Tag: firstmartyrsofthechurchofrome

Thought for the Day – 30 June – The Memorial of The First Holy Martyrs of the Church of Rome

Nero became the emperor of Rome in 54.   About 10 years later, he began to persecute the Christians.   When a terrible fire broke out in the city, Nero accused the Christians of causing it.   He increased his efforts to destroy them.   Nero had Christians covered with pitch and set on fire to light the way for his night drive through the park.   He had some Christians sewn into animal skins and left in the woods so that he and his guests could go hunting for them.   In the two centuries after Nero, thousands of Christians were put to death.   All these unnamed martyrs are honoured on this day, after the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, both of course Martyrs for their love of Christ.

Wherever the Good News of Jesus was preached, it met the same opposition as Jesus did, and many of those who began to follow Him shared His suffering and death.   But no human force could stop the power of the Spirit unleashed upon the world.   The blood of martyrs has always been, and will always be, the seed of Christians.   Do we stand up or crumble in the face of persecution?    I truly wonder how any of us would fair if faced with torture and death for the sake of Christ.

First Holy Martyrs of the Church of Rome, Pray for us!

Thought for the Day – 30 June

At one time, it was a crime to be a Christian and it still is in certain parts of the world.
In places less distant from us than a days plane trip, Christians are outlawed and imprisoned.
How would we respond in those circumstances?
Are you willing to give up everything for the sake of Christ – or – are you just talking?

Holy Martyrs of the Church of Rome, pray for us!

Saint/s of the Day – 30 June – The First Martyrs of the Church of Rome – the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome were Christians martyred in the city of Rome during Nero’s persecution in 64. The event is recorded by both Tacitus and Pope Clement I, among others.

There were Christians in Rome within a dozen or so years after the death of Jesus, though they were not the converts of the “Apostle of the Gentiles” (see Romans 15:20). Paul had not yet visited them at the time he wrote his great letter in A.D. 57-58.

There was a large Jewish population in Rome.   Probably as a result of controversy between Jews and Jewish Christians, the Emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from Rome in A.D. 49-50.   Suetonius the historian says that the expulsion was due to disturbances in the city “caused by the certain Chrestus” [Christ].   Perhaps many came back after Claudius’s death in A.D. 54.   Paul’s letter was addressed to a church with members from Jewish and gentile backgrounds.

In July of A.D. 64, more than half of Rome was destroyed by fire.   Rumour blamed the tragedy on Nero, who wanted to enlarge his palace.   He shifted the blame by accusing the Christians.   According to the historian Tacitus, a “great multitude” of Christians were put to death because of their “hatred of the human race.” Peter and Paul were probably among the victims.

Threatened by an army revolt and condemned to death by the senate, Nero committed suicide in A.D. 68 at the age of thirty-one.

Wherever the Good News of Jesus was preached, it met the same opposition as Jesus did and many of those who began to follow Him shared His suffering and death.   But no human force could stop the power of the Spirit unleashed upon the world.   The blood of martyrs has always been, and will always be, the seed of Christians.