De sancto Ignatio
The Disciple and the Mother
Ignatius, the bearer of divine fire, receives counsel and encouragement from the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Ignatius is called the fire-bearer, meaning he carries the fire of divine love. Ignatius was a disciple of blessed John and Bishop of Antioch; it's said he wrote a letter to the blessed Virgin that went like this. To the Christ-bearing Mary, from her Ignatius. You should have strengthened and comforted me, a new convert and a disciple of your John, for I have heard wonderful things about your Jesus and am stunned by what I have heard; but from you, who have always been intimately connected to him and privy to his secrets, I desire from my heart to be made more certain by what I hear; may you be well, and may the new converts who are with me be strengthened by you, through you, and in you. But the blessed Virgin, Mother of God, Mary, answered him: To Ignatius, my beloved fellow-disciple, from the humble handmaid of Christ Jesus. What you've heard and learned from John about Jesus is true; believe it, hold fast to it, firmly keep your vow of Christianity, and make your character and life conform to that vow. I will come with John to visit you and those who are with you; stand firm and act courageously in the faith, so that the harshness of persecution doesn't shake you. Instead, let your spirit be strong and rejoice in God your Savior, amen.
Authority and Liturgical Legacy
Ignatius is recognized for his theological authority and his role in establishing the practice of antiphonal singing.
Blessed Ignatius held such authority that even Dionysius, a disciple of the Apostle Paul—who was himself a master of philosophy and reached such perfection in divine science—cited the words of blessed Ignatius as an authoritative confirmation of his own teachings. For when some people—as he himself attests in his book *On the Divine Names*—criticized the use of the word 'love' in divine matters, arguing that 'charity' was more appropriate than 'love,' he wanted to show that the term 'love' should be used in all divine contexts, and so he wrote: 'The divine Ignatius writes: my love has been crucified.' It is read in the Tripartite History that Ignatius heard angels standing on a mountain singing antiphons, and from that, he established that antiphons should be sung in the church, and that psalms should be intoned according to the antiphons.
The Journey to Martyrdom
Ignatius is arrested by Trajan and writes letters to the churches, expressing his fervent desire for martyrdom.
When blessed Ignatius had prayed to the Lord for a long time for the peace of the Church—fearing not for his own safety, but for the danger to the weak—he approached the Emperor Trajan, who began his reign in the year of our Lord 100. He met him as he was returning from victory and threatening death to all Christians, and he freely declared himself a Christian; Trajan had him bound in iron, handed him over to ten soldiers, and ordered him to be taken to Rome, threatening that he would be handed over there to be devoured by beasts. As he was being led to Rome, he sent letters to all the churches and strengthened them in the faith of Christ; among these, he wrote one to the Roman church, as is read in the ecclesiastical histories, asking them not to hinder his martyrdom. In it he says: 'From Syria all the way to Rome, I fight with beasts by land and sea, bound day and night to ten soldiers—leopards, as it were—who are given to guard me, and who become more savage for our kindnesses; but I am more instructed by their wickedness.' 'Oh, the saving beasts that are prepared for me! When will they come? When will they be released? When will it be permitted for them to feast upon my flesh?' 'I will invite them to my devouring, and I will beg them not to be afraid to touch my body, as they have done with some; indeed, if they hesitate, I will use force, I will throw myself upon them.' 'Grant me this favor, I pray; I know what is good for me. Fires, crosses, beasts, the scattering of bones, the tearing apart of all my limbs and my whole body, and all the tortures of the devil—let them all come upon me, provided only that I may deserve to attain Jesus Christ.'
The Trial of Faith
Ignatius stands firm before Trajan, enduring brutal tortures with unwavering devotion to Christ.
When he had arrived in Rome and been brought before Trajan, Trajan said to him, "Ignatius, why are you causing Antioch to rebel and converting my people to Christianity?" Ignatius replied, "If only I could convert you, so that you might always possess the most powerful kingdom." Trajan said, "Sacrifice to my gods, and you will be the prince of all the priests." Ignatius said, "I will not sacrifice to your gods, nor do I crave your rank; you may do whatever you wish with me, but you won't change me in the slightest." Trajan said, "Beat his shoulders with leaded whips, tear his sides with iron claws, and grind his wounds with hard stones." When they had done all this and he remained unmoved, Trajan said, "Bring live coals and make him walk on them with his bare feet." Make him walk over them. Ignatius said, "Neither burning fire nor boiling water will be able to extinguish the love of Christ Jesus within me." Trajan said to him, "These are sorceries, that you endure so much and yet do not yield." Ignatius replied, "We Christians aren't criminals; in fact, our law forbids us from living like criminals. It's you who are the criminals, because you worship idols." Trajan said, "Tear his back with iron claws and pour salt into his wounds." Ignatius said to him, "The sufferings of this present time aren't worth comparing to the glory that is to come." Trajan said: 'Take him away right now, bind him in iron chains, lock him in the deepest part of the prison, let him go without food and drink, and after three days, throw him to the beasts to be devoured.' On the third day, the emperor, the senate, and all the people gathered to see the bishop of Antioch, who was about to fight the beasts. Trajan said, "Since Ignatius is proud and stubborn, bind him and release two lions upon him, so that they leave no trace of him behind." Then Saint Ignatius said to the people standing by, "Men of Rome, you who watch this contest, I haven't labored without reward, for I suffer this not because of any wickedness, but for the sake of piety." Then he began to say (as is read in the ecclesiastical history), "I am the wheat of Christ; I am ground by the teeth of the beasts, so that I may be found pure bread." Hearing this, the emperor said, "Great is the endurance of the Christians; which of the Greeks would endure so much for his own god?"
The Wheat of Christ
Ignatius faces the lions and is martyred, leading to a change of heart in the emperor.
Ignatius replied, "I didn't endure this by my own strength, but by the help of Christ." Then Saint Ignatius began to provoke the lions so they would rush to devour him. Two fierce lions rushed forward and merely mauled him, but they didn't touch his flesh at all. Seeing this, Trajan left in great wonder, ordering that no one should be stopped if they wanted to take his body away. Because of this, the Christians took his body and buried it with honor. However, when Trajan received letters in which Pliny the Younger highly recommended the Christians—whom the emperor had ordered to be killed—he felt regret for what he had done to Ignatius, and he gave orders that no Christian should be sought out, though if anyone were caught, they were to be punished.
The Inscribed Heart
The miraculous discovery of the name of Jesus on the heart of Ignatius confirms his lifelong devotion.
It is said that blessed Ignatius never stopped calling upon the name of Jesus Christ, even while enduring all kinds of torture. When his torturers asked him why he kept repeating that name so often, he replied, "I have this name inscribed upon my heart, and that is why I can't stop calling upon it." After his death, those who had heard this, wanting to investigate further, tore his heart from his body; when they cut it open, they found his whole heart inscribed with the name 'Jesus Christ' in letters of gold. Because of this, many came to believe. Regarding this saint, Bernard says in his commentary on the Psalm 'He who dwells': "That great Ignatius, a hearer of the disciple whom Jesus loved, was himself a martyr. Our poverty has been enriched by his precious relics. In the many letters he wrote to her, he addresses Mary as 'Christ-bearer'—a truly remarkable title of dignity and a commendation of immense honor!"
Read the original Latin
Ignatius dicitur quasi ignem patiens, id est ignem patiens divini amoris, A. Ignatius fuit discipulus beati Johannis et episcopus Antiocenus: hic epistolam ad beatam virginem direxisse legitur in haec verba. Christiferae Mariae suus Ignatius. Me neophitum Johanmisque tni discipulum confortare et consolari debueras, de Jesu enim tuo percepi mira dictu et stupefactus sum ex auditu; a te autem, quae semper fuisti familiariter conjuncta, et secretorum ejus conscia, desidero ex animo fieri certior ex auditis, Valeas et neophiti, qui mecum sunt, ex te et per te et in te confortentur. Beata antem virgo, Dei genitrix Maria, in haec verba sibi respondit : Ignatio dilecto condiscipulo humilis ancilla Christi Jesu. De Jesu, quae a Johanne audiisti et didicisti, vera sunt: illa credas, illis adhaereas et christianitatis votum firmiter teneas et mores et vitam voto conformes. Veniam autem una cum Johanne te et qui teeum sunt visere, Sta et viriliter age in fide, ne te commoveat persecutionis austeritas, sed valeat et exsultet spiritus tuus in Deo salutari tuo amen,
Tantae autem auctoritatis beatus Ignatius exstitit, quod etiam Dyonisius , Pauli apostoli discipulus, qui fuit in philosophia tam summus et in divina scientia tam perfectus, verbum beati Ignatii ad confirmationem dictorum suorum tanquam pro auctoritate adduxerit. Cum enim, nt ipse in libro de divinis nominibus attestatur, quidam nomen amoris in divinis reprehenderent dicentes, in divinis non tam esse nomen amoris quam dilectionis, volens ostendere hoc nomine amoris per omnia in diviuis esse utendum, ait: scribit autem divinus Ignatius: amor meus crucifixus est,
Legitur in hystoria tripartita, quod Ignatius audivit angelos cantantes antiphonas super montem stantes, exinde statuit antiphonas cantari in ecclesia et psalmos secundum antiphonas intonari. Cum ergo beatus Ignatius diu pro pace ecclesiae dominum exorasset, non suum, sed infirmorum periculum metuens, Trajano imperatori, qui coepit anno domini C. , de vietoria redeunti et christianis omnibus mortem minanti occurrit et libere se christianum esse asseruit, quem Trajanus ferro vinctum decem militibus tradidit et Romam adduci praecepit, minans eidem, quod traderetur ibidem bestiis devorandus. Cum ergo Romam duceretur, ad ommes ecclesias epistolas destinabat et eas in fide Christi confirmabat, inter quas unam scripsit ad romanam ecclesiam , sicut legitur in hystoriis ecclesiasticis, rogans, ne suum martirium impediat. Ubi sie dicit: a Syria usque ad Romam cum bestiis terra marique depugno die ac nocte connexus et colligatus decem leopardis militibus ducor ad custodiam datis, qui ex beneficiis nostris saeviores fiunt, sed ego eorum nequitiis magis erudior. O salutares bestias, quae praeparantur mihi, quando vehient, quando emittentur, quando iis licebit carnibus meis frai? Invitabo eas ad devorationem meam et deprecabor, ne forte, ut in nonnullis fecerunt, timeant contingere corpus meum, quin immo et si cunctabuntur, ego vim faciam, ego me ingeram. Date quaeso veniam, ego novi, quid mihi expediat, ignes, cruces, bestiae, dispersiones ossium, discerpliones omnium membrorum et totius corporis et omuia paene in me unum supplicia dyaboli quaesita conflentur, dummodo Jesum Christum merear adipisci.
Cum ergo Romam venisset et ante Trajanum ductus fuisset, dixit ei Trajanus: Ignati, cur Antiochiam rebellare facis et gentem meam ad christianitatem convertis? Cui Ignatius: utinam et te possem convertere, ut semper obtineres fortissimum principatum, Cui Trajanus: sacrifica Diis meis et sacerdotum omnium princeps eris. Gui Ignatius: nec Diis tuis sacrificabo nec tuam affecto dignitatem, de me, quidquid vis, facere poteris, sed nullatenus me mutabis. Trajanus dixit: plumbatis scapulas ejus contandite et ungulis latera laniate et duris lapidibus vulnera ejus coníricate. Cumque haec omnía in eum fecissent et ipse immobilis permaneret, dixit Trajanus: carbones vivos afferte et ipsum nudis plantis. desuper ambulare facite. Cni Ignatius: nec ignis ardens nec aqua bulliens poterit in me Christi Jesu caritatem exstinguere. Cui Trajanus: maleficia sunt haec, quod tanta patiens non consentis.
Cui Ignatius: nos christiani malefici non sumus, sed in lege nostra maleficos vivere prohibemus, sed vos malefici estis, qui ydola adoratis. Tyajanus dixit: dorsum ejus ungulis laniate et plagas sale perfundite. Gwi Ignatius: non sunt condígnae passiones hujas temporis ad futuram gloriam. Trajanus dixit: jam nunc eum tollite vinculis ferreis, allizate in cippo, in imo carceris custodite, sine cibo et potu eum esse permittite et post triduum devorandum bestiis date. Tertia igitur die imperator et senatus omnisque populus convenerunt, ut viderent episcopum Antiocenum , qui erat cum bestiis pugnaturus, dixitque Trajanus: quoniam Ignatius superbus et contumax est, ipsum alligate et duos leones ad ipsum laxate, nt nec ullas reliquias ex eo relinquant. Tunc sanctus Ignatius dixit ad populum, qui adstabat: viri romani, qui hoc certamen aspicilis, non sine mercede laboravi, quia non propter pravitatem, sed propter pietatem hoc patior. Deinde coepit dicere (sicat legitur in hystoria ecclesiastica ): frumentum Ghristi sum, besliarum dentibus molar, ut panis mundus eíficiar. Hoc audiens imperator dixit: grandis est tolerantia christianorum, quis Graecorum tanta toleraret pro Deo suo?
Respondit Ignatius: non haec mea virtute, sed Christi adjutorio toleravi. Tunc sanctus Ignatius coepit leones provocare, ut ad se deyvorandum accurrerent, Aceurrentes igitur duo saevi leones ipsum tantummodo praefocaverunt, carnem tamen ejus nullatenus tetigerunt, Trajanus antem hoe videns cum nimia admiratione discessit praecipiens, ut non prohiberetur, si quis vellet tollere corpus ejus. Quapropter chrisliani corpus ejus tulerunt et ipsum honorifice sepelierunt. Cam autem Trajanus quasdam litteras recepisset, in quibus Plinius secundus christianos , quos imperator occidi jusserat, plurimum commendabat, doluit de his, quae Ignatio intulerat, et praecepit, ut nullus christianus inquireretur, si quis tamen incideret, puniretur.
Legitur autem, quod beatus Ignatius inter fot tormentorum genera nunquam ab invocatione nominis Jesu Christi cessabat. Quem cum tortores inquirerent, cur -hoc nomen toties replicaget, ait: hoc nomen cordi meo inscriptum habeo et ideo ab ejus invocatione cessare non valeo. Post mortem igitur ejus illi, quae audierant, volentes curiosius experiri, cor ejus ab ejus corpore avellunt et illud scindentes per medium totum cor ejus inscriptum hoc nomine, Jesus Christus, litteris aureis inveniunt. Unde ex hoc plurimi crediderunt. De hoc sancto sic dicit Bernardus super psalmum: Qui habitat: maguus ille Ignatius auditor discipuli, quem diligebat Jesus martir et ipse, cujus pretiosis reliquiis nostra est ditata paupertas, Mariam quidem in pluribus, quas ad eam scripsit epistolis, Christiferam consalutat: egregius plane titulus dignitatis et commendatio honoris immensi !
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