Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

Brief Background: 

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, also known as Ignatius Theophorus, was the third bishop of Antioch, following Saint Peter and Evodius. Born around the year 35 AD, he was a disciple of the Apostle John and became one of the great figures of the early Church, known as one of the Apostolic Fathers. During the reign of Emperor Trajan, Ignatius was arrested for his faith and sent from Antioch to Rome to face execution. Along the way, he wrote seven powerful letters to various Christian communities, including the Ephesians, Magnesians, and Romans. In these letters, he urged unity among believers, emphasizing obedience to the bishop, priests, and deacons, the centrality of the Eucharist as the true Body and Blood of Christ, and the importance of steadfast faith even unto martyrdom. When he reached Rome around 107 AD, Ignatius was martyred, likely by being thrown to wild beasts in the Colosseum. His courage and devotion inspired generations of Christians to remain faithful in times of persecution. He is recognized as the patron saint of the Church in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Diocese of Antioch, church unity, and those facing persecution or martyrdom.

REFLECTION: 

I have a 5-year-old nephew who, a few weeks before his birthday, kept saying that he wanted toys for his birthday. Even when his parents said “no,” he didn’t give up. Day after day, he stood firm in what he wanted, and on his birthday, he finally got the toys he had hoped for. His persistence made me think of how faith sometimes requires that same kind of childlike determination—to hold on, even when it seems unlikely.

In Luke 12:1–7, Jesus tells His disciples not to be afraid, to stay true, and to trust that God sees their faithfulness. He reminds them that every hair on their head is counted and that they are precious in God’s eyes.

St. Ignatius of Antioch lived this truth. As he was led to his martyrdom, he showed no fear, only trust in the Lord who valued his soul above his suffering. His teaching on Church unity reminds us that we remain strong when we are one in Christ—rooted in the bishop’s leadership, bound by the Eucharist, and united in love.

To his friend St. Polycarp, Ignatius wrote, “Stand firm as does an anvil that is hammered. It is the part of a noble athlete to be beaten and yet to conquer.”



Like my nephew who held fast to his desire, Ignatius held fast to his faith—but with far greater courage. He stood firm under the blows of persecution, unshaken because his heart was anchored in Christ. In our world today, where faith is often tested, St. Ignatius calls us to that same perseverance: to stand firm in truth, united in love, and unafraid to live as one body in Christ.