The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-08-29
Julian the Apostate.

In late number Of Harpers Wesklyy August
Hath, 1875, there appears very good engraving
Of spirited painting by z. Armitsge, 3. A., IL
the Royal Academy of the same year, repre-
senting Julian the Apostate presiding ct one o.
the Conferences held by the leaders Of the man,
schismatioal sects that fourished during hi
time. Tho account given, in connection with
the painting, Of Juiian's life and deeds, is cor
rect 90 far as IL goes. but ia 90 artfully worded
that NO person reading this page of ancient
history for the first time, would arrive ut q
proper appreciation Of the superhuman wicked
ness of the Apostate. OF of the terrible struggl.
imposed by him upon the early Christians in
his gigantic efforts to re-establish paganism.
In regard to the attempt at rebuilding the
Temple of Jerusalem, work which the EN-
peror determined to carry ont by every meana
within his power, in order to give the lie to
Him who had predicted that not ston,
shsGd be LEFT apon the other, the paper before us
simply seys: EVERY purse was opened in
liberal contributions, and every hand claimed
o share in the pious labor. Yet the work did
| not prosper, and was finally abandoned in de,
| spair."
Now Is many contemporary writer's, Jew,
Pagan and Christian, have handed down to us
accounts Of the supernatural interpretation OF
Divine Providence in regard to this labor,
would IL not have been more honest and cer-
tainIy more like Christian writer, to have
mentioned these facts to the unlearned readers
Of HarpeF's WeAklyf
Yet the scork did not prosper! Philostorgius
she Arian, and Sozomen, with st. Gregory of
Nasisnzen and other distinguished writers, in
oluding Libanius; the friend Of Julian, make
mention Of the terrible earthquakes which caat
ont the stones Of the old foundations and shook
the earth into the trenches dug for the new,
while . Fare, leaping upon all who approached
the Rpot, efectually prevented any further
labor.
It lie said that many of the Jews had pick
axes, spades and baskets made of silver, in
honor Of the glorious work to which the EN-
peror Julian had invited them but st. Cyril,
who had lately returned from exile, foretold
with the greatest confidence that the work
would not be accomplished. And, in fact,
these silver utensils were among the first to be
destroyed or melted down by the fearful fire
which God made the instrument of His wrath.
Ammianus, the panegyrist of the Apostate,
relates that "such horrible balls of fire came
out of the earth near the foundations, that the
place was rendered inaccessible to the scorohed
and blasted workmen."
While many Jewish and Christian writer's
testify to the impression upon the bodies and
garments of the assistants of shining crosses,
which no amount of labor could wash away.
Christian writer's see in these luminous
crosses visible reproof to the Apostate who
had dared to remove from the banners of his
army, and from the ensigns Of his soldiers, the
image of the Cross which his uncle, Constantine,
had caused to be placed there as q memorial of
that sign which, seen by him in the heavens,
had promised him victory.
Yet the tcork did not prosper No, because God
visibly prevented it, making the Jews them
selves the instruments of the prophecy that
not one stone should be LEFT upsn the other for they
demolished the old foundations of the Temple
with their own hands; and the earthquakes and
raging fire caused this last desolation to be in
deed tcorse thGS the first.
Some of our readers have thought that Gods
justice had been vindicated even during the
life time of the Apostase; bat setting aside the
destruction of his plans for tbe rebuilding
Of the Temple, we find him in the apparent
enjoyment Of all his desires. The Christ
isns were not openly prosecuted; bloody
edicts were not issued against them; but o
course was pursued which, according to some
of the Fathers, would have been more fatal to
the Church than were the cruslties of Nero and
DioclesiaD, If God, who always protects His
children, had not destroyed his Internal pro-
jeots by annihilating their author.
He forbade the Christians to have any pos
sessions, deprivipg by this means tie priest
hood of its support, and the Acolytes and Viz
gins consecrated to Gods service, of any main
tenance. This, He said derisively, was to re-
mind them of the perfection of their state of
life, and oblige them to practice evangelical
poverty.
They were not allowed to hold public Offices
the pretext that the Gospel forbade them
to use the sword; and when called before the
tribunals, they were forbidden to speak in their
OVID defence, for their religion, he averred,
taught them to avoid all "wrangliDg and dis
sensions!" He also forbade them to teach the
arts and sciences, for he knew that knowledge
and learning would cOnfound error and estab-
lish truth but his reasoning was that Christ.