October 17 - Saint Ignatius of Antioch

Quick Facts

• Convert from paganism to Christianity.
• Succeeded Peter as bishop of Antioch, Syria.
• Served during persecution of Domitian.
• During the persecution of Trajan, he was ordered taken to Rome to be killed by wild animals.
• On the way, a journey which took months, he wrote a series of encouraging letters to the churches under his care.
• First writer to use the term the Catholic Church.
• Apostolic Father.
• Martyr.
• His name occurs in the ""Nobis quoque peccatoribus"" in the Canon of the Mass.
• Legend says he was the infant that Jesus took into his arms in Mark 9