THE MEMORIAL OF ST IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH. BISHOP, FATHER OF THE CHURCH. JOYFUL MARTYR.
MEMORIAL OF ST IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH. BISHOP & MARTYR.
"The Lord said:
“Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute’
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say." (Luke 11: 47 - 54).
Thursday 17th of October 2024 is the feast of a giant of our faith: St Ignatius of Antioch. (+ 107). Syrian. Bishop and Martyr.
St Ignatius was ordained Bishop by St Peter, the Prince of the Apostles. He is a Father of the Church. St Ignatius was ground to pieces by wild beasts under the persecution of Emperor Trajan.
Why is St Ignatius of Antioch pivotal in the history of the Church?
Anyone ordained Bishop by the Apostle Peter has a claim to fame. But for St Ignatius of Antioch, there are other reasons too. During his historic journey from Antioch to Rome under heavy armed guards, Ignatius composed seven extraordinary letters. These letters are the earliest authoritative teaching on the Eucharist, the hierarchy of the Church, etc.
Ignatius was torn to pieces by the iron teeth of wild beasts because he acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior before Emperor Trajan.
The core message of the Gospel today is simple and pointed: Prophecy.
Jesus Christ is King, Priest and Prophet. In the Gospel of today, Jesus exercises His prophetic ministry without fear.
What is prophecy?
"You will hear the words of my mouth. You will tell them what I say." (Cf Jeremiah 1: 7 - 8).
There have been prophets in the Church in its 2000 years history. Many of them were pontiffs. Some recent prophets are:
Pope Leo XIII, Abraham Lincoln, Pope Pius VI, Martin Luther King, Pope John Paul II.
The Abortion quagmire needs word of prophecy. When the Prophet pronounces the word of prophecy over abortion, he has done his labor of faith and work of love. God does not demand more than this from us.
No demonstrations, no political maneuvering. No raising of money for the fight for the unborn. Money opens doors to the Demon of Mammon, the ancient enemy of the Church.
Abortion is a Satanic Trojan Horse inserted in the belly of the Church to keep the Church permanently divided and prevent the Key work of Evangelization.
There were many abortions in Rome when Peter and Paul arrived in Rome to put the Church of Rome in a firm foundation. They did not run a campaign against abortion.
Do you know what the early Church in Rome did? They preached Jesus Christ crucified who rose from the dead. When the Romans heard this, they were understandably sceptical. But the Saints in the Church at Rome supported their evangelization with miracles. They healed the sick, they cast out demons. They were law abiding citizens. They became joyful martyrs. The Romans were impressed. One by one conversions trickled in. By the time of Emperor Constantine just about 250 after Peter and Paul arrived in Rome, Christianity had conquered the Roman Empire.
God does not need human strength to be a just God. Sentence has already been pronounced against unrepentant murderers, thieves, liars, abortionists, etc. God will execute judgment in THE FULLNESS OF TIME.
Be patient. Do you know that daily Rosary by 2% of Catholics will wipe out all types of abortion in a couple of years.
We have seen from our reflections this week from the Letter to the Galatians what pleases God and what God wants: Faith and not the energy of the flesh. The energy of the flesh yields corruption.
October is the Holy Rosary Month.
“The Rosary is my favorite prayer” – “How beautiful is the family that recites the Rosary every evening!” – “The Rosary is a prayer both so humble and simple and a theologically rich in Biblical content. I beg you to pray it”. (St. Pope John Paul II).
Say the Holy Rosary every day in October.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
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