Ignatius eagerness for martyrdom is
contrasted heavily with his eagerness for the safety of his flock.
He rejoiced for their sake when persecutions ceased (under Domitian)...
‘Ignatius, like a good pilot… by his spiritual labor… took great care to protect his flock from the persecutions under Domitian, lest he would loose any of the less courageous…”
but grieved for his own sake, for he saw martyrdom as the completion of his own discipleship.
When the persecutions resumed under Trajan, he substituted himself for his flock.
“Wherefore the noble soldier of Christ [Ignatius], being in fear for the Church of the Antiochians, was, in accordance with his own desire, brought before Trajan…”
Having been sentenced to be devoured by wild beasts
[he] cried out with joy, I thank you, O Lord, that You have vouchsafed to honour me with a perfect love towards You, and have made me to be bound with iron chains, like Your Apostle Paul.”
He was eager to suffer.
“Sailing then into the Roman harbour, and the unhallowed sports being just about to close, the soldiers began to be annoyed at our slowness, but the bishop rejoicingly yielded to their urgency…"
His last act with the faithful was to intercede for the end of the persecution.
“he then, after he had, with all the brethren kneeling [beside him], entreated the Son of God on behalf of the Churches, that a stop might be put to the persecution, and that mutual love might continue among the brethren…”
No doubt this was the intention
with which he suffered martyrdom as well.
He was the last to be devoured for the delight of the people (before the closing).
“Then, being immediately thrown in, according to the command of Caesar given some time ago, the public spectacles being just about to close… he was thus cast to the wild beasts… that so by them the desire of the holy martyr Ignatius should be fulfilled.”
