Course 3, Chapter 9: Christianity established. — First Century

1. How did our fathers in the faith arrive at so high a degree of sanctity?

Our fathers in the faith arrived at so high a degree of sanctity, by endeavoring to perform well the actions of each day, by dividing their time between prayer, labor and works of charity, but especially by flying all the occasions of sin.

2. What were those occasions?

They were principally shows, dances and public festivals. Our fathers abstained from such places for the same reasons that made them keep their children away from them.

3. What were those reasons?

1st, the first Christians considered, and with good reason, theatrical exhibitions as a school of vice; they believed that Christians ought not to witness what they were forbidden to imitate, as it is difficult not to be carried away by our passions, when every thing around us contributes to inflame them; 2d, they said that age was no excuse, because all are human and liable to fall at any age; that custom was no authority, because the customs of the world are no law for a Christian; 3d, that by going to theatres we rcandalize our neighbor; and lastly, that if there were no spectators there would be no actors.

4. What did they say of balls and public festivals?

They said the same; and when the pagans reproached them for not attending, they replied by asking, if the masters of the earth could not be honored except by excess of intemperance and offences against the Master of heaven.

5. Was this virtuous conduct pleasing to the pagans?

This virtuous conduct was not more pleasing to

the pagans than is the conduct of the good to the bad Christians of the present day. The Jews and idola ters spread abroad many calumnies against our fathers and against religion.

6. Who refuted them?

The apologists of religion refuted them with eloquence, whilst the virtuous lives of the Christians refuted them still more effectually; but instead of yielding to conviction, their enemies began to perse cute the Christians, and millions of victims were sacrificed through hatred for their religion.

7. What were these victims called (

They were called martyrs, that is, witnesses. This name is given to Christians who die for the faith; the number of martyrs during the first four ages is incalculable.

8. What do you say of martyrdom?

It is a two-fold proof of the truth of religion. 1 st. It is a proof of the truth of religion, because it is the accomplishment of a prophecy of our Saviour, who had announced to his disciples that they would be put to death on account of his doctrine. 2d. Martyrdom affords another proof of the truth of religion in the constancy with which the martyrs endured their torments; for it is surely a miracle, that millions of virtuous persons, of every age, sex, condition and country, should without complaint or murmur, calmly suffer every species of torment for three hundred years.

9. What do you mean by the acts of the martyrs?

I mean the accounts of their trial before the judges; the questions put to them; their condemnation, punishment and death.

10. How did the Christians procure the acts o^ '\e martyrs?

They obtained them in two ways: 1st, by paying the clerks of the courts for permission to transcribe them; 2d, by mingling, without being known, among

2GG CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

the pagans, whenever a martyr was on his trial, and afterwards writing down whatever passed.

11. What care did the Christians take of the martyrs?

They took the most sedulous care of them while in prison; and after their death, they buried them with great respect, and offered up on their tombs the holy sacrifice, not indeed to the martyrs, but to God who had so gloriously crowned them.