Ignatius, also called Theophorus, to her who has obtained mercy by the grace of God the Father Most High and of the Lord Jesus Christ who died for us, the most faithful, worthy of God, Christ-bearing daughter Mary: abundant greetings in God.
Sight is better than a letter, inasmuch as, being part of the chorus of the senses, it honours the recipient not only by what it imparts of friendly things, but also is enriched by what it receives in turn— the longing for things better.
Yet the manner of letters is, as they say, a second harbour, which we have received from your faith from afar like a good anchorage, as though through them seeing the good that is in you.
For the souls of the good, O all-wise woman, are like the purest springs; for those springs, even if passers-by are not thirsty, by their very appearance draw them to draw of the drink; and your understanding likewise invites us, urging us to share in the divine streams gushing up in your soul.
But I, O blessed one, being now not so much my own as another's, am driven about by the wills of my many adversaries— now by exiles, now by imprisonments, now by bonds.
May I have joy of the terrible things prepared for me, since the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us.
What you commanded through your letter I gladly fulfilled, in no way doubting the things which you yourself have judged to be right. For I knew that you bore witness to the two men by the judgment of God, and not by fleshly favour.
And your frequent citations of passages of Scripture greatly pleased me; reading them, I did not waver even to the point of a doubt about the matter; for I had no eyes with which to run counter to things of which I had your irrefutable demonstration.
May I be a ransom for you, because you love Jesus, the Son of the living God; therefore he too will say to you: 'I love those who love me, and those who seek me shall find peace.'
It comes to me to say that the report I heard about you was true, while you were still in Rome with the blessed pope Anencletus, whom now the all-blessed Clement, a hearer of Peter and Paul, has succeeded. And now you have added to it a hundredfold, and may you yet add more, O you yourself.
I greatly desired to come to you, so as to find rest together with you. But the way of man is not in himself; for the military guard checks my purpose, not allowing it to come to fulfilment; nor am I able, in the circumstances I am in, either to act or to suffer anything.
Therefore, reckoning a letter as a second consolation among friends, I salute your sacred soul, exhorting you to add to your strength; for the present toil is little, but the expected reward is much.
Flee those who deny the passion of Christ and his birth according to the flesh. There are now many who are sick with this disease. But to give you other admonitions is needless, since you are perfected in every good work and word, and able also to admonish others in Christ.
Greet all who, like you, hold fast to their own salvation in Christ. The presbyters and the deacons greet you, and above all the holy Hero. Cassianus my host greets you, and my sister his wife, and their dearest children.