Ignatius on His Way to Martyrdom

“All the ends of the world and the kingdoms of it will profit me nothing: I would rather die for Jesus Christ, than rule to the utmost ends of the earth. Him I seek who died for me. Him I desire that rose again for me. This is the gain that is laid up for me.”
“Now I begin to be a disciple; nor shall anything move me, whether visible or invisible, that I may attain to Christ Jesus. Let fire and the cross; let the companies of wild beasts; let breaking of bones, and tearing of members; let the shattering in pieces of the whole body, and all the wicked torments of the devil come upon me, only let me enjoy Jesus Christ.”