Saint Ignatius of Antioch (c. 35–108 AD) was the third Bishop of Antioch and a direct disciple of the Apostle Saint John. En route to his martyrdom in Rome under Emperor Trajan, he authored seven famous epistles that bear extraordinary witness to the hierarchical structure of the Church, the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, and the unity of believers with their bishop.
He famously wrote: 'I am God's wheat, and I am ground by the teeth of wild beasts that I may be found pure bread of Christ.'
Brothers and sisters, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of your love for all the holy ones,
do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might,
which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
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Holy Gospel
Luke 12,8-12.
Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.
Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say.
For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say."