Here my brothers and sisters is Saint Ignatius of Antioch. He lived an extraordinary Christian Life back in the 1st Century, and a little bit into the second century. He was born in 35 AD, so five years after Christ rose and ascended into heaven. He died around the years 108-110 AD. In his life, he was a student and disciple of the Apostles Saint John and Saint Paul, meaning that he learned directly from the Apostles who knew Jesus our Lord. He was very Holy and was filled with Wisdom from God. He eventually succeeded Saint Peter as Bishop of Antioch, which was a very important city for Christians. He continued to serve as a faithful and good shepherd for the Lord's people, while also remaining faithful and holy for the Lord, Jesus Christ. Eventually however, under Emperor Trajan, because Saint Ignatius of Antioch did not renounce his faith in Christ, he was sentenced to death by being devoured by lions in Rome. Saint Ignatius of Antioch knew Christ, he had God's Love, and his faith enabled him to really become intimate with God, and when given the choice to disown Christ, he did not disown Christ, but he professed faith in him. "Whoever confesses me before men, I will confess before my Father and his angels. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown before my Father and all his angels." "For what good is it when someone gains the whole world, but loses his own soul?" Saint Ignatius of Antioch therefore, holding onto his faith, truly became Holy to God, truly and fully became alive to God, and truly became Christ-like, imitating Jesus even unto the point of death. Because of his shameless faith in God, he received Life Eternal.

But that's not all that he did. During his trip to Rome after his arrest, he wrote seven letters that reflected a rich and living Christian Life, on many topics, such as the Virginity of Mary, The Authority of Bishops, The Church, Heresies, The Eucharist, the Nature of Christ, and many rich topics on Christianity. He was the first to use the term "Catholic" in his letters, and often used the word Christianity in his letters. He wrote six letters to various Churches, and one to his friend, Bishop Polycarp, who also was a disciple and student of Saint John. 

In his letters, Saint Ignatius of Antioch talked a lot about The Church, and the importance of unity in the Church. He taught that we should do everything in accordance with the local Bishop. The Bishop has authority, because he has been appointed a shepherd by The Good Shepherd to lead his flock closer to himself. The Bishop is to be Christ-Like, always living under the eyes of God, and always living in accordance with how Jesus Christ, the Holiest of Holies, lived. The Bishop in a sense is an Icon of Christ. "Whosoever therefore comes not to the congregation, he does thereby show his pride and has separated himself; for it is written, God resists the proud. Let us therefore be careful not to resist the bishop, that by our submission we may give ourselves to God." So, in our own Christian lives, we also should do everything with the consent and guidance of the Bishop in our own Churches and Dioceses, for when Bishops truly live after Christ, they are living Icons of Jesus Christ. Take Holy Marriage for example. Saint Ignatius writes this: "If anyone is able to abide in chastity to the honor of the flesh of the Lord, let him so abide without boasting. If he boast, he is lost; and if it be known beyond the bishop, he is polluted. It becomes men and women too, when they marry, to unite themselves with the consent of the bishop, that the marriage may be after the Lord and not after concupiscence. Let all things be done to the honor of God." It is therefore very good for us to always seek the consent of the Bishop, for indeed when we do, we live richer lives in Christ. And the Bishop who lives after Christ will not lead his flock astray, but will lead his flock closer to God.

Saint Ignatius of Antioch also talked about the harmony of the Church, the Body of Christ. He affirmed the Apostolic Teaching on the four offices of the Church: Laity, Deacon, Priest (Presbyter), and Bishop. He emphasized that we, the Body of Christ, we are to suffer together, rejoice together, and live together in union and communion with one another, just as the entire Church is in union and communion with God. We support one another, we uplift one another, we help each other to grow in Christ. Schism is not tolerated and is sin. Divisions within the Body of Christ profit nothing. But when the Church is in harmony with one another, when the Church is steadfast in her faith and devotion to her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, then everyone lives richer, fuller Christian lives. The Church, established by Christ our Lord, is where we grow the most in Christ.

Saint Ignatius also affirmed the two natures of Jesus Christ, saying that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. Not half God and half man, not fully man with a divine appearance, not fully divine with a human appearance, not like God and like human. No, he teaches that Jesus Christ is 100% God and 100% man. This is important because when we know who Jesus Christ really is, we can partake of his Holiness all the more, and so grow more Holy and loving to God, which is the goal of life.

Saint Ignatius also affirms the Virginity of the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary was truly a Virgin when she gave birth to God the Word, Jesus Christ. He also affirms the importance of Holy Baptism, and the importance of getting Baptized. Baptism is our shield against the attacks of the devil, for when we are Baptized, we become united to Jesus Christ and are regenerated into a new creation in Jesus Christ. Saint Ignatius also teaches the importance of the Holy Eucharist and also emphasizes that we come together often to partake of the Holy Eucharist. For when we come together often to give thanksgiving to God in the Holy Eucharist, the powers of the devil are overthrown in us, and we become more Christ-like. This is a paraphrase of what Saint Ignatius taught. He also taught that the Eucharist is truly Christ's body, and truly Christ's blood. Knowing this then, we can come to know God more intimately, and to become Lovers of God, and so become even more richer in our faith, storing up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

Saint Ignatius was not a big fan of heresy, but warned a lot about the dangers of heresy. Heresies are incompatible beliefs with Christianity. He was not very fond of the Judaizing heresy, which stated that you must be Jewish and act Jewish in order to be Christian. But you don't have to, because we are no longer under the Old Covenant which was the Mosaic Law, but under the New Covenant under the Grace of Christ, for under the new Covenant we are given the Holy Spirit and the Grace to live in a truly Christ-like Way, and so become truly Holy to God under the New Covenant, something the Old Covenant could not do. Saint Ignatius described the people spreading heresies like wolves, and he warned the people of God to shun divisions and evil doctrines, for the people of God are children of the light, and we are called to know "where the shepherd is, [and then] there follow you as sheep." Therefore as Christians today, we are also called to shun divisions and get rid of heresies and evil doctrines, but to stay close and faithful with true doctrine and maintain true Peace and Unity from Christ our Lord.

Saint Ignatius also taught how the Christian life should look like. This is seen mostly in his greetings to the various Churches he wrote to. He praised each Church that he wrote to for being imitators of God. In one sentence, Saint Ignatius of Antioch knew and taught that if you want to be a real Christian, you must imitate God. He also taught the importance of not just being called a Christian, but also really and truly living out the Christian life. Paraphrase: 'For it is fitting for us not just to be called Christians, but to also live as authentic Christianity, so that we will be pleasing to God.' So then this teaching also applies to us my friends in Christ: if we want to really be authentic and real Christians, we will have to look at the life of Jesus Christ, and of course the Apostles and the Saints who also imitated Christ and imitate them all in their Saintly lives. We will find ourselves living richer and fuller Christian lives, more in communion with the Truth that comes from God, and more in union with Jesus Christ.

These are among the main things that Saint Ignatius of Antioch taught. Now, this is not an exhaustive list of every doctrine and teaching that he taught about. It is always best to just go and read it yourself. Here's the link for getting his seven letters so you can read it yourself. Reading it yourself is always very good, because something in this article could have been left out that really can apply to you. But if you are in ever in need of knowing what the Apostolic Father taught, this is a good place for knowing what he taught, and getting a refresher of what he taught.

So why is knowing the teachings of Saint Ignatius of Antioch important to us today? Well, we have come to know, my friends in Christ, that God wants us to he Holy for him, for he himself in the Scriptures say, "Be Holy, for I am Holy," and he wants us to partake of his holiness, to partake of his divine nature, and to become intimately united to God through our Faith, Hope, and Love for God. This is the goal of life, that we know and partake in God's love and life for eternity. It's truly good and wonderful, so why not have it? And the writings of Saint Ignatius of Antioch are great teachings from one of the earliest Christians to learn from and to apply in our lives, so that we can live richer and fuller Christian lives for God, and we can come to be more in union with God, The Lover of Mankind.

As always, my brothers and sisters, have a blessed day from God, in God, and with God. May the Peace of the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Communion with the Holy Spirit be with you all and always forever and ever. Amen.