Course 3, Chapter 16: Christianity established. — Tenth persecution. — Third and fourth Centuries

1. How did God punish the emperor Valerian?

Like all the other persecutors, the emperor Valerian was punished in a very striking manner; he was made prisoner by Sapor, king of Persia, who obliged him to stoop down and serve as a foot-stool for him whenever he mounted his horse; he afterwards caused him to be skinned alive, painted the skin red and hung it up in one of the temples of his gods.

2. Which was the tenth general persecution?

The tenth general persecution was that of Diocletian. This cruel prince associated with himself in the government of the empire, Maximian, Galerius and Constantius Chlorus. All of them except the last, were bitter enemies of the Christians.

3. What was the martyrdom of the Theban Legion V

Maximian had in his army a legion composed entirely of Christians. They were all veterans, and came from the east and the neighborhood of Thebes in Egypt — for this reason they were called the Theban Legion, and consisted of about ten thousand men. Maximian having arrived near Geneva in Switzerland, ordered them to sacrifice to the gods — upon their refusal he caused them all to be massacred.

4. In what manner did God come to the assistance of his church?

At the moment when the Christians were going to be attacked more violently than ever, God sent into the desert holy men to pray, like Moses, and obtain victory for the" Christians. These holy men were St. Paul the first hermit, and St. Anthony and his disciples.

5. Who was St. Paul?

St. Paul, the first hermit, was born in Egypt in

229. At the age of twenty-two he retired into the desert, where he used a cave for a dwelling, the palm leaves for clothing and the fruit of the palm for food. At the age of forty-three the Lord fed him miraculous ly as he formerly fed Elias; he lived in the exercise of prayer and penance to the age of 113. When he died two lions came and sci-atched a hole, in which St. Anthony buried him with the hymns and prayers of the church. St. Anthony kept the habit of the saint, which was made of palm leaves, and wore it only on the solemn festivals of Easter and Pentecost.