Still amongst all this trouble she had one great
comfort. Under the mild rule of Vespasian, although their meeting-places
were known, the Christians had peace for a while. Therefore, in company
with Julia and many others of the brotherhood, she was able to visit the
catacombs on the Appian Way by night, and there in those dismal, endless
tombs to offer prayer and receive the ministrations of the Church. The
great Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul, had suffered martyrdom, indeed,
but they had left many teachers behind them, and the chief of these soon
grew to know and love the poor Jewish captive who was doomed to slavery.
Therefore here also she found friends and consolation of spirit.
In time Gallus came to learn that his wife was also of the Faith, and
for a while this knowledge seemed to cast him down. In the end, however,
he shrugged his shoulders and said that she was certainly of an age to
judge for herself and that he trusted no harm might come of it. Indeed,
when the principles of the Christian hope were explained to him, he
listened to them eagerly enough, who had lost his only child, and until
now had never heard this strange story of resurrection and eternal life.
Still, although he listened, and even from time to time was present when
the brethren prayed, he would not be baptised, who said that he was too
sunk in years to throw incense on a new altar.
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