Today is the Feast of Saint Ignatius of Antioch. But why should we celebrate today's feast day? Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing now explains:
“Saint Ignatius, the bishop of Antioch in ancient Syria, wrote in a letter to the Church in Rome in the year 110AD, ‘I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the Bread of God, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David; and for drink I desire his blood, which is love incorruptible’ (Letter to the Romans 7:3).”
“Ignatius repeats these sentiments in other letters. In fact, it was on account of these beliefs, among others, that he went to his martyrdom in Rome.”
“How did Ignatius believe the body and blood of Christ was made truly present? It happened in each Holy Eucharist, instituted by Jesus Christ himself at the Last Supper along with the sacred priesthood. The Church believed this in the 1st century. The Church believes this in the 21st century.”
“Hence, when a priest offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in your local parish it is no longer bread and wine that are present on the altar. Nor is it ‘blessed bread and wine’ nor, even, ‘super-blessed bread and wine’. No. It is nothing short of the body, blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Saint Ignatius of Antioch, pray for us!
* First published May 27, 2022