![[Saint Ignatius of Antioch]](sainti05.jpg "jpg illustration of the martyrdom of Saint Ignatius of Antioch; taken from 'Pictorial Lives of the Saints', 1892, artist unknown; please do not write to ask about the image")
God-Bearer Theophoros
17 October formerly 1 February
against throat diseases Church in eastern Mediterranean Church in North Africa
bishop surrounded by lions chains lions
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate Catholic Hack: Epistles of Saint Igatius - audio Golden Legend, by Jacobus de Voragine Google Directory Lives of Illustrious Men, by Saint Jerome New Catholic Dictionary Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson
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. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire.
The prince of this world is determined to lay hold of me and to undermine my will which is intent on God. Let none of you here help him; instead show yourselves on my side, which is also God's side. Believe instead what I am now writing to you. For though I am alive as I write to you, still my real desire is to die. My love of this life has been crucified, and there is no yearning in my for any earthly thing. Rather within me is the living water which says deep inside me: "Come to the Father." I no longer take pleasure in perishable food or in the delights of this world I want only God's bread, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, formed from the seed of David, and for drink I crave his blood, which is love that cannot perish.
Pray for me that I may obtain my desire. I have not written to you as a mere man would, but as one who knows the mind of God.
from a letter to the Romans from Saint Ignatius of Antioch