Read entire reflection online >>> October 17: Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr—Memorial Early- to Mid-First Century–c. 107 Patron Saint of the Church in Northern Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean Invoked against throat diseases Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote: I am writing to all the churches to let it be known that I will gladly die for God if only you do not stand in my way. I plead with you: show me no untimely kindness. Let me be food for the wild beasts, for they are my way to God. I am God’s wheat and bread. Pray to Christ for me that the animals will be the means of making me a sacrificial victim for God. 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. ~Saint Ignatius, letter to the Romans Prayer: Saint Ignatius of Antioch, you were highly blessed to be part of the earliest days of the Church. You were touched by Christ, made the radical commitment to follow Him, served as a bishop, and died courageously and joyfully as a martyr. Please pray for me, that I will discover what you discovered and believe what you believed, so that I will also long for nothing other than to be in the service of God’s will, sacrificially laying my life down. Saint Ignatius of Antioch, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: mycatholic.life Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed. Public domain, via Wikimedia