The Virgin Mary wrote a letter to St. Ignatius of Antioch

There is a tradition that St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote a letter to the Virgin Mary that she answered. Ignatius (*around 35) was a disciple of St John the Evangelist. According to the legend that is first found in the medieval document Golden Legend there existed the following interchange between the two.

St. Ignatius wrote to Our Lady:

To Mary the Christ-bearer, her Ignatius. You ought to strengthen and console me, a neophyte and disciple of your John, from whom I have learned many things about your Jesus, things wondrous to tell, and I am dumbfounded at hearing them. My heart’s desire is to be assured about these things that I have heard, by you who were always so intimately close to Jesus and shared his secrets. Fare you well, and let the neophytes who are with me be strengthened in the faith, by you, through you, and in you.

Our Lady answered:
To my beloved fellow disciple Ignatius, this humble handmaid of Christ Jesus. The things you have heard and learned from John are true. Believe them, hold on to them, be steadfast in carrying out your Christian commitment and shape your life and conduct on it. I will come to you with John to visit you and those who are with you. Stand firm and do manfully in the faith. Do not let the hardships of persecution shake you, and may your spirit be strong and joyful in God your salvation. Amen.