Historical Studies Author:Eugene Lawrence General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1876 Original Publisher: Harper Subjects: Church history Religion / Christianity / Catholic Religion / Christianity / History Religion / Christianity / General Religion / Christian Church / History Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has ... more »no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: IN THE CATACOMBS. 15 ly distinguished by an inscription indicating the position and character of the deceased. These inscriptions, indeed, form one of the most interesting traits of the Catacombs, and have been eagerly studied and copied by many ardent explorers. They bring into clear light the simplicity and fervor of the ancient faith. Here are no prayers for the dead, no address to the Virgin or the saints. Upon one tomb is written, " He sleeps in Christ;" over another, " May she live in the Lord Jesus!" Most of the inscriptions dwell upon the hope of a better life, and are full of resignation and faith. One, however, shows in what gloom and terror the Church maintained its existence. "O, mournful time," it reads, "in which prayer and sacred rites, even in caverns, afford no protection !"(') The bishops of Home, with their terrified followers, were now the tenants of a subterranean home. They lived among tombs, in darkness and confinement, fed upon the scanty food brought them by stealth by faithful slaves or devoted women. Yet, if we may believe the common tradition, but few of the early bishops escaped martyrdom. They M'ere pursued into the Catacombs, and were often murdered in the midst of their congregations. Stephen I., Bishop of Rome, lived many years, it is said, in these dismal retreats. Food was furnished him from above, and wells and springs are found in the Catacombs. At length, however, the p...« less