Early second-century bishop of Antioch who wrote letters to the churches on his way to martyrdom in Rome.
Life
Saint Ignatius of Antioch was bishop of Antioch in Syria in the late first and early second centuries. Little is known of his life, but under Emperor Trajan he was arrested and taken to Rome to be thrown to the wild beasts.
On the way to Rome he wrote seven letters to various churches, precious witnesses to the faith of the early Church. He stressed the unity of the Church around its bishop and the Eucharist, and he is the first known writer to use the phrase the Catholic Church. He begged the Christians of Rome not to prevent his martyrdom, writing that he was God's wheat, to be ground by the teeth of beasts so as to become the pure bread of Christ.
He was martyred in Rome around 107. The Church remembers him on October 17.
Spirituality
The spirituality of Ignatius of Antioch is a longing to be united with Christ. Rather than fearing death, he embraced it as the way to reach Christ. He also treasured above all the Church being of one heart around the Eucharist and the bishop.
Reflection
Ignatius called the Eucharist the medicine of immortality. When you receive Communion at your next Mass, would you reflect anew on this mystery of becoming one with Christ?