The Festival of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
Posted on October 17, 2025 by under
Scripture: John 12:24-26 (NKJV)
12:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”
Devotion
St. Ignatius was bishop of Antioch and was martyred during the reign of Emperor Trajan (early second century). During his transport to Rome for execution, Ignatius wrote many letters to the churches, encouraging Christians to stand firm in the Faith. He reassured them that he was glad to die, knowing from the Scriptures that those who die for the name of Christ are blessed.
The early apologist Tertullian famously wrote about the martyrs, “The oftener we are mown down by you, the more in number we grow; the blood of the Christians is seed” (Tertullian’s “Apology”, ch. 50). The Romans tried everything to destroy this “new sect” (as they saw it) called “Christianity”. But, the more they persecuted the Church, the more the Gospel spread. This demonstrates the divine nature and purpose of the Gospel; if the Gospel were from men, it would have died with men, but the weakness of men helped its proclamation to grow, fulfilling what Christ said to St. Paul: “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).
Not all Christians are called to die a martyr’s death. But all are called to serve and honor Christ so that, by comparison, they seem to hate this present life. It is better to die in Christ than to live as the unbelievers do, who are spiritually dead even while their bodies go on moving.
Collect: Almighty God, behold our weakness and the sorrows of Thy people, and as Thou didst grant the consolation of Thy Holy Spirit to St. Ignatius in his time of affliction for Thy Name’s sake, so uphold us in our generation; through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Lord, we beseech Thee, grant Thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow Thee, the only God; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
