The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-08-25
THE RESIDENCE OF THE POPE

derground refugees of the prosecuted
Church These catacombs were orig
inally burialplaces, constructed by the
Jews in Rome, and later by the Chris
tians, after the manner of burial-places
in Palestine The resting places of
the dead were respected by the Roman
law, and hence in time of persecution
they became places of refuge, although
they were sometimes invaded. Their
secret character and intricate laby-
rinths of galleries, sometimes story
upon story, also contributed to render
them secure places for the celebration
of the sacred mysteries.
BY their Inscriptions, their mural
paintings and sculptured sarcophagi,
the catacombs are historical monu-
ments of great Importance, furnishing
records of those yearsg illustrating the
beginnings of Christian art, and espe-
cially proving that the dogmas of our
Faith today are identical with those or
early Christians. And, needless to
say, the catacombs are filled with sac
red memories One feels, in threading
those dark passages, that here indeed
is holy ground-here is planted the
seed which has grown throughout the
world.
The edict of Constantine the Great
in the year 313 gave liberty to the
Church, and the triumphant Christian
faith became the religion of the Roman
empire. The years that follow have
left us their monuments in the church
es that were then erected, in simple
and stately basilican style. Constan-
tine gave to the Popes the Lateran
property and erected there church
called the Basilica of the Savior, now
known as tie Basilica of st. John Lat
erarl. This is the Cathedral of the
City of Rome. In st. John Lateran the
Pope is Bishop of Rome, while in ST.
Peters he is Pontiff of the Universal
Church. The Lateran property is still,
| like the Vatican, the domain of the
Pope, regarded as extra-territorial by
| the Italian Government. The Lateran,
palace, for long years the residence of
1.-THE Popes, and now much reduced in
size, today houses the treasure of the
Pontifica1 Museum of Christian antiqui-
ties. -,
| Christian BasiIicas.
| Constantine also erected basilicas
above the tombs of the Apostles Peter
and Paul, on the Vatican Hill and on
| the Ostian Way; not, however, the
present great edifices, which are both
| of later date. Other basilicas which
recall the years of Constantine are, es-
Ipecially, those of the Holy Cross, OF
/ st. Lawrence outside the walls, of st.
/ Agnes outside the walls, and the adj
/ joining Church of St. Constantia. Still
other basiIicas recalling the succeed
/ ing years are those of st. Clement,
near the Coliseum, on the site of the
home of ST. Clement, one of the early
i Popes, of IS. John and Paul on the
Coelian Hill, and of st. Mary Major on
the Aesquiline. These churches have
undergone more or less alteration in
the course of long centuries, but they
i still recall vividly the years of early
triumphant Christianity.
i When Constantine built the new cap
i ital on the Bosphorus, which is named
j Constantinople, after him, and took up
his residence there, Rome was. left to
the Popes. Not only did the Popes
then become, by good right and popu
lar desire, the temporal rulers of the
:. lefty, but Rome remainedsa cosmopoli
I tan center=a world-capital, now, how
Lever, because here was the residence
/ lof the Pontiff who was Head Of the
L Universal Church. Rome possessed
st. Peters tomb and the succession Il
list. Peters ofTice Hither came Chris
u lcontlnued On paGe S.