What a gift we have in the communion of saints, that “cloud of witnesses” in heaven who continually intercede for us. We find encouragement in those who, living lives similar to ours in vocation, profession or region, laid “aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely” to “run with perseverance the race that is set before” them, as St. Paul writes in his letter to the Hebrews (12:1). If they can do it, we are reminded, so can we.
Encouraging as that truth is, there is a glorious challenge in drawing near to those saints who witnessed more dramatically for Christ to the point of giving their lives for the Faith. Admittedly, the lives of the martyrs can be gruesome. Take St. Ignatius of Antioch. Around the year 110, he approached the Roman Colosseum with joy, knowing he was about to be fed to lions. Does our love for the Lord run that deep? What would we be willing to sacrifice to witness to Christ’s love? Is that which we value of this world or the next?
Don’t take the Faith for granted
History records little of St. Ignatius’ life beyond his eager desire to be a martyr. He is one of five apostolic fathers — theologians who either knew some of the twelve apostles or were directly influenced by their teaching. Ignatius, along with St. Polycarp, was likely a disciple of St. John the Evangelist. Ignatius was also known by the name Theophorus, or “God-bearer.” He is believed to be the first to use the term “Catholic” to refer to the Church, and unity is a common theme in his writing.
His seven letters profess that Christ truly is God, the Eucharist is really the body and blood of Christ, proper reverence is due the Lord’s Day and Christians ought to follow the leadership of the Church. In Ignatius’ time and in his role as a bishop, there was a lot at stake to promote these teachings. It’s highly unlikely that anyone reading this article is going to die by being thrown to lions. Still, we shouldn’t be so quick to take the truths for which Ignatius died for granted. Simple as they seem, to affirm or deny them has substantial ramifications. Today, too, misunderstandings about the Eucharist and the structure of the Church abound, perpetuating division among Christians. Sundays are not set apart as they should be, diminishing the unity of the faithful.
Pray for courage
We can resign ourselves to these circumstances or we can commit to living differently. Either way, we will be called to answer for the path we’ve chosen. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can pray for an increase in courage to profess what we believe in what we say and how we live. We can foster a love for Christ and his Church so fervent that if we were threatened with an arena full of lions, we would gladly accept. With recourse to the sacraments, the strength Christ’s grace encourages in us means we need not “grow weary or lose heart” (Heb 12:3). We can look again to St. Paul to remember that while “discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, … later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb 12:11).
A life lived intentionally for Christ — lions or no — can only lead to joy.
