St Ignatius of Antioch - statement before his death

St Ignatius of Antioch died in around the year 104. He lived far before the Catholic church was defined after the great schism in 1054.

Christianity, " he wrote, lies in achieving greatness in the face of a world's hatred . For my part, I am writing to all the churches and assuring them that I am truly in earnest about dying for God - if only you yourselves put no obstacles in the way. I must implore you to do me no such untimely kindness; pray leave me to be a meal for the beasts, for it is they who can provide my way to God. I am his wheat, ground fine by the lions' teeth to be made purest bread for Christ

longings have been crucified; in me there is left no spark of desire for mundane things, but only a murmur of living water that whispers within me, Come to the Father . " 16 Ignatius embraced death, but not because he despised life. He embraced it because he recognized the existence, even while living in this age, of a life more abundant than that of this age

(He was owned by God)

Curious that while in a Roman prison he would say this to his church, “…if only you yourselves put no obstacles in the way.” Which only adds to my speculation that it was his local church itself that had turned him over to authorities, likely on false charges. The tone and content of this passage read a bit like a jab to me. He’s basically saying, “I win because I get to go be with God soon” and he likely got the final word in.

Just how I see it anyway.

Look at what confidence he had. He knew where he was going.

He is a another hero for me! An example to be followed.

For me even speaking up for Him is painful sometimes. I do even though its embarassing. I guess it is painful because I know the hearers won't accept it and usually alone in that opinion (for example that we should be Holy, we should have a clear conscience, ...).

I was told in a men's church meeting, 'Oh having a clear conscience is a Catholic idea!' No its a Biblical idea.

St Ignatius of Antioch died in around the year 104. He lived far before the Catholic church was defined after the great schism in 1054.

Christianity, " he wrote, lies in achieving greatness in the face of a world's hatred . For my part, I am writing to all the churches and assuring them that I am truly in earnest about dying for God - if only you yourselves put no obstacles in the way. I must implore you to do me no such untimely kindness; pray leave me to be a meal for the beasts, for it is they who can provide my way to God. I am his wheat, ground fine by the lions' teeth to be made purest bread for Christ

longings have been crucified; in me there is left no spark of desire for mundane things, but only a murmur of living water that whispers within me, Come to the Father . " 16 Ignatius embraced death, but not because he despised life. He embraced it because he recognized the existence, even while living in this age, of a life more abundant than that of this age

(He was owned by God)

St Ignatius of Antioch died in around the year 104. He lived far before the Catholic church was defined after the great schism in 1054.

Christianity, " he wrote, lies in achieving greatness in the face of a world's hatred . For my part, I am writing to all the churches and assuring them that I am truly in earnest about dying for God - if only you yourselves put no obstacles in the way. I must implore you to do me no such untimely kindness; pray leave me to be a meal for the beasts, for it is they who can provide my way to God. I am his wheat, ground fine by the lions' teeth to be made purest bread for Christ

longings have been crucified; in me there is left no spark of desire for mundane things, but only a murmur of living water that whispers within me, Come to the Father . " 16 Ignatius embraced death, but not because he despised life. He embraced it because he recognized the existence, even while living in this age, of a life more abundant than that of this age

(He was owned by God)