Page:The early Christians in Rome (1911).djvu/28

 I

OF THE SPECIAL TRAINING FOR MARTYRDOM

The Church conscious of the powerful effect of a public martyrdom upon the pagan crowds—established a training for—a preparation in view of a possible martyrdom—This training included: (a) A public recitation in the congregations of Christians of the "Acts," "Visions," and "Dreams" of confessors—(b) The preparation of special manuals prepared for the study of Christians—In these manuals our Lord's words were dwelt on—(c) A prolonged practice of austerities, with the view of hardening the body for the endurance of pain       197

II

QUOTATIONS FROM TERTULLIAN, ETC.

Certain of Tertullian's references to this preparation, and to the austerities practised with this view, are quoted. (His words, written circa 200, indicate what was in the second century a common practice in the Church.) S. Ignatius's words in his letter to the Roman Church are a good example of what was the use of the Church in the early years of the second century—Some of the words in question are quoted       202

PART III

THE GREAT NUMBERS OF MARTYRS IN THE FIRST TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS

INTRODUCTORY

Christian tradition by no means exaggerates the number of martyrs—the contrary, indeed, is the case—In the first two hundred and fifty years the general tone of the early Christian writings (above quoted) dwells on those blood-stained days—But the great pagan authors of the second century, Tacitus and Pliny, are the most definite on the question of the vast number of martyrs—Here is cited a new piece of evidence concerning these great numbers from notices in the "Pilgrim Itineraries" or "Guides" to the catacombs of the sixth and following centuries—These tell us what the pilgrims visited—The vast numbers of martyrs in the different cemeteries again and again are dwelt upon       207

I

List of the various cemeteries and their locality, with special notice of numbers of martyrs buried in each       210