Thought of the Day- 17 October – The Memorial of St Ignatius of Antioch (c35-c108) Father of the Church
Ignatius’s great concern was for the unity and order of the Church.
Even greater was his willingness to suffer martyrdom rather than deny his Lord Jesus Christ.
He did not draw attention to his own suffering but to the love of God which strengthened him.
He knew the price of commitment and would not deny Christ, even to save his own life.
“Ask for me this only in your prayers, that strength may be given me of the Lord that I may not be called but proved to be a Christian.
Then shall I be seen to be faithful when the world no longer sees me.
For nothing that appeareth is eternal.
For the things which are perceived are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal.
I write to the Churches and charge you all that willingly I die for Christ, if you prevent me not.
I ask of you that your love for me be not untimely; allow me to be devoured of wild beasts, through whom I may attain unto God.
I am the grain of God ground between the teeth of wild beasts,
that I may be found to be the pure bread of Christ.
Then indeed shall I be the true disciple of Christ
when the world shall no longer behold my body.
Beseech Christ on my behalf that through these means
I may be found a perfect sacrifice.
Not as Peter and Paul do I command you.
They were apostles, I am the least of them;
they were free but I am a slave even unto this day
but, if you wish, I shall be the freedman of Jesus Christ
and in Him I shall rise again and be free. Amen.”- from a letter to the Romans from Saint Ignatius of Antioch
Keep St Ignatius before your eyes always and ask him to Pray for us all, to Pray for his beloved Holy Mother, the Church!
AnaStpaul 