Ignatius of Antioch

Today the Church remembers Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and martyr. This extract from his letter to the Romans, written as he was being taken to Rome to face martyrdom shows his single-minded devotion to his Lord.

"No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire. The time for my birth is close at hand. Forgive me, my brothers. Do not stand in the way of my birth to real life; do not wish me stillborn. My desire is to belong to God. Do not, then, hand me back to the world. Do not try to tempt me with material things. Let me attain pure light. Only on my arrival there can I be fully a human being. Give me the privilege of imitating the passion of my God. If you have him in your heart, you will understand what I wish. You will sympathize with me because you will know what urges me on.

The prince of this world is determined to lay hold of me and to undermine my will which is intent on God. Let none of you here help him; instead show yourselves on my side, which is also God’s side. Do not talk about Jesus Christ as long as you love this world. Do not harbor envious thoughts. And supposing I should see you, if then I should beg you to intervene on my behalf, do not believe what I say. Believe instead what I am now writing to you. For though I am alive as I write to you, still my real desire is to die. My love of this life has been crucified, and there is no yearning in me for any earthly thing. Rather within me is the living water which says deep inside me: “Come to the Father.” I no longer take pleasure in perishable food or in the delights of this world. I want only God’s bread, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, formed of the seed of David, and for drink I crave his blood, which is love that cannot perish."

A Martyr's Prayer.

Nearer to Thee, oh God, nearer to Thee I do come; ever closer to Thee I do come.
When in all things I do fail; and suffering and the agony of pain do beset me; I will find comfort by drawing nearer to Thee, oh God.

When the oppressors of the world do gather around me and divide my worldly possessions among themselves, yea even if my life they do seek to take; I will find comfort by drawing nearer to Thee, oh God, nearer to Thee.

If I be cast down and trodden under the feet of men and there be no one to help me; I will find comfort by drawing nearer to Thee, oh God; nearer to Thee.

When all hope is gone and all my aspirations are dashed to pieces and my future seems bleak; I will find comfort by drawing nearer to Thee, oh God, nearer to Thee. Amen!

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me." Galatians 2:20