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Gospel: John 12: 24-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Saint Ignatius of Antioch, whose feast day we celebrate today, was born two years after the death and resurrection of Christ. He lived during a period of both intense growth and persecution of the Church.
After being ordained a priest, he became the bishop of Antioch, located in modern-day Turkey. One of his greatest contributions to the Church was his pastoral letters, sent to different Christian communities.
In these letters, he makes various references to the Eucharist, teaching us that these early Christians not only celebrated Mass; they also believed in the Promised Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
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In his Letter to the Romans, Ignatius writes, “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… and for drink, I desire his blood.”
In his Letter to the Smyrnaeans, he says plainly, “The Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ.”
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Ignatius gave his life for this belief, as he was mauled to death by lions in a stadium in Rome.
All for love of Christ and his Church.
It is because of Saints like him that Catholics have not only held onto the belief of Christ’s Promised Presence in the Eucharist; we also have the honor of receiving him.
May Ignatius intercede for us, that we’d never take such a precious gift for granted; rather, that we’d become what we receive.
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Image credits: (1) Catholic Answers (2) Martyrdom of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Pier Leone Ghezzi (3) Trenton Monitor