Bishop of Antioch in Syria, the See founded by St. Peter, St. Ignatius is one of the finest examples of a bishop in the early Church. Condemned to be thrown to the wild beasts and sent to Rome in chains, he wrote on his journey magnificent letters in which his great love for Christ and his ardent desire for martyrdom are given full expression. He wrote, “I am the wheat of Christ, may I be ground by the fangs of wild beasts and become spotless bread. Allow me to imitate the passion of my God. Now do I begin to be in truth His disciple. Fire, the cross, wild beasts and all the torments of the devil may overwhelm me, provided that at last I possess Jesus Christ.” St. Ignatius suffered martyrdom in Rome in about the year 110. He is mentioned in the Canon of the Mass.