Course 3, Chapter 18: Christianity established. — Tenth persecution continued. — Fourth Century

1. What service do the contemplative orders render to society?

The first service they render to society, is to preserve in its purity the practice of the Gospel to which the world is indebted for its happiness; the second is to offer an asylum to many persons who do not wish to live in the world, or who could not remain in the world without becoming a shame and a disgrace to society; the third is to give to the world an example of eonte.npt for riches an 1 pleasures, the irregular love of which is the source of all evil. The example of the religious orders affords the best means of undeceiving m inland and procuring happiness for the world; the fourth is to prevent a great number of persons from bein^ a charge to society, to dispense abundant alms, and afford an unfailing source of relief during times of public distress.

2. What happened after the foundation of the first contemplative orders?

After the foundation of the first contemplative orders, destined to obtain victory for the church, Diocletian sent forth his eJicts of persecution, which commenced in 303. The first to suffer in this persecution were the principal officers of the imperial palace. One of them, named Peter, was frightfully beaten and then roaste;! on a gridiron over a slow fire. Blood flowed in torrents through all the provinces.

3. What was the intention of Diocletian in this?

It was the intention of Diocletian to annihilate the very name of Christianity. To find out the Christians, he placed idols in the streets, near the fountains, in thf. public squares and market places, and all wlu,

282 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

passed through the streets, wlio came for water or to

Sirchase in the market, were obliged to offer sacrifice, ouses inhabited by Christians were set on fire, and all perished in the flames.

4. What is the history of St. Cyr and St. Julitta?

One of the first victims of the persecution of Diocletian, was St. Julitta with her son St. Cyr. St. Julitta was of the city of Iconium, and of the royal race. She fled to the city of Tarsus in Cilicia, with two servants and her son St. Cyr, at that time about three years of age.

5. What happened to her?

The governor, named Alexander, caused her to be apprehended and beaten severely with the sinews of an ox; at the same time he took her son in his arms and tried to caress him, but the young martyr scratched, his face with his little hands, and as often as St. Julitta said, " I am a Christian," he replied, I am a Christian.

6. What did the judge do?

The barbarous judge threw down from the tribunal the innocent victim, whose head was broken by th« fall, and who died bathed in his own blood. St. Julitta thanked God for the victory granted her son, and was herself beheaded.