Martyrs of the Catacombs - Anonymous

More documents

Recommendations

Info

were within the iron gates, where the vaulted passage ways were illuminated with the glare of torches. The keepers knew their errand, and rudely ordered them to follow. They led them on till they came to the arena. Here lay a number of bodies, the last of those who had been slain that day. They were fearfully mangled; some indeed were scarcely distinguishable as human beings. After a long search they found the two whom they sought. Their bodies were then placed in large sacks, in which they prepared to carry them away. Marcellus looked in upon the scene. All around him rose the massive walls, ascending by many terraces back to the outer circle. Its black form seemed to shut him in with a barrier which he could not pass. "How long will it be," he thought, "before I too shall take my place here and lay down my life for my Saviour? When that time comes shall I be true? Lord Jesus, in that hour sustain me!" The moon had not yet risen high enough to shine into the arena. Within it was dark and forbidding. The search had been made with torches obtained from the keepers. At this moment Marcellus heard a deep voice from some of the vaults behind them. Its tones rang out upon the night air with startling distinctness, and were heard high above the rude clamor of the keepers: "Now is come salvation and strength, And the kingdom of our God, And the power of his Christ; For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, Which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, And by the word of his testimony, 79
And they loved not their lives unto the death." "Who is that?" said Marcellus. "Do not notice him," said his companion. "It is Brother Cinna. His griefs have made him mad. His only son was burned at the stake at the beginning of the persecution, and since then he has gone about the city denouncing woe. Hitherto they have let him alone; but now at last they have seized him." "And is he a prisoner here?" "He is." Again the voice of Cinna arose, fearfully, menacingly, and terribly, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth?" "This, then, is the man that I heard in the Capitol?" "Yes. He has been all through the city, and even in the palace, uttering his cry." "Let us go." They took their sacks and started for the gates. After a short delay they were allowed to pass. As they went out they heard the voice of Cinna in the distance: "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, And is become the habitation of devils, And the hold of every foul spirit, And the cage of every unclean and hateful bird: 80
Page 1 and 2:
MARTYRS OF THE CATACOMBS Anonymous
Page 3 and 4:
loud and as eager as that of the pl
Page 5 and 6:
These two again attacked each other
Page 7 and 8:
"Without doubt he has been fighting
Page 9 and 10:
kill." Whereupon a mighty murmur ar
Page 11 and 12:
An old man entered upon the scene.
Page 13 and 14:
Chapter 2 The Pretorian Camp "Corne
Page 15 and 16:
"How have they produced this?" "By
Page 17 and 18:
"You do not seem very glad." "I con
Page 19 and 20:
"Are none resolute enough to contin
Page 21 and 22:
and the Sarvilii. Still further his
Page 23 and 24:
At length his search was rewarded.
Page 25 and 26:
"Now, boy, tell me the truth. Do yo
Page 27 and 28:
"You would not dare to go down alon
Page 29 and 30: Chapter 4 The Catacombs "No light,
Page 31 and 32: Christian Tomb The passage wound al
Page 33 and 34: "Very soon," said the boy. Whatever
Page 35 and 36: prayer. Addressing the invisible Go
Page 37 and 38: us now what you want with us." "My
Page 39 and 40: studied all the writings of the phi
Page 41 and 42: "What you have sought for all your
Page 43 and 44: "'Him who loved us, Who washed us f
Page 45 and 46: the song of the Christian: "Unto Hi
Page 47 and 48: VALIANT MARTYR. HE LIVED ABOUT THIR
Page 49 and 50: monster?" "That is Jonah, a prophet
Page 51 and 52: Valeria Dormit in Pace THE SLEEPING
Page 53 and 54: of more tender affection to his fri
Page 55 and 56: MY WIFE LAURENTIA MADE ME THIS TOMB
Page 57 and 58: elentless persecutors, now associat
Page 59 and 60: "All the persecutions which we have
Page 61 and 62: eturn, concealing nothing whatever.
Page 63 and 64: he will fight what becomes of disci
Page 65 and 66: The two young men embraced, and Mar
Page 67 and 68: For in one hour so great riches is
Page 69 and 70: were in search of the dead which ha
Page 71 and 72: like a city of refuge. Here lay the
Page 73 and 74: knew what was before them, and they
Page 75 and 76: line between themselves and the hea
Page 77 and 78: efforts for the support of the body
Page 79: attended the temples and assisted a
Page 83 and 84: After obtaining the requisite suppl
Page 85 and 86: "Away," cried Marcellus in a tone o
Page 87 and 88: "What has delayed you, Marcellus? W
Page 89 and 90: And her branches unto the river. Wh
Page 91 and 92: "Of the death of Chrysippus!" "Chry
Page 93 and 94: him away." "Pretorians?" said Marce
Page 95 and 96: "Yes, Lucullus, though afflicted I
Page 97 and 98: girls whose death-song once struck
Page 99 and 100: "This boy you have a prisoner. That
Page 101 and 102: Marcellus returned to the Catacombs
Page 103 and 104: "What is your age?" "Thirteen years
Page 105 and 106: existence in want and danger and da
Page 107 and 108: words and make professions of coura
Page 109 and 110: Chapter 13 The Death of Pollio "Be
Page 111 and 112: But now, even in the midst of the t
Page 113 and 114: cause. Lucullus was one of them. Tu
Page 115 and 116: "I did not intend to betray myself,
Page 117 and 118: God, but it is founded on a rock, a
Page 119 and 120: your misconduct, and if they are no
Page 121 and 122: smoke concealed the martyr for a wh
Page 123 and 124: "It is well that you have addressed
Page 125 and 126: arched passage ways, that wail that
Page 127 and 128: of whose power over the human heart
show all

Martyrs of the Catacombs - Anonymous

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?