Rome is a city built on the bones of martyrs. Ignatius died in A.D. 107, under the Emperor Trajan. For those of you who remember your history, Trajan ruled the empire at the height of its size, prosperity and military power, with all of its enemies defeated, and peace throughout the Mediterranean. In other words, Ignatius went to his death with absolutely no hope that the Gospel would ever triumph, or even survive. Here's the point.
Discipleship has a cost, a personal cost, and it can be heavy.
And those who preach Jesus Christ will be ridiculed and persecuted, and even sometimes killed. We all get to decide that for ourselves, and our lives will reflect the choices we make. But the city that murdered Ignatius 19 centuries ago, today celebrated his Memorial Mass in hundreds of churches. With Christ I am nailed to the cross. I live now not with my own life, but Christ lives within me.