This is one of the early church fathers that says how we should be in the face of martyrdom.
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I write to all the Churches, and declare to all men, that I willingly
die for the sake of God, if so be that ye hinder me not. I entreat of you
not to be [affected] towards me with a love which is unseasonable. Leave me
to become [the prey of] the beasts, that by their means I may be accounted
worthy of God. I am the wheat of God, and by the teeth of the beasts I
shall be ground,(4) that I may be found the pure bread of God. Provoke ye
greatly(5) the wild beasts, that they may be for me a grave, and may leave
nothing of my body, in order that, when I have fallen asleep, I may not be
a burden upon any one. Then shall I be in truth a disciple of Jesus Christ,
when the world seeth not even my body. Entreat of our Lord in my behalf,
that through these instruments I may be found a sacrifice to God. I do not,
like Peter and Paul, issue orders unto you. They are(6) apostles, but I am
one condemned; they indeed are free, but I am a slave, even until now. But
if I suffer, I shall be the freed-man of Jesus Christ, and I shall rise in
Him from the dead, free. And now being in bonds, I learn to desire nothing.
CHAP. V.
Code:
From Syria, and even unto Rome, I am cast among wild beasts, by sea and
by land, by night and by day, being bound between ten leopards, which are
the band of soldiers, who, even when I do good to them, all the more do
evil unto me. I, however, am the rather instructed by their injurious
treatment;(1) but not on this account am I justified to myself. I rejoice
in the beasts which are prepared for me, and I pray that they may in haste
be found for me; and I will provoke them speedily to devour me, and not be
as those which are afraid of some other men,(2) and will not approach them:
even should they not be willing to approach me, I will go with violence
against them. Know me from myself what is expedient for me.(3) Let no
one(4) envy me of those things which are seen and which are not seen, that
I should be accounted worthy of Jesus Christ. Fire, and the cross, and the
beasts that are prepared, cutting off of the limbs, and scattering of the
hones, and crushing of the whole body, harsh torments of the devil–let
these come upon me, but(5) only let me be accounted worthy of Jesus Christ.
CHAP. VI.
Code:
The pains of the birth stand over against me.(6)
CHAP. VII.
Code:
And my love is crucified, and there is no fire in me for another love.
I do not desire the food of corruption, neither the lusts of this world. I
seek the bread of God, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ; and I seek His
blood, a drink which is love incorruptible.
CHAP. IX.(7)
Code:
My spirit saluteth you, and the love of the Churches which received me
as the name of Jesus Christ; for those also who were near to [my] way in
the flesh, preceded me in every city.
Code:
(8)[Now therefore, being about to arrive shortly in Rome, I know many
things in God; but I keep myself within measure, that I may not perish
through boasting: for now it is needful for me to fear the more, and not
pay regard to those who puff me up. For they who say such things to me
scourge me; for I desire to suffer, but I do not know if I am worthy. For
zeal is not visible to many, but with me it has war. I have need,
therefore, of meekness, by which the prince of this world is destroyed. I
am able to write to you of heavenly things, but I fear lest I should do you
an injury. Know me from myself. For I am cautious lest ye should not be
able to receive [such knowledge], and should be perplexed. For even I, not
because I am in bonds, and am able to know heavenly things, and the places
of angels, and the stations of the powers that are seen and that are not
seen, am on this account a disciple; for I am far short of the perfection
which is worthy of God.] Be ye perfectly strong(9) in the patience of Jesus
Christ our God.
Code:
Here end the three Epistles of Ignatius, bishop and martyr.**
(from the EWTN document library)
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