the Evangelist, and St. Peter himself made Ignatius the third Bishop of Antioch, succeeding St. Evodius. Ignatius zealously served his flock for several decades until the persecution under Emperor Trajan, who was present in Antioch when Ignatius was accused. The holy bishop bore witness to the true faith before the Emperor himself, who ordered Ignatius to be taken to Rome and thrown to the beasts. Ignatius, filled with joy to die for Christ, wrote several invaluable epistles on the way to Rome, especially during an extended halt in Smyrna where St. Polycarp was bishop. In one letter is the first known use of the term “the Catholic Church”, and in another letter Ignatius stated: “I am the wheat of God, and I am to be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ.” The holy bishop met this glorious fate in the Flavian amphitheater, or Colosseum, around the year of Our Lord 107. He is celebrated in the modern calendar and in Antioch on October 17th, and is mentioned in the Canon of the Mass.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for February 1st

THE birthday of St. Ignatius, bishop and martyr, who governed the church of Antioch, the third after the apostle St. Peter. Being condemned to the beasts in the persecution of Trajan, he was by that emperor sent to Rome in chains, where in the presence of the Senate he was subjected to the most frightful torments, and delivered to the lions, which lacerated him with their teeth, and made of him a sacrifice to Christ.

At Smyrna, St. Pionius, priest and martyr. After writing in defense of the Catholic faith, after suffering imprisonment in a loathsome dungeon, where by his exhortations he encouraged even to martyrdom many of his brethren, after enduring excruciating pains from being pierced with nails and laid on a hot fire, he ended his life happily for Christ. With him suffered fifteen others.

At Ravenna, the holy bishop Severus, whose great virtues deserved that he should be raised to the episcopate by the sign of a dove.

At Trois-Chateaux, in France, St. Paul, bishop, whose life was eminent for virtues, and whose death was made precious by miracles.

The same day, St. Ephrem, deacon of the church of Edessa, in the time of the emperor Valens. After suffering many trials for the faith of Christ and gaining great renown for holiness and learning, he went to rest in the Lord.

In Ireland, St. Bridget, virgin. One day, at her touch, the wood of an altar immediately sprouted into life, in testimony of her virginity.

At Castel-Florentino, in Tuscany, the blessed virgin Verdiana, a recluse of the Order of Vallumbrosa.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.