Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop, Martyr October 17. Readers warning: Not for the timid
"Let me become the food of the beasts, through whom it will be given me to reach God".St. Ignatios of Antioch, Bishop, 1-2nd Century, Epistula ad Romanos
"I beg you, do not do me an untimely kindness. Allow me to be eaten by the beasts, which is my way of racing to God. I am God's wheat, and I am to be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, so that I may become the pure bread of Christ".
St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to Romans, 2nd Century
"Neither the pleasures of the world nor the kingdoms of this age will be of any use for me. It is better for me to die to Christ Jesus than to reign over the ends of the earth...my birth is approaching."
St. Ignatios of Antioch, Bishop, 1-2nd Century, Epistula ad Romanos
"Let me receive pure light; when I shall have arrived there, then I shall be a man".
St. Ignatios of Antioch on martyrdom, Bishop, 1-2nd Century, Epistula ad Romanos
"You are firmly convinced about our Lord, who is truly of the race of David according to the flesh, Son of God according to the will and power of God, truly born of a virgin..."
St. Ignatios of Antioch, Bishop, 1-2nd Century, Epistula ad Smyrnaeos
"It is monstrous to talk of Jesus Christ and to practise Judaism. For the Christian faith does not look to Judaism, but Judaism looks to Christianity, in which everyone who believes in God has been brought together."
St. Ignatius of Antioch, Magnesium Letter
"The Church of Rome presides in charity."
Saint Ignatius of Antioch, 1st-2nd Century, Epistula ad Romanos
"Toil together, wrestle together, run together, suffer together, rest together, since you are stewards in God's house, members of His household and His servant".
St. Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to Polycarp, 2nd Century
"Let all follow the bishop, as Jesus Christ follows His Father, and the college of presbyters as the apostles; respect the deacons as you do God's law. Let no one do anything concerning the Church in separation from the Bishop".
St. Ignatios of Antioch, Bishop, 1-2nd Century, Epistula ad Smyrnaeos
"Let only that Eucharist be regarded as legitimate, which is celebrated under the bishop or him to whom he has entrusted."
St. Ignatios of Antioch, Bishop, 1-2nd Century, Epistula ad Smyrnaeos
"Where there is Christ Jesus, there is the Catholic Church."
St. Ignatios of Antioch, Bishop, 1-2nd Century, Epistula ad Smyrnaeos
"The bishop is like the living image of the Father".
St. Ignatios of Antioch, Bishop, 1-2nd Century, Epistula ad Trallianos