The Title of Martyr. The title of martyr with all that it conveyed to the minds of the faithful was not given lightly. We are far enough, of course, in those early times from the modern rules concerning canonization of the saints. Usually the title to religious veneration was based simply on popular acclamation. But in the case of the martyrs care was exercised by the Church authorities from a very early time. Lists were kept in every church of those who had died for Christ and whose memory was worthy of honour. No heretic or schismatic, or one who had sought his own death, might be inscribed upon these lists even if his death for Christ was undisputed. The right of placing a name thereon was reserved to the Bishop; and till this had been done the title of martyr could not be given. This process was called vindicatio and was very strictly demanded. So at Carthage during the time of the persecution of Diocletian, a certain matron called Lucilla was called in question for having paid religious honour to one who "though a martyr had not yet been vindicated," cujusdam mortui, etsi Martyris, sed necdum vindicati. Nor could any stronger proof be brought of the rigour with which the discipline was enforced than is afforded by the tombstone of Pope St. Fabian, which is still in situ in the catacomb of St. Callixtus. There the title, as any one can see, was not inscribed at the time, although space was left for it. There was no doubt of his martyrdom, the clergy of Rome made it the subject of an encyclical letter, but there was no bishop to sign the vindicatio, for the see was vacant and remained vacant for eighteen months. When at last Cornelius had succeeded, and the vindicatio could be carried through, the relics had long been 1 Optatus, "De schism. Dom.," i. 16. 1 * buried and the stone was already in situ. Hence, when the title of martyr was added the two letters MR were cut less deeply into the slab, lest the stone should be split by the force which was then applied. Nothing could speak more eloquently either as to the greatness of the honour that was thus held to be done to him, or the care of the Church that such honour should not be given to any that were not worthy to receive it (see Plate). How true it has proved to be that "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty". The great ones who condemned them have long since passed into oblivion and no man recks of their sepulchres, but the martyrs are honoured and venerated with an honour that grows with the ages. "We fools accounted their lives madness and their end to be without honour. But now their lot is among the saints and they are numbered among the children of the Highest." 2 CHAPTER IV. The Collegia and the Catacombs. IN nothing was the law of ancient Rome more remarkable than in its care for the memorials and buryingplaces of the dead. Such places acquired, by the very fact that men had been there laid to rest, a quasireligious and sacred character. Henceforward no man might offer them for sale, if by so doing he would alienate them from the families of those who were buried there. Even if a whole estate changed hands, the loca religiosa did not pass with it, and it was never lawful to deny to any family the right of access to the tombs of its ancestors. This jealous care was not confined to the burial-places of the rich; the tombs of the poor, and even of slaves, could claim the same right; nor was the protection of the law refused to the last resting-place of those who had suffered as transgressors against it. Only in rare instances was there added to the sentence of death the further penalty of the denial of funeral rites. In all other cases all men, once they were dead, were equal before the law, and it was the duty of the Pontifices to watch over their tombs and to see that no man disturbed in any way the arrangements which had been made. These arrangements for keeping alive the memory of the dead were often very elaborate. Ordinarily they included memorial feasts, to be provided out of money |