When we think of the saints in the early Church, most of them were martyrs during the time of persecution. St Ignatius of Antioch became a bishop in the Syrian city of Antioch in the middle of the first century. Tradition passes down that St Ignatius was good friends with St John the Evangelist. Ignatius was very loved by his flock. He made a great effort to defend the faith from a lot attacks and heresies. Under the Roman emperor Trajan, he was condemned to death for failing to denounce his faith. On his journey to Rome, while traveling through Greece and Turkey, he wrote pastoral letters to the faithful to encourage them, giving us an important glimpse into the reality of the Early Church. St Ignatius is quoted as saying: “It is not that I want merely to be called a Christian, but to actually be one. Yes, if I prove to be one, then I can have the name (Christian).”
The refrain from our psalm states today: “I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.” We all faces challenges and obstacles on our journey through life. We all have our crosses to carry, both big and small. The martyrs for the faith like St Ignatius of Antioch were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, willing to give up their lives in order to stand up for the faith. The joy they have in their faith allows them to this. They are a great example for us, encouraging us to live out our faith with joy, zeal, and conviction.
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