went forth to enlighten the nations plunged during so many centuries in idolatry. St. Peter carried the Gospel to Syria, Antioch, and then to Rome. St. Paul carried it into Arabia, Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece, from whence he rejoined St. Peter in the capital of the world. St. Thomas preached Jesus Christ in India; St. John in Asia Minor; St. Andrew in Scythia; St. Philip in Upper Asia; St. Bartholomew in Greater Armenia; St. Matthew in Persia; St. Simon in Mesopotamia; St. Jude in Arabia; St. Mathias in Ethiopia. Thus in less than thirty years after the first publication of the Gospel, the true God had worshippers in all parts of the world.

The First General Persecution.

St. Peter and St. Paul were at Rome when an immense fire destroyed a large part of the city. Public rumour accused Nero, who wished to rebuild Rome, and who, it is said, was seen, at the time of the conflagration, on the roof of his theatre, celebrating in song the burning of Troy, which, without doubt, he wished to picture to himself. Nero felt the want of turning upon others the anger of the people. "In order to put a stop to these "reports," says Tacitus the historian," Nero sought out "those whom he desired should be thought guilty, and "made the unfortunate wretches, who were abhorred for "their infamies, and who were vulgarly called Christians, "undergo the most cruel tortures. Christ who had given "them his name had been condemned to death under "Tiberius by the procurator, Pontius Pilate, who had for "the moment repressed this execrable superstition; but "soon after it broke out afresh, not only in Judea, where it "had taken root, but even in Rome itself where it came at "last to establish itself, increasing there all disorders and "all crimes. They began by seizing those who were "avowed Christians, and afterwards, in consequence of

"the depositions made by those who were arrested, they "apprehended an immense multitude who were convicted, "not so much of setting Rome on fire, as of hatred for the "whole human race. Derision was added to their tortures; "they enveloped them in the skins of beasts so as to urge "the dogs to devour them; they were nailed to crosses; "their bodies were covered with resin and then set on fire, "to serve as torches to light the streets and roads. Nero "lent his own gardens for this spectacle; and at the same "time he gave public sports in the circus, himself mixing "in the crowd, disguised as a charioteer, and driving the "chariots. Thus however guilty they were and worthy "of the worst torments, there was a feeling of compassion for these victims who appeared to be sacrificed "less for the public good, than to serve as a pastime for "a monster."

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There is no necessity to make any remark on the mistake Tacitus here makes with regard to the Christians, as we know they were not condemned for their crimes; but this passage shows both the calumnies by which they were pursued, and the horrible tortures to which they were exposed. These were the first fruits of the innumerable multitude of martyrs of the Church of Rome, who were sent to heaven. The persecution extended throughout the empire, imperial edicts being everywhere issued to seize the Christians in all the provinces.

The

Martyrdom of St. Peter and St. Paul (69). St. Paul was one of the first that was seized. tyrant wished particularly to do away with him, as he had even converted some of the memoers of his own court. The apostle converted when in prison one of Nero's servants. The Emperor sent for him, and he appeared before the tyrant full of the courage worthy of the cause he defended. His imprisonment lasted nearly

a year. St. Peter, yielding to the persuasions of the faithful, had at first consented to leave Rome, in order to escape the fury of the persecution. But hardly was he outside the gates of the city, when he saw Jesus Christ himself directing his steps towards Rome. "Lord, "where art thou going?" said he to him. Our Saviour replied: "I am going to Rome to be there crucified "afresh." Peter understood the meaning of these words, and so returned to Rome. The persecutors did not leave him long at liberty; he was shut up with St. Paul in the Mamertine prison near the capitol. This prison was soon transformed into a temple. The pillar to which the former Fisherman of Bethsaida was fastened became a pulpit; two of the gaolers of the apostles, Processus and Martinianus, were converted, and soon after received the crown of martyrdom. Forty-seven other persons of both sexes embraced the faith through the preaching of these two captives. At last the day of sacrifice, or rather the day of triumph, arrived: it was the 29th June. Nero had resolved to preside at the execution of these two principal Heads of an abhorred religion. The two apostles were led together outside the city, through the Ostian Gate; some say that they suffered martyrdom in the same place, near a swamp skirting the Tiber, called the Salvian-waters; others say that at the request of the Jews of Trastevere, St. Peter was separated from St. Paul, in order to die on the summit of Montorio, above the circus of Nero. When the two martyrs parted, "Peace be to thee," said St. Paul to St. Peter," thou Founder of Churches, Shepherd of "the lambs and of the sheep of Christ!" "Go," replied St. Peter, "go in peace, thou Preacher of good, Leader "of the just, and Helper of salvation." St. Paul, as he was a Roman citizen, had his head cut off. St. Peter was crucified with his head downwards, which he asked as a favour, because he thought himself unworthy of the

C

honour of being crucified in the same manner as his Lord.

When St. Peter had expired on the cross, one of his disciples named Marcellus, and two Roman ladies named Anastasia and Basilissa detached his body, embalmed it, and hid it in the Catacombs, the same night; another Roman lady of noble birth, named Lucina, collected the mutilated body of St. Paul and buried it in one of the grottos of her garden, which bordered the Ostian road. The remains of St. Peter and of St. Paul were, at a later time, brought together, and they are now in the Church of St. John Lateran. St. Peter governed the Church of Rome twenty-five years, and the universal Church thirty-eight years (29—67).

§ II.-DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM AND OF THE TEMPLE (29-70).

Troubles in Judea.

In the meantime the prophecies of our Lord relating to Jerusalem and to the Temple were about to be accomplished. It is certain, (and the Talmud also records it,) that forty years before the destruction of Jerusalem, which coincided with the date of the death of Jesus Christ, strange things were constantly witnessed in the Temple, and daily some new prodigies appeared, so that a famous Rabbin is said to have cried out, on one occasion: "Oh! Temple; oh! Temple, what ails thee, why "art thou become a terror to thyself?" What could be more striking than the frightful noise which was heard in the Sanctuary on the day of Pentecost, and that terrific voice which resounded from the depth of this

This word signifies discipline, and forms for the Jews the completion of the Bible. It was towards the second century that its most ancient portion, Le., the Mischna, or Second Law, was written.

holy place: "Let us go hence! let us go hence!" The holy angel guardians of the Temple loudly declared that they were abandoning it, because God-who for so many centuries had there fixed his dwelling-had now laid his curse upon it. Troubles and misfortunes, which were signs of still greater evils, did not cease to afflict the Jews from the time of the death of Christ. Even the governors of Judea themselves seemed exasperated against a people guilty of the worst of crimes. The procurator, Pontius Pilate, made himself so intensely odious by his violence, his cruelties and his perfidies, that he was accused by the leaders of the Jews before Vitellius, pro-prætor of the province of Syria. Vitellius deposed Pilate, and had him prosecuted at Rome; but Tiberius died before Pilate arrived there (A.D. 37). There is no doubt that the case had not a favourable issue, for the ex-procurator of Judea was exiled to Vienne, in Gaul, where he killed himself in despair (A.D. 40). Herod Antipas, the murderer of St. John Baptist and friend of Pilate at the time of the Passion, met with a similar fate. Caius Caligula, successor of Tiberius, who favoured his brother-in-law Herod Agrippa, son of Aristobulus and grandson of Herod the Great, by his mother Mariamne the Asmonean, deprived him of his province (and exiled him to Lyons, from whence he passed into Spain, where he died.

Herod Agrippa, King of the Jews (37-44). Herod Agrippa, who had been living some time at Rome, had gained the affection of Caius Caligula by his devotedness; he had even incurred the displeasure of Tiberius by giving him to understand that he desired the speedy succession of Caligula. As soon as the latter was on the throne, he wished to reward his devotedness, and named him King of the Tetrarchate, that Philip had possessed. The sister of Agrippa, Herodias, wife of