October 17
St Ignatius of Antioch
Saturday, week 28 in Ordinary Time — Year II
St Ignatius of Antioch is one of the earliest and most revered Church Fathers, serving as the third bishop of Antioch, a major center of early Christianity. He lived toward the end of the first century, likely having known the apostles or their direct disciples, and he shepherded his flock during a time of political tension and persecution. Arrested for his Christian faith under Roman rule, Ignatius was sent from Syria to Rome to face martyrdom, all the while writing a series of influential letters to various Christian communities. These letters, rich in both pastoral wisdom and theological insight, strongly emphasize the unity of the Church, the importance of the Eucharist, and the authority of bishops as successors to the apostles. Tradition holds that Ignatius was martyred in Rome, thrown to wild beasts in the arena, around the beginning of the second century. His writings had an immense influence on later Christian theology, particularly concerning Church structure and martyrdom as a witness to Christ. The Church honors St Ignatius of Antioch for his courageous witness, his pastoral care, and his contributions to the faith during its foundation. His memorial draws Christians to contemplate the cost of discipleship and the unbroken continuity of the faith.
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The liturgical day
Mass readings
ReadingEp 1, 15-23
Brothers and sisters,
having heard of the faith you have in the Lord Jesus,
and of your love for all the faithful,
I never stop giving thanks,
when I remember you in my prayers:
may the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father in his glory,
give you a spirit of wisdom
that reveals him to you and makes you truly know him.
May he open the eyes of your heart to his light,
so that you may know what hope his call opens for you,
the priceless glory of the inheritance you share with the faithful,
and what incomparable power
he deploys for us believers:
it is the energy, the strength, the vigor
that he put to work in Christ
when he raised him from the dead
and seated him at his right hand in the heavens.
He established him above every heavenly being:
Principality, Sovereignty, Power, and Dominion,
above every name that can be named,
not only in this present world
but also in the world to come.
He placed everything under his feet
and, placing him above all,
made him the head of the Church, which is his body,
and the Church is the full accomplishment of Christ,
he whom God fills completely with his fullness.
– The word of the Lord.
PsalmPs 8, 2-3a, 4-5, 6-7
O Lord, our God,
how great is your name through all the earth!
Up to the heavens, your splendor is sung
by the mouths of children, little ones.
As I see your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man, that you care for him?
You have made him little less than a god,
crowning him with glory and honor;
you have given him rule over the works of your hands,
you have put everything under his feet.
GospelLc 12, 8-12
At that time,
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I tell you this:
Whoever declares himself for me before people,
the Son of Man will also declare himself for him
before the angels of God.
But whoever denies me in front of people
will be denied in turn in front of the angels of God.
Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man,
it will be forgiven him;
but if anyone blasphemes against the Holy Spirit,
it will not be forgiven.
When you are brought before the synagogues,
the rulers and the authorities,
do not worry
about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that hour
what you should say."
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org