To Be Christian

“It is not that I want merely to be called a Christian, but to actually be one.”
—St. Ignatius of Antioch

Yesterday, we celebrated the feast of St. Ignatius, a bishop and martyr whose letters still burn with clarity and conviction. For him, Christianity was not a label—it was a life. The name “Christian” must be proven, not claimed.

Today’s meditation echoes that same fidelity. Across the world, the Church speaks with one voice. Though languages differ, the tradition remains whole. No preacher can add to it or take away from it. The faith is consistent, luminous, like the sun that shines everywhere.

To be Christian is to walk the ancient path with courage. It’s to forgive, to suffer, to love as Christ did. St. John Henry Newman saw in Ignatius’ letters the outline of Catholic doctrine—not just in teaching, but in devotion.

We’re invited not just to admire the saints, but to join them. To let our lives echo the truth we profess. To be Christian—in name, and in truth.