00:00Ignatius of Antioch was a giant of the early Church, one of the apostolic fathers, a direct witness to
00:07the faith of the apostles.
00:08He was said to have been a disciple of Saint John himself and became the third bishop of Antioch, one of the most
00:14major cities of the Roman Empire and a vibrant center of early Christianity.
00:20His life was that of a fervent pastor, guiding his community with wisdom and courage.
00:26But his fate was sealed under Emperor Trajan.
00:30Arrested for his faith, Ignatius was condemned to be thrown to the wild beasts in the arenas of Rome.
00:36This was not the end for Ignatius, but the beginning of his greatest testimony.
00:41During his long journey, in chains, from East to West, he never stopped writing.
00:47Seven incredible letters, veritable theological treasures, have come down to us.
00:52There, he urges the communities he encounters to unite around their bishop, priest, and deacon.
00:59an ecclesiastical structure which he already describes clearly.
01:02He speaks of Christ with a profound conviction of his dual nature, God and man, and of the Eucharist as
01:10Immortality medicine.
01:13Above all, Ignatius reveals his ardent desire for martyrdom.
01:17He does not want to be delivered, but to offer his life as a total gift to Christ.
01:23“I am God’s wheat, and I must be ground by the teeth of beasts to become a
01:28"pure bread for Christ," he wrote.
01:32His words resonate like a hymn to radical love for God.
01:36Upon arriving in Rome, he performed his sacrifice, being devoured by lions.
01:41What we remember about Ignatius today is his unwavering courage.
01:45his clear vision of the Church as a hierarchical unit centered around the bishop
01:50and his profound theology of the Eucharist and of Christ.
01:54His letters are precious windows into the faith of the early Church
01:58and his testimony a source of inspiration for all Christians,
02:03showing the power of faith in the face of persecution.
02:07He was a true athlete of God, having fought the good fight until the end.
