CHAPTER 13-Christianity established-Sixth Persecution-Second Century - CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE - COURSE THIRD

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CHAPTER 13-Christianity established-Sixth Persecution-Second Century

Q. On what occasion did Marcus Aurelius give the Christians some respite?
A. Marcus Aurelius gave the Christians some respite on the occasion of the miracle of the thundering legion. He was waging war against the people of Germany; his army was caught in a defile, and hemmed in on every side by the enemy; the heat was excessive, and the Roman army on the point of perishing with thirst.

Q. How were they saved?
A. The thundering legion, composed of Christians, fell upon their knees, and by their fervent prayers obtained an abundant rain, sufficient for the whole army and for their beasts. At the same time hail, accompanied with thunder, fell in torrents upon the enemy, who fled in disorder, throwing away their arms.

Q. Did Marcus Aurelius show his gratitude for this?
A. Marcus Aurelius, to testify his gratitude, put a stop to the persecution; and to perpetuate the remembrance of this miracle, raised at Rome a monument which still exists. But shortly after, instigated by the devil, he renewed the persecution against the Christians.

Q. Where was this new persecution the most violent?
A. This new persecution was the most violent in Gaul. The city of Lyons was flooded with the blood of the martyrs. The principal martyrs were St. Pothin, bishop of Lyons, who, over ninety years of age, was seized, maltreated, and thrust into a narrow prison, where he died two days after; and Maturus and Sanctus, who, after having been exposed to the fury of the beasts for the amusement of the people, were placed in a chair of iron heated red hot, and beheaded. The other principal martyrs were Attala, Alexander, Blandina, and Ponticus, a youth of fifteen.

Q. Who was Blandina?
A. Blandina was a female slave, very timid, and of a delicate constitution ; but our Saviour endowed her with such fortitude, that she fatigued her very executioners. To every question put to her, she simply replied: " I am a Christian; no crime is committed amongst us."

Q. In what manner did she finally receive the crown of martyrdom?
A. She was exposed in a sack of network to a furious cow, which tossed her in the air, and greatly mangled her whole body, after which she was put to death. Ponticus, encouraged by St. Blandina, bravely underwent the various degrees of martyrdom, and consummated his sacrifice by the sword.

Q. Were there other martyrs in Gaul?
A. Yes, there were. The city of Autun witnessed the death of St. Symphorian, a young man distinguished not less by his birth than by his learning and excellent qualities. Heraclius, the governor of the province, had him apprehended, and demanded of him what was his profession and his name. He replied: " I am a
Christian." The governor employed caresses, promises, and threats, by turns, to make him sacrifice to the gods, but finding all his efforts useless, he commanded his head to be struck off.

Q. What happened to the saint whilst he was conducted to execution?
A. Whilst he was conducted to execution, his mother, more venerable for her virtue than for her age, cried aloud to him from the walls of the city: " Symphorian, my son, look up to heaven, have courage, and fear not death, which is the way to eternal life."




Q. Had religion to encounter other enemies?
A. Religion had other enemies to encounter. The philosophers and heretics were leagued together against her. But God was her support: she spread over the whole earth, notwithstanding all the obstacles opposed to her progress.

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