Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-05-12

Of literary kind after that which the age
OF the fathers gave II, though there is
SUFFICIENT evidence OF its intense popularity
among the pilgrims who from all parts of
the world thronged Rome during the
medieval era. on the other hand, and
here again by a reversion of the common
laws OF legendary If the actual beginning
of the story be obscure It has early and
serious attestors,
The total silence shroudlng both the
event and the beginnings OF the story may
be assumed to be fair evidence for attribut-
ing its origin to the crowd, or some name
less artihcers of graceful myths. There
can be no doubt that II is another Of the
cases, Astounding in the first centuries Of
Christianity, of the Imagination working
on the scriptures.
The formation OF the story may be con-
nected with second century musing on the
sixteenth chapter, and two other parts of
the gospel of st. John. In the sixteenth
chapter, the Lord has held his last DIS
course with the disciples. But these
things / have told YOU that, when the hour
OF them shall come, you may remember
that told you. But told you not these
things from the beginning, because I was
with you And now / go TO Him that sent
me, and none OF you asketh me- Whittier
goest thou! (Quo VadisO"
Then there is the sudden apparition in
the twenty-frst chapter OF ST. Johns gos-
pei, and to the spirit OF these shapters
which affect the special relations of Peter
with Jesus and touch upon the fisherman's
ardent and impetuous nature the idea
breathing in the legend OF the QUO Vadis
answers I'm very marked and full, assuredly
not casual, correspondence Then again
In he hNrNna -
verse. we read: Simon Peter said unto
him. Lord, whittier goest thou? Jesus an
Bwered, Whittier l go, thou canst not follow
me now. but thou shalt follow me after
ward"
The legend Is substantially as follows
81. Peter leaves under friendly compulslon
from his jailers, Identified as Saints Pro
census and Martlnianus, and from his flock.
80 he bade them farewell, and blessed
the brethren and started Off alone TO seek
safety without the walls.
"And when he had scarcely passed the
city gates he saw Christ coming TO him. and
he fell down and worshipped him, and said
to him. Lord whittier goest thouT And
Christ said to him, ! come 10 Rome to be
crucihed once more And Peter said to
him, Lord wilt thou be crucined afresh p
And the Lord said to him. Yea I shall be
crucihed afresh. And Peter said, L will
turn back and follow thee
"And when he had so spoken. the Lord
assembled into heaven, And Peter followed
him with longing eyes and sweet tears.
and then, when he had come 10 himself he
understood that It was spoken Of his own
passion. for 50 he. the Lord, does suffer in
all the chosen by the compassion Of his
mercy and the power OF his glory. And
Peter turned back and went into the city
with Joy clarifying God and telling the
brethren how that he. Jesus, was In him
about TO be crucihed again"
Among the vouchers that the story has
IN It's behalf there is Ovigen Cborn A. D,
1857. who IN the long drawn reasoning OF
his commentaries on the Fourth Gosnel
had occasion 10 collect from 81. Paul, for
purpose OF comparison various texts about
erucfying OF Christ again through
lapses after illumination received, and re-
crucihxion OF self with Christ through
abnegation. In the midst OF thees texts
he says; And II VIC admit what Is written
IN the Acts Of ST. Paul as something said
by the Savior, ! must be orueihed anew,
just as one admits this, I must be cruolhed
anew after the coming so also before the
coming one must admit that there Is oc-
caslon 10 allow this when there IS the same
cause for saying I must be cruc.hed." II
has been argued that the name OF Peter
should be substituted for that OF Paul IN
the text or Origen az the titlo OF tho Acts
but the modification has been refused on
the plea that origen had already made