A visit to the catacombs, or first Christian cemeteries of Rome, and a midnight visit to mount Vesuvius1849 |
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Common terms and phrases
adoration ancient apostle appear Appian ascended ashes beautiful beheld believed blaze blessed blocks of lava bone buried burning burnt earth Cæcilia Metalla carriage Cata caverned Christ Church of Rome crater crucifix dead death descended Diocletian early Christians earth error excavating feet fire fisherman of Galilee formed fossers were employed Gallery gate of San gloom graves of martyrs guides handkerchief heathen Hermitage idolatry inscriptions interesting light living Lord lower region martyrdom MIDNIGHT VISIT mind monk monuments Mount Vesuvius mountain mule Naples opened Pagan Rome persecution Peter's Font Pompeii Pope Pius Pope Pius IX prayers pride quo vadis relics religion ridge of cinders Roman Catholic Roman Christians Roman empire sacred saints San Sebastiano sand-diggers Saviour scene seen side simple cross singular smoke splendid spot stone strange subterranean suffering summit superstition symbol thou tombs torches traced truth tufa Vatican Virgin VISIT TO MOUNT volcano walk wonderful worship
Popular passages
Page 35 - God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but have life everlasting.
Page 34 - Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth ; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
Page 5 - I have commanded you, and lo ! I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.
Page 7 - Latin language, and sometimes mark the periods when matters of faith were introduced. The inscriptions are frequently very touching : the influence of a purer creed is apparent in the constant reference to a state beyond the grave, which contrasts in a striking manner with the hopeless grief expressed in the Roman monuments.
Page 12 - To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Page 27 - ... The guides however afford every assistance, and by means of a leathern strap thrown over their shoulders ease the traveller not a little in his exertions. It is advisable to proceed slowly and rest at intervals, as the fatigue otherwise is sufficient to try even strong and youthful constitutions. • When we reached the summit we found ourselves on a narrow ledge of burnt earth or cinders, with the crater of the volcano open beneath us. This orifice in its present form, for it varies at almost...
Page 28 - ... we could not in safety go lower or even remain in our station, we reascended. We were near enough to the bottom however to observe, that it seemed to be a sort of crust of brown burnt earth, and that a little on one side there were three orifices like funnels, from whence ascended a...
Page 21 - ... universe, was staked on the patience of that Man of Sorrows ; God's eye must see beyond the darkness, the vision of that day, with the promise of which the whole universe travails ; a promise whose fulfilment that patience would assure. Believing, they were content to wait for it ; and to reckon that the sufferings of this present life were not worthy to be compared with the glory which would be revealed in them, in the day of the manifestation of the sons of God.
Page 8 - ... does not occur on any monument which is referred upon good evidence to the first 4 centuries; and the subject of the crucifixion is so rarely met with, that it would seem to have been purposely avoided for at least 2 centuries later. The Virgin and Child is supposed to have been introduced in the 6th century for the first time as a distinct composition. A careful examination of these monuments is an appropriate and instructive study after a visit to the Catacombs.
Page 24 - ... of natural fireworks, dispersing as by the force of an internal explosion, and falling in a glowing shower on the outer sides of the crater, which soon presented the appearance of a heap of fire.