“And coming up in a body late in the evening, they found the man himself in bed in an upper chamber in a certain cottage; and though he might have departed thence to another place, he would not, saying, The will of God be done.”

(On the Martyrdom of Saint Polycarp, circa A.D. 155-156)

Fifth Sunday of Lent

“Knowing then that God is not mocked, we ought to walk worthily of His commandment and His glory.” (Saint Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians, circa A.D. 120-140)

FourthSundayofLent

“I have no delight in the food of corruption or in the delights of this life. I desire the bread of God, which is the flesh of Christ who was of the seed of David; and for a draught I desire His blood, which is love incorruptible.” (Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Romans, circa A.D. 107-110)

Third Sunday of Lent

“Bear all men, as the Lord also beareth thee.” (Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to Saint Polycarp, circa A.D. 107-110)

Second Sunday of Lent

“As children therefore [of the light] of the truth, shun division and wrong doctrines; and where the shepherd is, there follow ye as sheep.” (Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Philadelphians, circa A.D. 107-110)

Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

“Let none of you bear a grudge against his neighbor.”
(Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Trallians, circa A.D. 107-110)

Fifth Sunday Of Ordinary Time

“It is therefore meet that we not only be called Christians, but also be such; even as some persons have the bishop’s name on their lips, but in everything act apart from him.”

(Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Magnesians, circa A.D. 110)

4th Sunday of Ordinary Time.Septuagesima Sunday

“For every one whom the Master of the household sendeth to be steward over His own house, we ought so to receive as Him that sent him. Plainly therefore we ought to regard the bishop as the Lord Himself.”

(Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Ephesians, circa A.D. 98–117)

Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

“So then, my brethren, let us contend, knowing that the contest is nigh at hand, and that, while many resort to the corruptible contests, yet not all are crowned, but only they that have toiled hard and contended bravely. Let us then contend that we all may be crowned.” (Ancient Homily referred to as Saint Clement of Rome, Second Epistle to the Corinthians, circa A.D. 120–140)

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

“Wherefore are there strifes and wraths and factions and divisions and war among you? Have we not one God and one Christ and one Spirit of grace that was shed upon us? And is there not one calling in Christ? Wherefore do we tear and rend asunder the members of Christ, and stir up factions against our own body, and reach such a pitch of folly, as to forget that we are members of another?”

(Saint Clement of Rome, Epistle to the Corinthians, circa 95-96AD)

Baptism of the Lord