St. Ignatius of Antioch on the Eucharist
St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 35-108 AD) was the third bishop of Antioch, a disciple of the Apostle John, and a martyr. His letters, written on his way to martyrdom in Rome, are among the earliest Christian writings outside the New Testament.
On the Eucharist, he wrote: "Take note of those who hold heterodox opinions on the grace of Jesus Christ which has come to us, and see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God... They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which that Father, in his goodness, raised up again."
From the earliest days, the Church believed in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This was not a later development but the faith received from the Apostles.
Ignatius went joyfully to his death, eager to be "ground by the teeth of wild beasts" to become "the pure bread of Christ."
đź“– Scripture
John 6:55 - "For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink."
🙏 Prayer
Lord Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist, increase my faith in this great mystery. May I receive You with the devotion of the early Christians. St. Ignatius, pray for us. Amen.