The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-14
LAST DAYS OF ST. PAUL
CLOSING SCENES IN THE LIFE OF THE
APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES.
Details as to His imprisonment, Con.
Sacred History Is Silent.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

their last days on earth? And What monu-
ments and memorials of their residence in
the Eternal city are now in existence? Such
are some Of the questions which nearly
every visitor to Rome asks himself.
In view of the fact that the international
Sunday school lessons for November and
December deal with the closing scenes of
st. Pauls life 1 shall attempt to answer
these questions and give you some idea of
the beautiful monuments and magnificent
baslicas to be seen l. ere which are sacred
to the memory Of these holy martyrs, as
well as few of the many loving traditions
that cluster around their names.
In the first place, it should be clearly un-
der stood that sacred history is more or less
hazy as regards the latter days of both
Peter and Paul. The Bible throws little
light upon the subject. The Roman Catholic
Church, however, bridges the gap by follow
ing it's own historians and by accepting as
accurate many of the details in the lives of
these apostles which are regarded as more
or less doubtful by the other communions.
The last account we have of st. Peter in
the Bible is his appearance at the council
at Jerusalem in A. d. so, as set forth in
Acts XIV. st. Paul was taken by sea to
Rome prisoner and "dwelt two whole
years in his own hired house" in the Eternal
city teaching and preaching the kingdom
of God" Beyond certain well-known epis-
ties and exhortations to the brethren in the
nature of farewell addresses the Scriptures
are silent as to the fate of both these saints.
Hence it follows that the records and
relics in Rome which claim to recite the
closing days of the two great apostles are
intensely interesting and instructive.
eighth chapter of Acts we are given an
account of his ministry in Rome, how he
lived as a prisoner in his own hired house,
teaching and preaching alike to Jews and
Gentiles, and writing letters to the several
churches. And here the Scripture tale ends.
But we learn from profane lore than the
great fire in Rome broke out in A. d. GA,
and was followed by the persecution of
the Christians. 1t was then that the En-
peror Nero earned the name of ANTI
Christ by his slaughter of the saints.
ST. Paul all along seems to have under
stood that his days were numbered. Ac-
cording to the Roman Catholic Church,
both he and st. Peter were bound for nine
months to a pillar in the horrible Manner
tine prison, and from there addressed their
farewells to the Christian world That Of
ST. Peters is found in the Second Epistle
of Peter. The fourteenth verse tells the
story:
Shortly I must put off this tabernacle"
etc. PauIs farewell address is the Second
Epistle to Timothy, and the seventh verse,
thus hints at the future: God has not
given US a, spirit OF fear.'
PLACE OF IMPRISONMENT.
The Mamertine prison is just off the
Roman forum. 1t was at first an old we'll
house. known the Tullianum, next used
as prison, and now it has been trans
formed into church-S. Pietro in Carcere.
1t was in this prison that Jugurtha starved
to DEATH Vercingetorix persisted, and Cata-
lines confederates paid the penalty of their
conspiracy. 1t is a horrible hole, particu-
larly the lower chamber. Even Sallust tells
us that 'fts appearance is repusive and
terrible on account Of the neglect, dark
ness, and smell" There are two prisons
proper, the upper one being more cheerful,
and having a staircase to the world of sun
light above. The lower prison, called Robur,
is nothing more than dungeon dug out
of the Roman tufa, with no windows and
until recently, with no doors The prisoners
were originally let down through a hole
in the ceiling. Lately, however, a staircase
has been put down, and with the aid of
candles, one can now make his escape from
Zimmerman darkness to welcome daylight.
According to the prevailing belief In the
catholic Church, both ST. Peter and st.
Paul spent the greater part of a year in
this horrible pit; and so great was their
faith and fortitude that they succeeded in
converting their jailers, Processus and Mar
tianus. And you are shown the very foun-
tain which sprung up miraculously out of
the hard rock In this dreary dungeon so
that the apostles could baptize these two
soldiers. Many Of the faithful drank from
the spring, and say that the water is clear.
pure and refreshing. My faith, however
was not equal to the occasion. Here also
one is shown the place on the wall where
st. Peter rested his head, and this mark,
too comes in for share of devotion, re-
ceiving many kisses from reverent be-
levers. The apostles certainly were blessed
with the faith to move mountains" IL
they could tighten and brighten such an
earthly Hades, and at the same time send
forth such inspired farewell addresses.
The Judgment hall in which sentence was
pronounced against st. Paul is said to be in
the imperial palace on the Palatine hill
known as the Domus Augustana Here you
are shown the Basilica with it's semi-circu-
lar tribune in which the great apostle was
condemned to death outside the walls 1t
seemed holy place to me- and reverently
plucked few ferns growing on the walls
as a memento The old palace of the
Caesars has been carefully excavated, and
you are surrounded with ruins Of departed
grandeur and glory. There is little left Of
the judgment hall, except the mosaic pave
ment and the well-built walls which rise
to the height of your head 1t was a spa
cious room in which the chief of the
apostles received his sentence, and might
have served for better purposes. And vet
there seemed to be fitness about it ALL
Romulus founded the old heather city on
Palatine hill, and on this same hill st. Paul
laid the foundations of a brighter and bet
ter world by the fortitude with which he
fought the good fight, finished the course
and kept the faith"
ON THE WAY TO EXECUTION.
After sentence was pronounced against
st. Paul, he was led out OF the city to
be executed. His route lay along the Os-
sian way through the old gate by that
rame. 1t is now known as the Porta S.
Paolo. Here it was that Emperor Claudius,
returning from Ostia to take vengeance
upon Messalina, was met by their children,
0cfavfa and Erifta pictls and q xyoS@al ~