The Catholic Book Club discussion

The history of the Catholic Church traditionally considers ten persecutions, corresponding to the reigns of the following emperors: Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius Severus, Maximinus, Decius, Valerian, Aurelianus and Diocletian. "The History of the Church" by Eusebius of Caesarea, which we read in September 2018, tells about all those persecutions. How can the Stoicism of Marcus Aurelius agree with the persecution of Christians during his reign? Have you learned anything about persecutions by reading this book?

Hello i have started to Reread the book i am in the second chapter. I remind that The Professor Manuel Alfonseca and me discussed about This topic. There is in Spain an evangelical writer César Vidal, that sometimes he wrote historical novels One of them It was entitled "Fire in the Sky" because This novel told a miracle that It happened a legion Who are fighting against the german. This novel was a chorus novel with several characters One of them was a Christian centurian. My friend and me discuss if the authentic Marcus Aurelius would have done my friend Alfonseca said yes and he advised to me that i Read the Marcus Aurelius meditations. Marcus Aurelius is the Last good emperor of the II century i think that his politic had been Closer to Trajan than Nero. In his history of the Christian Paul Johnson (This book was very critic with the christians, especially with Saint Augustine) said that Marcus Aurelius almost did not pursue and the christians Who pursued were of the heresies. I think that It is exagerated but It was not very hard.

I knew Marcus Aurelius only as a Stoic philosopher/popularizer and had forgotten he was an emperor, not sure I ever knew he persecuted Christians. Yes, it seems highly inconsistent with his emphasis on reason and moderation and self-control. But perhaps someone like this is terrified to observe believers passionate enough to die for what they believe. That at least raises the question whether there is some solid truth to what they confess and you've been mistaken and missed what makes life worth living.

We read last year about Justin Martyr, who wrote a letter to Marcus Aurelius, explaining the Christian faith to him. Justin certainly had the impression that the emperor could listen and understand.

However if we Read books as How the Church save the western Society Thomas A. Woods is very hard with the stoics and Saint Augustine is more merciful with the followers of Epicurus than the stoics Saint Augustine compared with the Pelagius's followers.

The persecution during the reign of Marcus Aurelius started on the East of the Empire, when the legions spread a plague contracted during the siege of Ctesiphon, as the book says, which was falsely attributed to the Christians. Persecution spread all around the Empire and affected mainly the part of Gallia around Lyons (Lugdunum) and Rome. Justin Martyr was executed in Rome.

Some historians doubt whether Marcus Aurelius knew about the persecution, or if it was managed mainly by governors, without directly affecting the Emperor.

Manuel wrote: "The persecution during the reign of Marcus Aurelius started on the East of the Empire, when the legions spread a plague contracted during the siege of Ctesiphon, as the book says, which was falsely..."

The thing that my friend writes is true in a lot of ocassions the persecution is started by the governor without the knowledge or the command of the Emperor. Paul Johnson considred that the persecution was very small and he persued only heretics christians, however Johnson wrote this book being very critic with the christianity. The only father of the Church, who escapes of his critics is Saint Ambrose of Milan.

The end although is the classic happy ending it is not only pink shade the spanish people would say color de rosa. I wanted to say that it was not a total happy ending. It has his sad point, however that author could not escape of the historical truth.The beggining of the plague, which caused enormous havocs to the demogarphy of the Roman Empire. Some think that the Roman Empire was not the same after the plague with him perished the best part of the human capital of the Roman Empire and with this we concluded one of the most beuatiful periods of the mankind the second century.
This thing a part was an excuse to persecute the chistiand believers and to charge unfairly of the plague. The death of the Zabbai`s parents showed the pain and drama of a lot of families we must remind this because at this moment we are living in other plague.

I have been reading a new series called Reclaiming Catholic History Series edited by Mike Aquilina and specifically the first book deals with many of these questions: The Early Church (33–313): St. Peter, the Apostles, and Martyrs by James L. Papandrea.

Steven R. wrote: "I have been reading a new series called Reclaiming Catholic History Series edited by Mike Aquilina and specifically the first book deals with many of these questions: [book:The Earl..."

It is very interesting. I am following to Mike Aquilina for a little time.

I think the persecution of Christians is reasoned with a false form of justice. The Christians being blamed for things can reasonably demand justice. So if they for example are responsible for the spreading of the plague then that persecution is excused as a form of just leadership. Likewise at anytime Christians are not following the law of the land or will not proclaim various beliefs the punishment is for a crime or to right what is seen as a wrong. I think this happens in various religious persecutions but includes Christians as well.

Crystal wrote: "I think the persecution of Christians is reasoned with a false form of justice. The Christians being blamed for things can reasonably demand justice. So if they for example are responsible for the ..."

This is true from the first persecution, Nero's, which was reasoned as (false) justice because Christians had supposedly set fire to Rome.

Later on, however, Christians were persecuted just because they were adverse to the Roman laws, which requested giving divine worship to the Emperor.

In the second book in the series, persecution (in the time of Valerian) is pervasive, and there is no longer the need of making scapegoats of Christians, it's enough that they are Christians.

In the third book, however, Christianity has won against Paganism, but even so there's some persecution (of Catholics by Arians).

So it can be said that the whole trilogy deals with persecution.

Steven R. wrote: "I have been reading a new series called Reclaiming Catholic History Series edited by Mike Aquilina and specifically the first book deals with many of these questions: [book:The Earl..."

Steven, if that's something you thing the group might enjoy, please feel free to nominate it (at least the first book) in the nominations thread.