St. Ignatius of Antioch, dying in martyrdom... fed to the lions at the Coliseum of Rome during the Roman Persecutions of the Catholic Church.
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how did St.ignatius of antioch contribute to sacred tradition?
- Fr. Abe, CRS said...
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He contributed by giving witness to the Sacred Tradition and the Catholic Faith until death when he showed courage and fidelity to the Church until he was being fed to the lions in public martyrdom in the Coliseum of the pagan Rome.
St. Ignatius of Antioch didn't add anything to the Sacred Tradition. Instead, he proclaimed it courage and preserved it with his life. His testimony for the faith is very important. Because Antioch is one of the most ancient and largest center of Christian Faith since the Apostolic Age. In his epistle to the Romans he explained that the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul both wrote to the Roman Church:
This statement dispelled any doubt that the Babylon referred by St. Peter in 1 Peter 5:13 is no other than the City of Rome and St. Peter greets on behalf of the Roman Christians. Not only that, the Letter of Paul to the Romans is very clear and his stay in Rome is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. That of Peter was not as categorically narrated in Scriptures but St. Ignatius of Antioch provide the historical testimony of Peter's leadership in the Church of Rome by ranking him ahead of St. Paul in giving commands to the Roman Church.
- Being founded by St. Peter and St. Paul, the Church of Rome according to St. Ignatius is the greatest in honor and dignity among all the See or local churches of the Christian Faith:
"Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church which has obtained mercy, through the majesty of the Mast High God the Father, and of Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son; the Church which is sanctified and enlightened by the will of God, who farmed all things that are according to the faith and love of Jesus Christ, our God and Saviour; the Church which presides in the place of the region of the Romans, and which is worthy of God, worthy of honour, worthy of the highest happiness, worthy of praise, worthy of credit, worthy of being deemed holy, and which presides over love..." Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Romans, Prologue (A.D. 110).
Also, as a Bishop personally ordained by St. Peter and a disciple of the Apostles he is a direct link in the Apostolic Succession and a proof that the Catholic Church is the true Church founded by Jesus. In fact, second to the Sacred Scriptures he is the first among the Fathers to refer to the Church as 'The Catholic Church'
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To those who opposes the Catholic Church, by saying that the Church apostatized or that the Church deviated from the teaching of the Apostles, please try to understand this.
ReplyDeleteApostolic succession in the New Testament
Eph 14:11-13
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
I Cor 12:28-29
28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles
The church is still here, which means to say we still have apostles (bishops), prophets, evangelists, pators and techers.
St Ignatius PROVED early Apostolic succesion. Apostolic succession proves that Jesus left us shepherds to feed and tend us up to the last day. Apostolic succession proves that Jesus' teaching is with with us today uncorrupted.
"See that ye all follow the bishop, even as Christ Jesus does the Father, and the presbytery as ye would the apostles... Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop.Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude also be; by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church."
It is a historical fact that the Catholic Church has Apostolic succession. So St. Ignatius contributed by proving Apostolic succession, a Sacred Tradition of the Church, by this we know that Jesus teaching reached us uncorrputed, by Apostolic Succession we know the Spirit of Truth.
1 John 4:6
6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
St. John said that whoever knows God listens to us. Who is the "us" in that verse? The "us" refers to the Apostles and their successors.
This is the reason why St. Ignatius said this:
"Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church."
Here is another contributrion of St. Igantius of Antioch to the Sacred Tradition of the Church.
ReplyDelete"A well-rounded account of the history of Christianity will narrate the story of its geographic spread, taking account of the forms of the faith which spread, the reasons for the expansion, and the methods, agents, and agencies through which the spread took place. Much of the history of Christianity will concern itself with the visible Church, the institutionalized fellowship, or rather, the congeries of institutions which arose because of Christ." (xiv A History of Christianity, Kenneth Scott Latourette)
St. Ignatius proved the Statement above by attesting to the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. The divinity of our Lord is one of the Theme of St. John's Gospel. St Ignatius proved what St. John wrote in the Gospel about the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ in his Epistles.
"our God Jesus Christ was conceived by Mary according to divine
dispensation, of die seed of David on the one hand, of the Holy Spirit
on the other. He was born and baptized, that by suffering He might
purify the water" (Eph. 18:2).
"Christ is "one physician, made both of flesh and of
spirit, born and unborn, God become man, true life in death, both from
Mary and from God; first subject to suffering and then free from suffering,
Jesus Christ our Lord" (Eph. 7:2).
St. Ignatius a post Apostolic bishop continued the teaching of the Apostles by affirming the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. A teaching he received from the Apostles themselves.
So again to those who do not believe in the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, find out why St. John wrote his Gospel then read it. Then after reading the Gospel according to John, read St. Ignatius Epistles, and compare them. You will find out that both Saints talk about the divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
St. Ignatius Epistles historicially proved that the early Church believed and lived the faith that Jesus is both God and man.
WOW. VERY NICE BRO. FERDINAND. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.
ReplyDeleteThank you Father, I just found out about your blog in Pinoy Exchange forum, when some there said something about you. Here is the thread if you are interested.
ReplyDeletehttp://pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=477318
Thanks Father for creating a blog like this, I pray that more Catholics visit your site so that they will learn more to defend the faith. You blog is a good source of practical apologetics that contains historical, biblical and philosophical proofs. Ignorance of the true faith is what causes Catholics to live. So more power to you Father.
More contribution of St. Ignatius to the Sacred Tradition of the Church.
ReplyDeleteThe Catholic Church have always believed that the Eucharist is the REAL flesh and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bread of Life Discourse (John 6 25-70)
...52Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
53Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." 59He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum...."
St. Ignatius a bishop and disciple of the Apostles continued teaching the truth by writing Epistles. He attested to the belief of the early Church that the flesh and blood of of our Lord Jesus Christ is really present in the bread and wine offered in the Eucharist.
Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans, Chapter 6:
Take note of those who hold heterodox opinions on the grace of Jesus Christ which has come to us, and see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God ... They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which that Father, in his goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes.
St. Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans, 8:1:
Let that Eucharist be held valid which is offered by the bishop or by the one to whom the bishop has committed this charge. Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be; as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.
St. Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Romans, 7:
I desire the Bread of God, the heavenly Bread, the Bread of Life, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became afterwards of the seed of David and Abraham; I wish the drink of God, namely His blood, which is incorruptible love and eternal life.
St. Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Philadephians, 4:1:
Be ye careful therefore to observe one eucharist (for there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ and one cup unto union in His blood; there is one altar, as there is one bishop, together with the presbytery and the deacons my fellow-servants), that whatsoever ye do, ye may do it after God.
Again, the quotations above historically proved that the early Christian believed and lived the faith that the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is REALLY present in the bread and wine offered in the Eucharist. For our non-catholic brethrens who only believed in the symbolic meaning of the bread of life discourse, history is not on your side...well let me correct myself, actually history is also on your side... you are the direct descendants of the Jews who turned away John 6:60-66 66
60On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"
61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit[e] and they are life. 64Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."
66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
THANK YOU FOR DEFENDING ME IN THAT FORUM, BRO. FERDINAND.
ReplyDeleteTHOSE PEOPLE ARE MOSTLY ANONYMOUS ANTI-CATHOLICS. THEY JUST WANT TO ATTACK LIKE MAD DOGS BUT WHEN WE THROW FIRE AT THEM THEY ARE CRYING BABIES.
DENMARK OF SDA CALLS OUR POPE AS THE 666. I ARGUED WITH HIM THAT ELLEN GOULD WHITE IS THE REAL 666. HE CALLED OUR POPE ANTI-CHRIST SO I CALLED ELLEN GOULD WHITE THE WHORE OF BABYLON BECAUSE HER NAME IS EQUAL TO 666. THEY ARE VERY ANGRY AT ME. WELL, GOOD FOR THEM.