Martyrs of the Catacombs - Anonymous

average height of the passage ways was about eight feet, but in many places
it rose to twelve or fifteen feet. Then the frequent chapels and rooms which
had been formed by widening the arches gave greater space to the
inhabitants, and made it possible for them to live and move in greater
freedom. In some places, also, there were narrow openings in the roof,
through which faint rays of light passed from the upper air. These were
chosen as places for resort, but not for living. The presence of the blessed
light of day, however faint, was pleasant beyond expression, and served in
some slight degree to mitigate the surrounding gloom.
Marcellus saw some places which had been walled up forming a sudden
termination to the passage way, but other paths branched off and encircled
them and went on as before. "What is this place which is thus enclosed?" he
asked.
"It is a Roman tomb," said Honorius. "On excavating this passage the
workmen struck upon it, so they stopped and walled up the place and carried
on their excavation around it. It was not from the fear of disturbing the tomb,
but because in death, no less than in life, the Christian desires to follow the
command of his Lord, and 'come out from among them and be separate.'"
"Persecution rages around us and shuts us in," said Marcellus. "How
long shall the people of God be scattered, how long shall the enemy distress
us?"
"Such are the cries of many among us," said Honorius, "but it is wrong
to complain. The Lord has been good to his people. Throughout the empire
they have gone on for many generations protected by the laws and
unmolested. True, we have had terrible persecutions, in which thousands
have died in agony, but these again have passed away and left the Church in
peace.
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