STORY: Saint Ignatius of Antioch was a disciple of Saint John the Apostle… he heard about Jesus directly from one of the 12 Apostles. He became Bishop of Antioch, wrote many letters encouraging the early Church, which can still be read today. He would not renounce his faith and was condemned to death by the Emperor. He famously looked forward to his sentence of being devoured by lions by saying he wanted to be ground like wheat that becomes Eucharist.

PATRON OF: The Church in Northern Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean

FEAST DAY: October 17

DATES: around 50 A.D. – 110 A.D.

SOURCE: St. Ignatius of Antioch at Catholic.org

READ MORE: St. Ignatius of Antioch at Catholic Encyclopedia

Image attribution: Made in Midjourney.