The Martyr of the Catacombs / A Tale of Ancient Rome

dliness, God manif

astonished at the effect

ble so?" said he. "I

hat new efforts were making to persecute us more severely, and that Marcellus, a captain in the Pretorians, had been appoi

your power? If you chose to detain me could I escape? If you killed me could I resist? I am hel

lm demeanor, "you are right; you could

soldier. I was born in Spain, and was brought up in virtue

igion. In my chamber I have studied all the writings of the philosophers of Greece and Rome. The result is th

am immortal, and shall become a spirit when I die. How shall I be then? Shall I be happy or miserable? How shall I secure happiness in that spiritual life? They d

ld forms and ceremonies in which they do not believe.

ity to see them. Indeed, I never cared to know them until lately. I have heard all the usual reports a

om fear was utterly unknown, lay down his life calmly rather than do what he believed to be wrong. I saw an old man meet death with a

im that

d us from

he mentioned Macer they looked at each other with meaning glances; when he spoke of the old man, Honorius bowed his

an every soldier when he comes in the battle-field. It, is our profession. But these people rejoiced i

hes you from your sins? Who is he that causes this sublime courage and hope to arise wit

ish to learn more of you first. And I swear by the Supreme that my present

enemy, but an inquiring soul sent here by the Spirit to learn that which you have lo

to live here in want, and fear, and sorrow, and they count all this as nothing for Chris

r which can do all this: It is not fanaticism, nor delusion, nor exc

our hearts, it is worth far more to us than all that the world can give. It gives u

nite in greatness and power, he also is infinite in love and mercy. This religion draws us so closely to him that

e blessedness in heaven. It shows us how to live so as to please him here, and it makes us know how we shall praise him hereafter. By this we learn that d

t Supreme Being of whom I have heard. You are the possessor of that which I long to know. The end and aim of my life lies here. The who

urmured a few words of silent thankfulness and prayer. After whi

In this we can find all that the soul desires. In these divine words we learn that which we can find no where else

of prophets which had heralded his coming, of the chosen people of God who had kept alive the

nce, his miracles, his teachings. All this he read, wit

ceived, the scorn, contempt, and persecut

the story of his

y to save his creatures from the ruin which they drew on themselves; his amazing love, which brought him down to sacrifice himself for their salvation, all were clear. When Honorius reached the end of the mournful story of Calvary, and came to the cry, "My God, my

who lo

d us from

own b

buried his fac

mpanions had long since departed. The light from a lamp in a niche behind Honor

cellus rais

ing the death of the Holy One. Read on, more of t

ascension. Nor did he end with this. He sought to give peace to the soul of his friend. He read to him all

ce from heaven. My heart responds to everything that I

of mist. I know myself at last. Before I thought I was a just and a righteous man. But beside t

atoned f

can I be

everything even

n he pa

and pray for pardon. If

t be permitted for me to utter a word to

tude and solemn silence, Honorius knelt dow

eaven, to the presence of the Saviour, by the power of that, fervent and agonizing prayer. The words seemed to find an echo in his

it was hope, and his soul grew stronger at her presence. At, last, when Honorius ended, his

he earth above, a better day had dawned over the soul of Marcellus in the vaults below. His longings were completely satisfied; the

m that l

washed us

s own

glory an

er and