Who was this man whose martyrdom became the example for all Christians? Who was this man whose life we here at Tarpon Springs honor and whose intercession we pray for?

Ignatius was a Syrian by birth who became attracted to the first generation of Christians. Some authors believe that he may have been a disciple of St. John the Evangelist He certainly was friends with St. Polycarp, one of St. John's closest followers. Tradition has it that St. Peter himself made Ignatius the third bishop of Antioch, the second largest city of the entire Roman empire (only Rome was larger).

As Bishop of Antioch, Ignatius wrote seven letters that helped solidify the beliefs of our then second and third generation Church. He wrote that the Church can only preserve its unity if each member of the Church fulfill his or her role as a Christian in the world while recognizing that their bishop and priests represent Christ and his apostles. Of all the Churches, Ignatius emphasized the pre-eminence of Rome' for it was in Rome that Peter was executed.

Ignatius wrote that in Christ we see a unity of opposites. Christ is flesh and spirit, of Mary and of God, a subject of suffering and yet incapable of suffering. Through Christ God's life, the life of grace has come into the world. The prophets and patriarchs of the Old Testament received portions of this grace to prepare for his coming. We ourselves can receive this grace and, like the prophets, become Instruments of God. Our main means of receiving this grace Is through the Eucharist, which Ignatius calls the medicine of immortality and defines as the real presence of Christ.

By 98 A.D. when Ignatius was arrested in Antioch during the persecution of Trojan, he was known throughout the Christian world. Wherever the ship carrying him to Rome touched port he was greeted by hundreds of Christians. He literally had to beg wealthy Christians not to use their political connections to prevent his martyrdom. Within Thirty years from his death he was venerated as a saint by the universal Church.

Today St. Ignatius of Antioch is remembered in the listing of the saints in the First Eucharistic Prayer. He is remembered on his feast day of October 17th which is celebrated by the universal Church. And he is remembered by the people of the northern most parish of Pinellas County, Florida who have built a beautiful Church to honor the saint who pleaded with his friends to allow him to become the pure bread of Christ.
 

Spirituality You Can Live With: 30 Days to a Stronger Faith

Lent is just around the corner.  What are you going to do this year?

Instead of giving something up, consider giving a kick-start to your spiritual life!

• ·         Wondering if you can still be spiritual as you deal with life’      daily grind?
• ·         Are you nearer to God now than you were a few years ago?....Read more...