*** *** *** “Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ.” (St. Ignatius to the Romans, Ch. 5)

— St. Ignatius (d. 107) was consecrated Bishop of Antioch and later martyred in Rome under Trajan. Considered one of the great Apostolic Fathers, he wrote a series of letters pertaining to Christology, ecclesiology, and the Sacraments. His name is mentioned in the Roman Canon.