On some calendars, February 1 is the date in the Western Church for commemorating St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch. Besides being third bishop of Antioch, Ignatius was an early Christian writer, sometimes called an apostolic father. He was martyred in Rome around 107 A.D. Although perhaps a little too zealous for martyrdom, the example of Ignatius and his writings provide a strong witness to faith in the redemptive work of Christ and to the importance of the Lord's Supper.
He also speaks of bishops as the leaders in the churches, and some later thinkers have emphasized his comments on this topic. However, one should note his historical context. When speaking of bishops, Ignatius is not referring to the imperial administrative system for the church which developed long after his time. In his context, Ignatius views a bishop as the chief pastor in a town who exercises leadership over his official assistants (the presbyters and deacons). He sees a bishop as a pastoral authority who can help defend the local church against tendencies toward schism and bad teaching. So Ignatius does not give blanket approval to the pretensions of all who have claimed the episcopal title over the centuries. Instead, he asserts the role of the pastor in proclaiming and defending the apostolic faith.
So today we remember Ignatius as a faithful Christian and as a pastor. He was an important early witness on the Eucharist, the apostolic faith, and the pastoral role. Let us join in giving thanks for this faithful pastor, teacher, and martyr.
