CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE - COURSE THIRD - CHAPTER 20-Christianity established-Divinity of Religion - Fourth Century

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Q. What remark do you make on the history of the martyrs?
A. I remark that God chose the martyrs from all the different countries in the world, in order to show the unity and catholicity of the faith in all ages and conditions of life, thereby teaching us that every age and condition has given saints to heaven, and can still give them.


Q. What do you observe respecting the death of the persecutors?
A. Their death is a visible proof of the justice of God. The punishment they received whilst yet on earth teaches us to fear God; and this fear helps to strengthen religion. Thus martyrs and tyrants contribute, each in their way, to the glory of Jesus Christ.


Q. Who gave peace to the Church?
A. It was Constantine, son of Constantius Chlorus, that gave peace to the church. On the eve of a battle a luminous cross appeared in the heavens to Constantine and his whole army. On the middle of the cross there appeared these words: " In this sign shalt thou conquer." On the following night our Lord appeared to Constantine and ordered him to make a standard similar to that he had seen in the heavens, and promised him he should obtain the victory. Constantine obeyed and was victorious. He entered Rome, and declared himself the protector of the Christian religion, to which he granted peace and liberty in 313.


Q. What does the establishment of the church prove?
A. The establishment of the church proves the divinity of religion ; it was established despite all human power; therefore God is its author.


Q. How could we reason with the impious?
A. We could reason with the impious thus: The Christian religion was established by miracles, or without them-which do you choose? If you say it was established by miracles, then it is divine, it is true; because God cannot work miracles to authorize falsehood. If, on the contrary, you say that the Church was established without miracles, you admit the greatest of all miracles; for the universe converted by a dozen fishermen is the greatest of miracles.


Q. What has the church effected in becoming free?
A. The church, in becoming free, has changed legislation so as to render it mild and equitable;
she has abolished the severity of slavery, polygamy, divorce, the right to sell or destroy children; in a word, she has ameliorated the whole condition of man.

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CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE - COURSE THIRD - CHAPTER 20-Christianity established-Divinity of Religion - Fourth Century - AN HISTORICAL, DOCTRINAL,MORAL, AND LITURGICAL EXPOSITION OF THE CATHOLIC RELIGION Translated from the French of Mgr Gaume by REV. F. B. JAMISON