St. Ignatius of Antioch

Today we honor and remember St. Ignatius of Antioch, who was a disciple of St. John the Evangelist. John was the last of the 12 disciples of Christ. Antioch is an important city because it was in the city that the followers of Christ were first called Christians. But also the first gentile church was established in Antioch, because Christ, as St. Paul wrote, is for all, for Jews and Gentiles. Ignatius was from Syria, and he converted to the faith by St. John.

St. Ignatius wrote 7 letters to various churches, encouraging the people to be faithful to Christ. But he is remembered not just by his words, but by his sacrifice. He embraced the crown of martyrdom, in being devoured by lions in the Colosseum. 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. And he consider himself as the wheat of Christ.

The prayer over the offerings in the Roman Missal is: May this oblation and our homage be pleasing to you, O Lord, just as you accepted Saint Ignatius, the wheat of Christ, made pure bread through his martyrdom and passion.

Although there were opportunities for his escape from martyrdom in the Colosseum, but he didn't want people to stop him. He embraced the crown of martyrdom willingly. He saw himself as the wheat of Christ, to be grounded by the teeth of beasts. And just as St Ignatius was accepted as the wheat of Christ, so may our oblation be pleasing to God. In other words, may we be transformed into an offering acceptable to God as the gift of bread and wine is transformed into the Christ’s body and blood.

As we honor St Ignatius today, someone who had became food for lions, but his service and sacrifice has also been food for many followers of Jesus, if we can reflect upon this idea, how do we become food for others, through our sacrifice and service.

The Closing Prayer after Holy Communion is prayed: May the heavenly Bread we have received, O Lord, on the feast day of Saint Ignatius renew us, and make us Christians in name and in deed.