聖依納爵 Ignatius Antiochenus ）主教殉道
聖依納爵繼伯鐸之後，治理安提約(Antioch)教會。 一〇七年脱拉雅(Trajan)王任位時，押解到羅馬，為野獸所吞噬，光榮殉道。在被解送羅馬途中，寫信七封，寄與各地教會，講論教會、基督，以及教友生活的真諦。安提約教會自第四世紀開始、在十月十七日紀念他的殉道。
聖依納爵主教殉道致羅馬人書
我是天主的麥子，被獸牙磨碎了
我致書與各教會，並告知衆人：我甘願爲天主而死，你們不要阻止我。我請求你們，不要向我表示不合時宜的善意。請你們讓我成爲野獸的食物，是牠們把我帶到天主台前。我是天主的麥子，將被獸牙磨碎，好能成爲基督的極純潔的麵包。請你們爲我懇求基督，使我藉野獸的行動而成爲獻與天主的祭品。
世俗的安逸，世上的王國，爲我都毫無用處。對我而言，在基督耶穌內死去，比統治全世界更好。我所尋求的和所盼望的是爲我們死而復活的基督。我分娩的時刻臨近了。弟兄們，請原諒我，不要阻止我生活，不要希望我死去。我只願意屬於天主，你們就不要設法把我交給世俗，不要利用世物來使我迷路。請讓我接受純潔的光明；因爲當我達到那裏時，我才眞正成爲一個人。讓我效法我天主的苦難。誰若心中擁有天主，便能了解我所渴望的，也會同情我，知道使我焦慮不安的是什麼。
世俗的君王想要控制我，並願粉碎我對天主的情感。但願你們在那裏的任何人不要援助他；但請你們站在我這一邊，就是天主的這一邊。不要口裏談論耶穌基督，而心裹貪求世俗。但願你們心中不要嫉妬。當我在你們身旁時，如果我懇求你們，你們不要相信我：但要相信我現在給你們所寫的。此時此地我活着給你們寫信時，却渴望死去。我對塵世的愛戀已經被釘在十字架上了，我心中再沒有一絲對世物的貪戀，而有活水在細語，在我內輕輕地說：「到聖父身邊來吧！」
我對那易於消失的食物和此生的逸樂，不感興趣。我企望天主的食物，就是達味後裔耶穌基督的肉身；我也企盼祂的血作爲飲料，就是永不消失的愛。
我不再願意如常人一般生活。如果你們願意，將來便如此實現。我請求你們也有這種願望，好使你們符合天主的聖意。
我寫這幾句話，請求你們相信我。耶穌基督將使你們知道我說的是實話；祂的口不說謊話，聖父的眞理之言就是藉着祂而發出。請你們爲我祈禱，使我滿足心願。我現在給你們寫信，不是按照血肉之見，而是按照天主的思想。如果我受苦，正證明你們對我的善意；如果我免於一死，表示你們討厭我。
Saint Ignatius, bishop of Antioch and martyr：
a letter to the Romans (Cap. 4:1-2; and 6:1-8:3)
This letter was written during his forced march to Rome where he was to be martyred and became God’s wheat, food for the wild beasts, as a sacrifice pleasing to God in Jesus Christ. It appears in the Roman liturgy on the Feast of St. Ignatius on October 17.
Let me be food for the wild beasts, for they are my way to God. I am God’s wheat and shall be ground by their teeth so that I may become Christ’s pure bread. Pray to Christ for me that the animals will be the means of making me a sacrificial victim for God.
No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire.
The time for my birth is close at hand. Forgive me, my brothers. Do not stand in the way of my birth to real life; do not wish me stillborn. My desire is to belong to God. Do not, then, hand me back to the world. Do not try to tempt me with material things. Let me attain pure light. Only on my arrival there can I be fully a human being. Give me the privilege of imitating the passion of my God. If you have him in your heart, you will understand what I wish. You will sympathize with me because you will know what urges me on.
The prince of this world is determined to lay hold of me and to undermine my will which is intent on God. Let none of you here help him; instead show yourselves on my side, which is also God’s side. Do not talk about Jesus Christ as long as you love this world. Do not harbor envious thoughts. And supposing I should see you, if then I should beg you to intervene on my behalf, do not believe what I say. Believe instead what I am now writing to you.
For though I am alive as I write to you, still my real desire is to die. My love of this life has been crucified, and there is no yearning in me for any earthly thing. Rather within me is the living water which says deep inside me: “Come to the Father”. I no longer take pleasure in perishable food or in the delights of this world. I want only God’s bread, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, formed of the seed of David, and for drink I crave his blood, which is love that cannot perish.
I am no longer willing to live a merely human life, and you can bring about my wish if you will. Please, then, do me this favor, so that you in turn may meet with equal kindness. Put briefly, this is my request: believe what I am saying to you. Jesus Christ himself will make it clear to you that I am saying the truth. Only truth can come from that mouth by which the Father has truly spoken. Pray for me that I may obtain my desire. I have not written to you as a mere man would, but as one who knows the mind of God. If I am condemned to suffer, I will take it that you wish me well. If my case is postponed, I can only think that you wish me harm.