Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-03-24

THE CATAcoMBs OF RoNE.-The Catacombs Of
Rome are under ground passages, extending for
miles and miles in every directions chiefly under the
great campaigha around the city. This wholeregion
of country IS thus evcavated but when the work was
done is not known. These underground passages
we're used by the early Christians as burialplaees
for their dead, and refuge in times of perseeu-
ton and very often they met there for religious
worship When the fierce Roman Emperors made
cruel laws against them, and they could not meet
openly for prayer and praise in that heather city,
they used to 60 quietly and secretly to the entrance
of the catacombs guide, with lamp, would
lead them through the winding passages to the ap-
pointed place. Then the sweet Litanies and hymns
of praise would rise to heaven and all their voices
would ioin in the solemn cry, 20 Lamb of God,
that takest away the sins of the world have mercy
upon us q When they had exhorted each other to
be faithful unto DEATH they would steal forth again
to the light of day, and go back to their homes.
Here. when they died, their bodies were brought,
and buried in the vaults dug out of the rock espe-
cally the bodies of the martyrs who had been cru.
ely put to death because they would not give up
their religion. Ali those were dreadful times
The fire. the sword and the wild beasts, tried the
faith of those who were baptized into the name OF
Christ; and many time the cry was heard from a
savage crowd, '.The Christians to the lions y
We can learn something about these early times
from the inscriptions that have been found, and are
still being found, on the tombs in the Cataeombs-
The letters are but rudey carved but the date is
generally given, and there with many of the IN
scrptons curious figures cut Sometimes dove,
which was the symbol of peace sometimes palm
branch, the token of victory often the cross, the
most sacred sign of ALL Sometimes tool was car
we'd, to show the trade of the buried man.
Almost always were written the trustful words,
sin Christi 'In peace. Here is the translatian
of the words on the tomb of martyr - Prlmltus
in peace a most valient martyr after many tor
ments Aged thirty-eig His wife raised this to
her dearest, well deserving husband" And anoth-
err: '.In Christ. In the time of Emperor Adrain,
Marius young military officer, who had lived long
enough, when, with his blood, he gave up his hfe
for Christ. At length he rested in peace. The
well deserving set mp this with tears and III fear
But not the martyrs only were buried IN this place.
All the Christians wished their bones to restin sucn
good company. Husban ds here buried their wives,
| and wives their husbands. Children, with all
reverence, set up stones in memory ofheir parents;
and weeping parents laid their little ones here TO
sleep, till the voice of Jesus shall wake the dead.
Here is an example of these inscriptions - 10
Adserter, our son, dear. sweet, most innocent and
incompatible; who lived seventy years, six months
and eight days. His father and mother set up TINS.
| Another reads -''Here sleeps Porcella in peace.
She lived three years, ten months, and thirteen
days.