What did St Ignatius, who lived in the same century as Christ, mean ?

well for those who have the mental capacity of more than a turnip they will understand it to mean the universal church - which was named Catholic for catholic means universal and thus the "organizing' of a group who understood the universal outreach of Christ would be catholism thus titling Catholic. those without the sense God gave humans will not be able to comprehend that the faith in chuch they profess (if they are Christians) did not just "spring" to being because of John or Ellen or Steve or whomever.....

It means what it says. Christ in Johns Gospel Chapter 20 verse 21 tells the Apostles as the Father has sent me i send you. A Bishop is a direct descended of the Apostles. We are members of Christ Church his Body which is of course universal(Catholic). In reading ST.Ignatius letters one is soon to realize his teachings are very Catholic as we know them today. The only way non Catholics can deny Ignatius an Polycarp,Clement and others who wrote during that period is to deny there Catholic and are not in the Bible. Actually Ignatius is mentioned in the Epistles once under his proper name Theophorus.

@ Susanna.,

A.D. stands for Anno Domini i.e., "in the year of our Lord," or "in the year of the Lord."

A.C. Ante Christum i.e., Before Christ.

A.M. Anno Mundi i.e., "In the year of the world."

In other words, St. Ignatius an Apostolic Father of the Catholic Church, and the Bishop of Antioch, wrote this to the Smyrnæns, about 107 Anno Domini, or 107 in the year of the Lord.

ὅπου ἂν φανῇ ὁ ἐπίσκοπος, ἐκεῖ τὸ πλῆθος ἤτω, ὥσπερ ὅπου ἂν ᾖ Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, ἐκεῖ ἡ καθολικὴ ἐκκλησία.

(Wheresoever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.)

~~~~~~~~~~~

Martyrdom of St. Polycarp Written about 155AD

Ἐπεὶ δε ποτε κατέπαυσεν τὴν προσευχήν, μνημονεύσας ἁπάντων καὶ τῶν πώποτε συμβεβληκοτων αὐτῷ, μικρῶν τε καὶ μεγάλων, ἐνδόξων τε καὶ ἀδόξων καὶ πάσης τῆς κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας, τῆς ὥρας ἐλθούσης τοῦ ἐξιέναι, ὄνῳ καθίσαντες αὐτὸν ἤγαγον εἰς τὴν πόλιν, ὄντος σαββάτου μεγάλου... ὧν εἷς καὶ οὗτος γεγόνει ὁ θαυμασιώτατος μάρτυς Πολύκαρπος, ἐν τοῖς καθ ̓ ἡμᾶς χρόνοις διδάσκαλος ἀποστολιδὸς καὶ προφητικὸς γενόμενος, ἘΠΊΣΚΟΠΟΣ ΤῆΣ ἘΝ ΣΜΎΝῌ ΚΑΘΟΛΙΚῆΣ ἘΚΚΛΗΣΊΑΣ... διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καταγωνισάμενος τὸν ἄδικον ἄρχοντα καὶ οὕτως τὸν τῆς ἀφθαρσίας στέφανον ἀπολαβών, σὺν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις καὶ πᾶσιν δικαίοις ἀγαλλιώμενος δοξάζει τὸν θεὸν καὶ πατέρα παντοκράτορα καὶ εὐλογεῖ τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, τὸν σωτῆρα τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν καὶ κυΒρννήτην τῶν σωμάτων ἡμῶν καὶ ποιμένα τῆς κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας.

(Now, as soon as he had ceased praying, having made mention of all that had at any time come in contact with him, both small and great, illustrious and obscure, as well as the whole Catholic Church throughout the world, the time of his departure having arrived, they set him upon an ***, and conducted him into the city, the day being that of the great Sabbath... In the number of these was this man, the glorious martyr Polycarp, who was found an apostolic and prophetic teacher in our own time, A BISHOP OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WHICH IS IN SMYRNA... For, having through patience overcome the unjust governor, and thus acquired the crown of immortality, he now, with the apostles and all the righteous [in heaven], rejoicingly glorifies God, even the Father, and blesses our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of our souls, the Governor of our bodies, and the Shepherd of the Catholic Church throughout the world. [473])

[473] Several additions are here made. One ms. has, "and the all-holy and life-giving Spirit;" while the old Latin version reads, "and the Holy Spirit, by whom we know all things."

Also Cf. Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis 7:17:107:3. J435, 202AD

Was he speaking in Latin or Aramaic, or Greek?

It could be translated this way:

Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be; as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the universal church."

I believe that St Ignatius wanted the teachings of the church for all, not just a select "chosen" few. Christ died once, and for all. He came to heal the sick, not those who are already healthy.

Include, not exclude.

I take it to mean that where ever Jesus Christ is preached,there is Jesus Christ's Catholic Church. It is speaking of the universal Catholic Church. There was only one church established by Jesus Christ in 33AD and that was the Catholic Church

Catholic Christian †

It Ignatius was a student of St. John. Along with St Polycarp and St Clement. If you want proof, you must read. They were all associated. The language was Greek. The correct words are Katholicus Ecclesia. It means "universal society of men" That is where the word Catholic comes from. THere is no proof that Jesus lived. Only evidence that men of faith believe.

not only was the church universal , the teaching was the same , called infallibility .

the false teachers were quickly disappearing

There is no proof that he ever had any connection to any of the apostles. Even if there is evidence, evidence is not proof.

please explain what A.D. actually means Friend:-) then we can talk..