Ignatius of Antioch

"As for me, my spirit is now all humble devotion to the Cross: the Cross which so greatly offends the unbelievers, but is salvation and eternal life to us." - St. Ignatius, *To the Ephesians* par. 18

Today we remember and give glory to God for St. Ignatius of Antioch.

Ignatius was the bishop of Antioch in Syria at the beginning of the second century A.D. and an early Christian martyr. Near the end of the reign of the Roman emperor Trajan (98-117), Ignatius was arrested, taken in chains to Rome, and eventually thrown to the wild beasts in the arena. On the way to Rome, he wrote letters to the Christians at Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, Rome, Philadelphia, and Smyrna, and also to Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna. In the letters, which are beautifully pastoral in tone, Ignatius warned against certain heresies (false teachings). He also repeatedly stressed the full humanity and deity of Christ, the reality of Christ's bodily presence in the Lord's Supper, the supreme authority of the bishop, and the unity of the Church found in her bishops. Ignatius was the first to use the word catholic to describe the universality of the Church. His Christ-centeredness, his courage in the face of martyrdom, and his zeal for the truth over against false doctrine are a lasting legacy to the Church. (LCMS Website)

I always think of St. Ignatius when singing "Rise Again, Ye Lion-hearted," a hymn that sadly did not make it into LSB. You can find it at TLH #469:

Rise again, ye lion-hearted Saints of early Christendom.
Whither is your strength departed, whither gone your martyrdom?
Lo, love's light is on them, Glory's flame upon them,
And their will to die doth quell E'en the lord and prince of hell.

These the men by fear unshaken, Facing danger dauntlessly;
These no witching lust hath taken, Lust that lures to vanity.
Mid the roar and rattle Of tumultuous battle
In desire they soar above All that earth would have them love.

Great of heart, they know no turning, Honor, gold, they lauygh to scorn,
Quench desires within them burning, By no earthly passion torn.
Mid the lion's roaring Songs of praise outpouring,
Joyously they take their stand On th' arena's bloody sand.

Would to God that I might even As the martyred saints of old,
With the helping hand of Heaven, Steadfast stand in battle bold!
O my God, I pray Thee, In the combat stay me.
Grant that I may ever be Loyal, staunch and true to thee. Amen.