If you go to Rome
you can see atop the inside walls of St. Peter’s Basilica which was constructed
by the famous Italian painter-architect-sculptor-poet Michelangelo (1475-1564)
the words from Scripture Mt. 16:10 written in Latin: Et Portae Inferi non pravelebunt adversus eam
[translated: And the powers (gates) of Hell shall never prevail against my
Church]. Throughout history, since the very first century when the Church
was founded and even in the years following till our very own times, such words
of Jesus have been proven true. In fact even if there have been hundreds of martyrs who were sacrificed
and died for the faith, those words of Jesus have proven true. “I tell you most solemnly, unless a wheat
grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it
dies, it yields a rich harvest” (Jn. 12:24).
That was the
experience and surprise of those who wanted the harm and downfall of the
Catholic Church, the greater their numbers multiplied. So came another Latin adage: Sanguis martyrum semen est Christianitatis [translated: The blood of martyrs is the seed
of Christianity]. This
would likewise include the tireless efforts and sacrifices of the followers of
Jesus to proclaim and live His teachings of goodness, love, honesty, and justice. God knows all those deepest secrets and
motions of our heart and actions. “He will reward each one according to his works” (Mt. 16:27). The Lord hath said: “Vengeance is mine; I
will repay” (Rom. 12:19; Dt. 32:35).
I totally agree. The Church has indeed outlived every major Empire. And the sacrificed lives of countless martyrs was not a lessening of the church in their time... but a proof for us in our present time that what they died for is really really true!
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