Within twenty years after Christ died, the Gospel had reached the center of the Empire. A small community of converts gathered in Rome. In July of the year 64, a fire broke out in the city and spread rapidly in the summer heat. Within ten days, two-thirds of the city was destroyed. Suspicions of arson centered on the Emperor Nero himself, who was composing an epic poem while the city burned. Notoriously brutal and unbalanced, Nero fixed the blame on the Christians. He had them arrested, interrogated, and then murdered for his personal entertainment. Tertullian’s famous saying aptly describes the impact of their witness: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” Credit: as published by Magnificat, June 30, 2020. For more about these great saints and courageous, earliest Christian witnesses of the faith, please click on the image. Peace be with you!

Within twenty years after Christ died, the Gospel had reached the center of the Empire. A small community of converts gathered in Rome. In July of the year 64, a fire broke out in the city and spread rapidly in the summer heat. Within ten days, two-thirds of the city was destroyed. Suspicions of arson centered on the Emperor Nero himself, who was composing an epic poem while the city burned. Notoriously brutal and unbalanced, Nero fixed the blame on the Christians. He had them arrested, interrogated, and then murdered for his personal entertainment. Tertullian’s famous saying aptly describes the impact of their witness: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” Credit: as published by Magnificat, June 30, 2020. For more about these great saints and courageous Christian witnesses of the faith, please click on the image. Peace be with you!