In the year 64 AD, the Roman Emperor Nero had developed a reputation for being violent, impulsive, and extravagant. Many thought he was crazy. A fire broke out in Rome that burned for nine days and destroyed most of the city. Some say that Nero was responsible for the fire, but according to Nero, it was the Christians who were to blame. He systematically rounded up everyone who was a Christian—men and women who learned directly from the Apostles Peter and Paul—and then martyred them brutally. Some were crucified, some were fed to wild dogs, and some were covered in tar or wax and burned alive as human torches to light the streets. Rather than stopping Christianity, the martyrdoms helped it spread throughout Rome… like a fire.
CHALLENGE
All too often, we know the mechanics of our Catholic faith and the words we use, but we don’t take their meaning and make them our own. The First Martyrs of Rome were martyrs specifically because they embraced the meaning of the faith… and were willing to die for what had become part of them. Today, make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament in Eucharistic adoration, and fervently pray: “I do believe, Lord: help my unbelief.”
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