Born around the year 50 in Syria, Ignatius was an Apostolic Father of the Church, a disciple, with St. Polycarp, of St. John the Evangelist, and the third bishop of Antioch, the former See of Peter before he went to Rome.
In 117 he was sentenced to death by the Emperor Trajan and arrested in Antioch. He was brought, on a slow journey that lasted months, to the circus in Rome to be devoured by lions. The Roman emperor hoped to make an example of Ignatius and discourage the spread of Christianity.
During his months of captivity he wrote seven letters to Christian congregations in the Mediterranean, who he referred to generally as the "Catholic" (universal) Church – thus coining the term for the first time. His letters included ones to the Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Philadelphians, Smyrneans and Romans, as well as a letter to Polycarp, who was bishop of Smyrna and a disciple of St. John the Evangelist.
These letters proved to be influential in the development of Christian theology, since there are few extant writings from this period of Church history. They bear signs of being written in great haste and without a proper plan, such as run-on sentences and an unsystematic succession of thought. Ignatius is the first known Christian writer to put great stress on loyalty to a single bishop in each city, who is assisted by both presbyters (priests) and deacons. Earlier writings only mention either bishops or presbyters, and give the impression that there was usually more than one bishop per congregation. Ignatius also stresses the value of the Eucharist, calling it "a medicine to immortality."
His letters show him to have been a zealous bishop, with a fierce love for his flock and the universal Church, and he had no fear of martyrdom; rather, he welcomed it. His letter to the Romans is a jewel of Christian literature:
"I am writing to all the churches to let it be known that I will gladly die for God if only you do not stand in my way. I plead with you: show me no untimely kindness. Let me be food for the wild beasts, for they are my way to God. I am God's wheat and bread. Pray to Christ for me that the animals will be the means of making me a sacrificial victim for God.
"The prince of this world is determined to lay hold of me and to undermine my will which is intent on God. Let none of you here help him; instead show yourselves on my side, which is also God's side.
"Believe instead what I am now writing to you. For though I am alive as I write to you, still my real desire is to die. My love of this life has been crucified, and there is no yearning in me for any earthly thing.
"Rather within me is the living water which says deep inside me: 'Come to the Father.' I no longer take pleasure in perishable food or in the delights of this world. I want only God's bread, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, formed from the seed of David, and for drink I crave His blood, which is love that cannot perish.
"Pray for me that I may obtain my desire. I have not written to you as a mere man would, but as one who knows the mind of God."
— Catholic News Agency
'No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire.' — St. Ignatius of Antioch
In 1916, the Angel of Peace appeared in Fatima, Portugal, to three shepherd children – Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia – teaching them the prayers that became the foundation for this Chaplet of Adoration and Reparation. As knowledge of Fatima spread, people began to say those prayers using a rosary. To encourage Eucharistic Adoration, Bishop Peter J. Jugis gave the chaplet his imprimatur in 2004.
Using a rosary, you can pray this chaplet anytime, anywhere – an especially good devotion to practice in October, which is the month of the rosary, and for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on Oct. 13.
Using the Prayers Taught by the Angel of Peace at Fatima, Portugal
Please pray this chaplet as often as you can -- anytime, anywhere -- especially at times and places where our Holy Triune God is most offended and unloved. (for public and private recitation on ordinary rosary beads)
Begin with:
Making the Sign of the Cross
(Kiss the Crucifix.)
Apostle’s Creed
(on the first bead and next three small beads:)
For the increase of Faith, Hope, and
Charity and the intentions of the Holy Father
1 Our Father / 3 Hail Marys / 1 Glory Be
(on the large bead before each decade:)
Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
I adore you profoundly, and I
offer You the Most Precious Body, Blood,
Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ,
present in all the tabernacles of the
world, in reparation for the outrages,
sacrileges, and indifference by which
He is offended, and by the infinite
merits of His Most Sacred Heart and
through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I beg the conversion of poor sinners.
(on the ten small beads of each decade:)
My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You!
I ask pardon for those who do not believe,
do not adore, do not hope and do not love You.
(following the ten small beads of each decade:)
1 Glory Be
(and)
“O Most Holy Trinity, I adore You!
My God, My God, I love You in the most
Blessed Sacrament.”
(end Chaplet with Hail Holy Queen Prayer:)
Hail Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!
Our Life, our sweetness, and our Hope!
To Thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To Thee do we send up our sighs, mourning,
and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this our exile show unto us the
blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us O Holy Mother of God
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen
(Make the sign of the Cross)
In 1916, the Angel of Peace appeared in Fatima, Portugal,
to three shepherd children, Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia
teaching them the prayers that became the foundation
for this Chaplet of Adoration and Reparation.