17 October, Mass of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

I feel now that I am beginning to be Christ’s disciple;
I desire none of those things which are seen,
if so be I may find Christ Jesus.
I care not that there come upon me fire, or cross,
or wild beasts, or breaking of my bones,
or sundering of my members,
or destruction of my whole body,
yes, and all the torments of the devil,
if only so be I may win Christ.
Saint Ignatius of Antioch

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
MR
With Christ I am nailed to the cross
and I live, now not I;
but Christ lives in me.
I live by faith in the Son of God
who loved me, and gave himself for me (Gal 2:19-20).

ACT OF PENITENCE
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins,
that we may be ready to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
You give utterance to the words of the Father’s truth.
Kyrie, eleison.
Your Flesh is the Bread of God.
Christe, eleison.
Your Blood is love imperishable.
Kyrie, eleison.
May Almighty God have mercy on us,
and lead us, with our sins forgiven,
into eternal life.
COLLECT
Almighty and ever-living God,
who by the confession of the holy martyrs
beautify the sacred body of your Church;
grant, we beseech you,
that just as today’s glorious passion
brought Saint Ignatius eternal splendour
so may it work unto our continual defence.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
For the holy Church of God throughout the world;
that all the faithful may live in harmony with their bishops,
forming a choir of love and singing praise to the Father in Christ Jesus,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
For the leaders of nations;
that they may pursue the things that make for peace,
governing with wisdom, justice and mercy,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
For Christians suffering persecution,
and for those who are destined for martyrdom;
that they may be comforted by the Holy Spirit
and configured to the Passion of Christ,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
For ourselves;
that like Saint Ignatius,
we may approach the altar today
hungering for the Bread of God which is the Body of Christ,
and thirsting for his Blood,
the sign of his imperishable love,
to the Lord we pray: Christ, hear us. R. CHRIST, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.
COLLECT AT THE GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
Feed us, O Lord, with the Living Bread
and make us drink of the Chalice of Salvation
that, following the teachings of your bishop Saint Ignatius
we may hear within the murmur of living water that whispers,
“Come to the Father,”
and rejoicing in the faith
with which he embraced a martyr’s death,
be nourished now for that eternal life
for which he yearned with all the passion of a lover.
Through Christ our Lord.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON
GR
You crowned him with glory and honour;
and have set him over the works of your hands, O Lord (Ps 8:6–7).
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
May the offering of our devotion
be pleasing to you, Lord,
who accepted Saint Ignatius, the wheat of Christ,
made into pure bread by the sufferings of his martyrdom.
Through Christ our Lord.
PREFACE
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.
Christ called his martyr Ignatius into glory
and through the wounds of his martyrdom
led him to the palm of a heavenly reward.
As Christ’s true witness in holiness
he freely laid down his life to die for Christ,
knowing that in glory his body would arise.
He chose to die to this world
rather than to be separated from Christ,
perceiving that here he had no abiding city
but looked for an unfading inheritance in heaven.
And so, on his feast day
we join with him to adore you
and in the company of angels and saints
with whom he shares the vision of your glory
we proclaim your majesty in their joyful hymn of praise:
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
MR
I am the wheat of Christ,
ground fine by the teeth of wild beasts,
that I may become his pure bread (Ign. Rom 4).
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Lord, may the heavenly bread
which we have received on the birthday of Saint Ignatius
refresh us and make us Christians
in both word and deed.
Through Christ our Lord.