October 17: ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH: God's Wheat

St. Ignatius of Antioch spent his final journey in chains writing letters that Christians still read two thousand years later.

Arrested for his faith and marched toward martyrdom in Rome, the bishop of Antioch used every stop along the way to write to churches, urging Christians to stay united with their bishop and hold fast to the Eucharist, which he called the medicine of immortality. He asked friends not to intervene on his behalf, wanting his death to become an offering rather than an escape.

"I am God's wheat, and I shall be ground by the teeth of wild beasts so that I may become pure bread for Christ."

Ignatius's challenge doesn't have to end when the episode does. Our free Family Pack has a saint calendar, feast-day activity pages, and family discussion questions to keep it going at home — free when you subscribe: https://shop.catholicsprouts.com/pages/every-days-a-feast-day-follow-along