(09) Ignatius of Antioch

Saint Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch

Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, was thrown to the wild beasts between 98 and 117AD. Consecrated by S. Peter himself, he undoubtedly heard the Apostles with his own ears. He is said to have been the very child that Our Lord placed in the midst saying, "Unless ye become like this child you shall not enter the Kingdom". His testimony, when Christ and the Apostles were still a living memory, is of the highest importance. Even as early as this, "the whole system of Catholic doctrine may be discovered, at least in outline, not to say in parts filled up, in the course of his epistles".

Ignatius wrote of the Catholic Church (he was the first to use this word):

“See that ye all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the institution of priests as ye would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is[administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.

I therefore, yet not I, but the love of Jesus Christ, entreat you that ye use Christian nourishment only, and abstain from herbage of a different kind; I mean heresy. For ‘they’ mix up Jesus Christ with their own poison, speaking things which are unworthy of credit, like those who administer a deadly drug in sweet wine ... leading to ... death.

Be on your guard, therefore, against such persons. [Be] not puffed up, but continue in intimate union with Jesus Christ our God, and the bishop, and the enactments of the apostles."