CHAPTER 15-Christianity established-Eighth and ninth persecutions-Third Century

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CHAPTER 15-Christianity established-Eighth and ninth persecutions-Third Century.


Q. Who was the author of the eighth general persecution ?
A. The author of the eighth general persecution was Decius. The most illustrious martyr during this persecution was St. Pionius of Smyrna he was a priest, and a disciple of St. Polycarp. To all the questions of the judge, he simply replied : " I am a Christian and a child of the Catholic Church."

Q. What torments had he to suffer?
A. After suffering all kinds of torments, he was condemned to be burnt alive; but having prayed, he quietly expired without a single hair of his head being burnt.

Q. Who were some of the other martyrs?
A. During this persecution occurred the martyrdom of a child named Cyril, who, in ascending the pile on which he was to be burnt, asked the attendants to join with him in singing canticles at his happiness. In Sicily, St.Agatha was also martyred, who, although young, of a noble family, and the heiress of a great fortune, preferred to renounce all rather than her faith.

Q. Who was the author of the ninth general persecution?
A. The author of the ninth general persecution was Valerian. He put to death a great number of Christians, and among others the Pope St. Sixtus II. On his way to martyrdom, St. Lawrence, a deacon of the church of Rome, asked him, with many tears, whither he was going without him? The Pope replied, " You shall follow me in three days." The prediction was accomplished.

Q. What did the prefect of Rome demand of him?
A. The prefect of Rome, having arrested St. Lawrence, demanded of him the treasures of the church. The saint assembled all the poor whom the church supported, and said to the prefect: "These are the treasures of Christians." The judge, being furious, caused Lawrence to be placed on a gridiron over a slow fire. The saint appeared as easy as on his bed; he prayed for the conversion of Rome, and sweetly expired.
He was soon followed by St. Cyprian.

Q. Who was St. Cyprian?
A. St. Cyprian was bishop of Carthage, and son of one of the first senators of that city. After having succoured the pagans, who were visited by the plague, he was apprehended and condemned to lose his head. The saint, on hearing his sentence, replied: " God be praised." And after having prayed for his church he received the fatal blow.

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