Catholic Thought discussion

Summary

One evening a Senator, Scevinus, visits Petronius and openly talks of the dissatisfaction in the Roman people over Nero, and of the potential of overthrowing the emperor. Petronius warns him about such talk. Scevinus tells him that the next day will be the last of the Christians to be slaughtered in the games. Petronius realizes this could be the end of Lygia and decides to make one last effort on Nero. That night at Nero’s feast, Petronius tells Nero that he will celebrate a wedding feast, the wedding of Lygia and Vinicius which the emperor himself had given permission. Nero is a little surprised at this, but Tigellinus tells Nero she is still in prison on Nero’s command. Nero plays along and says they will celebrate the wedding after the last of the games.

The Roman people, tired of the blood sport, still populate the theater knowing they will be coming to an end. Everyone expects the death of the beautiful Lygia, but they do not know how she would be slaughtered. Vinicuis, reconciled to her death, comes to perhaps see her one last time, but in his soul he rages for revenge against Nero and hopes for a miracle. The spectacle begins with Ursus entering into the arena, and everyone marvels at the giant they had heard about. Hoping to be crucified, Ursus stands in the middle of the arena looking at the crowd, then dropping to his knees to pray. The crowd howls with disappointment. The want to see him fight. Then the trumpets blast and a bull is let into the arena with the unconscious body of Lygia strapped to the bull’s horns. The crowd gasps, and Ursus in a rush runs to the bull and grabs him by the horns. The bull and the giant lock in a battle of strength, the bull trying to gore Ursus, Ursus trying to twist the bull’s neck. The amphitheater is in an amazed silence as they watch the deadlock between the man and the beast, neither of the two pushing the other back, both straining to the limit of their strength. When Ursus’s muscles are ready to yield, the bull’s neck slowly twists until his neck breaks and he dies. The amphitheater is finally able to breath and then goes wild. Ursus unties Lygia and carrying her still unconscious body to the podium in front of Nero begs mercy for her. The crowd, clearly endeared to Ursus, roars and gives the sign for mercy. Vinicius jumps into the arena and goes beside Ursus and Lygia and shows the scars on his body fighting for Roman wars. Tigellinus tells Nero to have them slain. Nero wants to have them slaughtered but becomes afraid of the vociferous crowd, and relents.

Lygia, still unconscious, is taken to Petronius’s house with Vinicius praising God the whole way. A physician who was dispatched declares that once the fever passes, Lygia should recover. That night Lygia’s consciousness returns for a moment and then falls back into a sleep. Vinicius kneels by her all night long in prayer.

Petronius, wanting to find out if there were any further schemes from the palace, goes to visit Nero. Nero, angry at how the events had turned, does not wish to speak to Petronius, but Petronius tells him to write a poem on the magnanimity of the emperor toward a young maiden. Nero is pleased with the suggestion and plans to use the subject to glorify himself. Still when he returns home advises Vinbicius to take Lygia to Sicily. Vinicius agrees but plans to take her to Pomponia as she recovers. Vinicius feels an immense happiness.

Christians from across the Rome visit Lygia at Petronius’s home. The apostle Peter stops by one night. Vinicius thanks him for all the prayers which led to Lygia’s being saved. Peter tells him that he expects to be a victim of Nero’s continuing persecutions. Vinicius implores him to leave Rome and save himself. But Peter tells Vinicius how the Lord had predicted one day he would be crucified. Days later, Petronius informs Vinicius that letters of Peter and Paul are found on a Christian soldier, and Tigellinus has set up a search to nab them. Ursus and Vinicius rush to see Peter and tell him of a means to escape Rome. Peter, unafraid, is undecided. He wants to stay in Rome, but his followers have mostly been killed. After days and nights in uncertainty Peter listens to Linus to leave and convert more followers elsewhere.

The next day at dawn, two people are walking away from Rome. One is Peter, who was persuaded to leave Rome, the other is Nazarius. Peter sees a vague figure in the sunlight up ahead. Nazarius sees nothing. Suddenly Peter is astonished to recognize the vague figure as Christ and falls to the ground. Peter in tears mutters the words, “Quo vadis, Domine?” which means, “where are you going, Lord?” The answer which only Peter could hear is “If you desert my people, I am going to Rome to be crucified a second time.” And Peter straightway turns around to return to Rome. He tells the others that he has seen the Lord. From then on he goes to the Christian cemetery to preach daily.

Two groups of soldiers are dispensed. One group arrest Peter and the other Paul. Even in prison, Peter converts two guards. On the day before his crucifixion, Peter is flogged. On the next day he was led to Vatican Hill. He is too old to be made to carry a cross, but he walks with dignity and majesty. Satisfied with his life’s work, Peter walks with joy. As he walks, he envisions the future city that will be the center of the Christian world. At last he reaches the destination and he prays and blesses the city and the world. That evening another detachment of soldiers lead Paul outside the city. He will have more respect since he is a Roman citizen. He too walks with peace and tranquility. He thinks back over his life as he walks. When he reaches the destination of his execution, he places a veil around his head to cover his eyes.

With the Christians finally dispatched, the aristocrats of Rome hatch a plot to assassinate Nero, but Nero is ahead of them and has many of the highest nobles of Rome killed as well as their families. Even Poppaea is killed. The Senate trembles in fear.

And Nero lost his city to St. Peter!

Those with Bishop Robert Barron’s Word On Fire ministry will be aware that the Institute publishes a journal four times a year. The latest issue, titled ‘’Conversion,” contains a two-page article by essayist Joseph Susanka on Quo Vadis. Here are some lines which I think fit in well with our reading:

‘’The years Sienkiewicz spent researching the demise of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and his attentiveness to its chaotic detail give the book both focus and narrative precision. There is a power in the historical particulars that serve as the perfect backdrop to his characters’ lives. . .

‘’While the story of Marcus Vinicius’ journey toward the Catholic faith gives the work its narrative thrust, the most powerful image of conversion for me is that of Peter turning back toward Rome, both literally and figuratively. Petrus, the Rock, the leader of Christ’s earthly Church, must be reminded to abandon himself to divine providence, to turn back, to suffer and die, and to be transformed.

‘’Returning to Sienkiewicz’s work after years away, that is the most striking message the book offers me. If even St. Peter had strayed far enough from the path of truth to necessitate his Savior’s gentle chiding, how much more so must we answer Christ’s call to be renewed and transformed, again and again, day by day, until we come at last to our final home.

‘’Quo Vadis? Where are you going?’’

‘’Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.’ ‘’

— Evangelization Culture, Issue No. 18, ‘’Conversion,’’ Winter, 2023, pages 21-23.

Thank you for posting this except, Frances. That image from the book has really stayed with me.

*excerpt, not except. My autocorrect is aggressive!

Mine is the same way, Michelle. Thank goodness there’s an ‘’edit’’ button!

Wonderful, Frances. I think I'm finally going to commit and subscribe to Bishop Barron's journal. I find him the most solid of the Catholic voices speaking out there, neither part of the hermeneutic of rupture of the liberals nor the hermeneutic of suspicion of the reactionary conservatives. He is what Catholicism should be.

Well said, Manny. I agree. Candidly, I don’t know how Bishop Barron produces all that he does, and all of high quality. For those interested in joining the Word On Fire Institute, dues are $27 a month. But there are many low cost items available, too. Right now his Lenten booklet is being offered free of charge, with only a shipping fee.

I just recently subscribed to his Liturgy of the Hours. Word on Fire will mail each months readings to me so that we're all in sync. He's wonderful.

I had no clue how the climatic scene of Lygia and Ursus in the arena would happen. Normally I try to look ahead of a book and know the rough outline so that I can understand the writer as the scenes develop. For this book, I’ve known nothing nor tried to read a summary somewhere. The Ursus and Lygia scene in the arena with the bull was breathtaking. I had no idea that was to develop, and I had no idea how it would resolve as I read. In that moment of Ursus and the bull locked in a death struggle I was in stunned anticipation. I could see it going in many directions. When Ursus won and brought Lygia’s unconscious body to the emperor’s podium and begged for her mercy—not even his—I was literally in tears. I had joined the Roman spectators in the amphitheater, totally rooting for Ursus. What masterful writing!

I have not finished the novel, but it seems to me the Ursus struggle with the bull scene was the climax of the story, and from there on a denouement to tidy up loose ends. Peter and Paul’s executions are part of that “tidying up.”

On the other hand, Peter seeing the Lord who speaks the words that would become the novel's title seems significant enough to be a climax. But ultimately I would argue that it's not the climax. The novel starts with Vinicius, Petronius, Lygia, and Ursus. Peter is really a supporting role.

On that note, I was surprised that neither Peter’s nor Paul’s execution was narrated. Sienkiewicz narrated all the way to the executions but he does not show them. They were sort of off-stage. Was that out of respect for the great apostles? He narrated lots of other deaths and gore. He wasn’t shy about it before this. I was a little surprised actually.

Michelle wrote: "And Nero lost his city to St. Peter!"

Yes. I loved it!