October 17 is the feast day of St. Ignatius of Antioch, an early second-century martyr of the Church. As one of the Apostolic Fathers, and a disciple of St. John the Apostle, he provides an invaluable view into the nature of the early Church. Ignatius was the third Bishop of Antioch, and as Theodoret tells us, he was appointed to this see by the Apostle Peter.
En route to Rome to be fed to the lions, he penned six letters to the churches in his region, as well as a letter to St. Polycarp. Cardinal Newman writes that "the whole system of Catholic doctrine may be discovered, at least in outline, not to say in parts filled up, in the course of his seven epistles." His Letter to the Smyrnaeans is the oldest extant document that we know of to use the word Catholic to describe the Church. Beyond this, his letters contain many beautiful teachings of the Church, such as expositions on the Eucharist and the importance of bishops. He also writes on the unity and hiearchical nature of the Church, as well as exposing the errors of the Docetists, who denied Christ's humanity.
Remarkably, he instructed his readers to not interfere with his impending martyrdom:
Allow me to become food for the wild beasts, through whose instrumentality it will be granted me to attain to God. I am the wheat of God, and let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ.His writings on the Eucharist show that he clearly believed in the Real Presence:
[Letter to the Romans, Chapter 4]
They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our savior Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father, of His goodness, raised up again.He also referred to the Eucharist as "the medicine of immortality" in Chapter 7 of his Letter to the Ephesians. Furthermore, he instucts us that bishops are stewards of the Eucharist:
[Letter to the Smyrnaeans, Chapter 7]
Let that be deemed a proper Eucharst, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it.
[Letter to the Smyrnaeans, Chapter 8]
Indeed, Ignatius speaks clearly on the role of deacons, priests, and bishops.
For, since you are subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, you appear to me to live not after the manner of men, but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us, in order, by believing in His death, you may escape from death. It is therefore necessary that, as you indeed do, so without the bishop you should do nothing, but should also be subject to the presbytery, as to the apostle of Jesus Christ, who is our hope, in whom, if we live, we shall [at last] be found. It is fitting also that the deacons, as being [the ministers] of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, should in every respect be pleasing to all. For they are not ministers of meat and drink, but servants of the Church of God.[Letter to the Trallians, Chapter 2]
St. Ignatius, pray for us.
Links to his letters:
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