your venerable faces;* in fact, I have been pleading for an
IGNATIUS TO THE ROMANS
Ignatius, also called Theophorus, to the Church that has found mercy' in the transcendent Majesty of the Most
High Father and of Jesus Christ, His only Son; the church by the will of Him who willed all things that exist, beloved and illuminated through' the faith and love of Jesus Christ our
God; which also presides in the chief place of the Roman territory; a church worthy of God, worthy of honor, worthy of felicitation, worthy of praise, worthy of success, worthy of sanctification, and presiding in love, maintaining the law of Christ, and bearer of the Father's name: her do I therefore salute in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father.
Heartiest good wishes for unimpaired joy in Jesus Christ our God, to those who are united in flesh and spirit® by every commandment of His; who imperturbably enjoy the full measure of God's grace and have every foreign stain filtered out of them.
1. By prayer to God I have obtained the favor of seeing your venerable faces;* in fact, I have been pleading for an even greater favor: as a prisoner in Christ Jesus I hope to embrace you, provided it is His will that I should be privileged to reach the goal. 2 An auspicious beginning has certainly been made—if only I obtain® the grace of taking due possession of my inheritance without hindrance. The truth is, | am afraid it is your love® that will do me wrong. For you, of course, it is easy to achieve your object; but for me it is difficult to win my way to God, should you be wanting in consideration for me.