Dear Friend,

Early this morning, at his private chapel in Rome, Italy, Cardinal Burke gave a soul-stirring homily on the traditional feast day of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Martyr. 

Here are a few highlights: 

St. Ignatius of Antioch gave his life as a testimony to his love of Christ and the Holy Eucharist about 78 years after the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. A true shepherd of the flock, teaching faithfully the doctrine of the faith. 

During the episcopal ministry of St. Ignatius, there were the opposition of those who were worldly minded, those who saw their salvation in pagan idols, pagan gods, who make all promises to man for his happiness and in the end, leave him completely disillusioned. Those pagan gods, those idols in our lives which draw us away from Christ, which keep us from living more intensely in Christ and thereby from finding our true salvation.

St. Ignatius was a man like us with all the frailty of our human nature. In him, we see all the power of Christ’s grace permitting him to follow Christ heroically, even desiring to give his life in martyrdom, so that he might, never in any way fail Christ - that wonderful phrase asking that his body’s bones be ground by the teeth of the beasts in the Coliseum, the fierce lions to whom he was given to be devoured so that he may become the pure bread of Christ. By this we understand, by suffering to follow Christ, by suffering to love as Christ loved, our own bodies become more and more purified and become more and more with a radiance of Christ’s life in us. A radiance of that bread of eternal life – His true Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, which we receive in the Holy Eucharist.

Let us ask especially today for the intercession of St. Ignatius of Antioch for our bishops, that they may lead us ever more strongly, giving witness to the life of Christ within us, especially in the world which worships so many pagan idols and so hostile to the truth of the Gospel. Let us pray with St. Ignatius of Antioch for that fidelity that our lives may be consumed completely in the love of Christ in caring out His mission of the Father, the mission of truth and love.

In case you have not had a chance to assist at the Holy Mass and Rosary, here is a link to view.  The homily begins at 47:20.

May we all, like St. Ignatius of Loyola, follow Christ faithfully.

Yours in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary,

Thomas McKenna

Founder and President

Catholic Action For Faith And Family
https://www.catholicaction.org/

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P.S. Have you submitted your intentions for the Novena of Holy Masses, that will begin on Sunday, Feb. 4, during our Novena to the Holy Face before Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 13? Click here.