In the annals of history, the 20th century may well be remembered as the return of the age of martyrs. For the first three hundred years of Christianity, Christians courageously faced death rather than deny their faith. A quick survey of the vast expanse of the Church’s entire history, however, reveals the astonishing fact that 65% of all martyrs belong to the last century.
In the English language, the word “Spartan” has come to mean austere. The culture of ancient Sparta was so harsh that mothers would send their sons off to war with the warning, “Return with your shield or on it.” Spartan austerity began at birth. New-born infants were examined and if they were not fit, they were left to die.
In Rome, under the present site of the Church of St. Clement, close to the Coliseum, a tourist can visit one of the largest temples dedicated to the god Mithras ever built in Italy. In the 1st century A.D., Rome introduced this Persian deity to its citizens. The discovery of hundreds of inscriptions to this foreign god and 75 sculpture fragments confirm his popularity, especially among soldiers. The acceptance of this foreign god is but one example of Rome’s attitude towards religion.
Today’s heightened sensitivity to the evil of sexual harassment is a far cry from the distinctly pagan origins of St. Valentine’s Day. Many believe that our celebration of love and friendship on February 14 is actually the raucous Roman festival Lupercalia that morphed into a Christian feast. This may well have been Rome’s longest-lasting pagan festival.