'STAND FAST IN THE FAITH'

New Zealand Tablet, 23 July 1914, Page 3

'STAND FAST IN THE FAITH'

(A Weekly Instruction specially written for the ff./L Tablet by ‘Ghimki..’) EARLY HISTORY OF THE CHURCH (VIL) (Continued.) The events hitherto described — Pentecost; the Martyrdom of St. Stephen, the conversion of St. Paul, the reception of the pagans into the Church by St. Peter — took place between the years 30 and 42. We must be content with these rough dates, for more detailed information is not given us in early Christian literature. Dining the same period events had been moving rapidly in the civil government of Palestine. Pontius Pilate, of sad memory, was called to Rome by the Empeior liberius to answer certain accusations of cruelty, and was banished by Cains Caligula, the successor of liberius, to Vienne, on the Rhone, and ‘there is a wild rugged mountain by the Lake of Lucerne in Switzerland, where the unhappy man who delivered the Son of God to be crucified is said to have killed himself in despair. In the year 42, Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great, and brother of the infamous Herodias, was made king of Judea—lie had been governor of the tetrachies of Philip and of Herod Antipas (the country beyond the Jordan and Galilee) for some years, lie reigned three years. During the first years alter tlie conversion of St. Paul, the Churches throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had rest from persecution, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplied ’ (Acts ix., 31). But soon the Christian communities felt the lash of persecution. Herod Agrippa half Jew, half pagan — wishing to ,ingratiate himself with his Jewish subjects, and especially with the leaders of the priestly aristocracy, willingly agreed to wipe out the new sect. One of the apostles, James, son of Zebedee, sometimes spoken of as St. James the Great, was put to the sword. Two centuries later St. Clement of Alexandria wrote down the tradition of his martyrdom : ‘ The man who led St. James to the judgment seat saw him bearing his testimony to the faith and was so moved by it that ho confessed himself a Christian. He was, therefore, led away to die with the Apostle. On their way he entreated James to forgive him; the Apostle, after a. few moments’ thought, replied, “Peace be to thee,” and kissed him; and both were beheaded together.’ St. Peter was also arrested, and the same fate was destined for him, only with this addition however that his death was to entertain the people after the Paschal Feast. But in answer to the unceasing prayers of the faithful, lie was released from prison by an angel, and leaving Jerusalem, ‘ went into another place.’ Herod died shortly after, in the year 44. The story is told in the Acts, and we cannot but notice the contrast between the fate of Saul, who persecuted the Church ignorantly in unbelief, and that of the king of Judea, who ‘saw it pleased the Jews.’ ‘And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and there abode. And upon an appointed day, Herod being arrayed in kingly apparel, sat in the judgment seat, and made an oration to them. And the people made acclamation, saying, It is the voice of God, and not of a man. And forthwith an angel of the Lord struck him, because he had not given the honor to God ; and being eaten up by worms, lie gave up the ghost.’ After the death of Herod, Judea was again made a Roman province, procurators, were sent to govern it, and for a while the Catholics enjoyed a certain measure of peace. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into heaven most probably took place during these .days of peace. Her pure body could not taste the corruption of the tombher all-powerful Son would not permit such an indignity'; Queen of Heaven, she must enter by the royal way.

A very old tradition tells ns that it was about this time the Apostles, who had hitherto remained together in Jerusalem, separated. The persecution of Herod, which was especially directed against' them, would explain their departure ; and in any case it was lime to set about fulfilling the Lord’s commands to go and teach all nations, for the Jews as a body gave no sign of receiving the Gospel message and the pagan world sorely needed light and grace. According to tradition (borne out by many hints in the Epistles), the Apostles, before separating, drew up a standard of faith,' similar to, it not in the exact words of the Creed, known to ns now as the ‘ Apostles’ Creed.’