It is my custom, my Lord, to refer all questions to you if I
am in doubt. Who can better direct my hesitation or instruct my ignorance? I have never been present at judicial
examinations of the Christians, so I don't know how and to what extent it is
customary to punish or to search for them.
I have hesitated greatly as to whether any distinction
should be made on the ground of age, or whether the weak should be treated in
the same way as the strong. Should pardon be granted to the penitent? Or is
there risk that one who has always been a Christian gain nothing by renouncing
it?
Should the mere name be punished, even if no crime or crimes
are associated with the name?
Here's what I have done to date: I have asked them if they
were Christians. If they have confessed, I have asked them a second and third
time, threatening them with punishment. If they have persisted, I have
commanded them to be led away to punishment.
There really wasn't any doubt that pertinacious and inflexible obstinacy
ought to be punished no matter what they might have confessed. There have been others afflicted with a
similar insanity whom—since they were Roman citizens—I have decided should be
sent to Rome .
As commonly happens, as time has passed, the crime was
extended, and many varieties of cases have appeared. An anonymous document was
published containing the names of many persons. Those who denied that they were
or had been Christians I thought ought to be released, after they had followed
my example in invoking the gods and offering incense and wine to your image.
I ordered your image to be brought with the images of the
gods for that very purpose.
I also had them curse Christ—something they say that those
who are truly Christians cannot be compelled to do.
Others, accused by an informer, first said that they were
Christians and afterwards denied it. They said that they had indeed been
Christians, but stopped. Some said three years, some several years, and one
even twenty years before.
All of them adored your image and the statues of the gods,
and cursed Christ.
On top of this, they affirmed that this was the sum of their
guilt or error:
They had been accustomed to come together on a fixed day
before daylight and to sing responsively a song to Christ as God. They bound
themselves with an oath—not to commit some crime—but, on the contrary, that
they would not commit theft, nor robbery, nor adultery, that they would not
break faith, nor refuse to return a deposit when asked for it.
When they had done these things, their custom was to
separate and to assemble again to partake of a meal, common yet harmless (which
is not the characteristic of a nefarious superstition)
They stopped doing this after my edict. You had asked me to
prohibit fraternities, so I did.
Because you asked this, I considered it all the more
necessary to examine, even with the use of torture, two female slaves who were
called deaconesses, in order to get to the truth. But I found nothing except a
superstition depraved and immoderate.
Therefore, I have postponed further inquiry, and I have
turned to thee for advice.
The matter seems to me to be worth consulting about,
especially because of the number of people involved! Many of every age and of
every rank and of both sexes have been and will be brought to trial.
The contagion of this superstition has permeated not only
the cities, but also the villages and even the country districts. Apparently,
though, it can be halted and corrected.
At any rate, it is certainly a fact that the temples, which
were almost deserted, are now beginning to be frequented. The sacred rites,
which were for a long time interrupted, are to be resumed, and the fodder for
the sacrifices are being sold again.
For a while, hardly a purchaser was to be found!
It is easy to see how many can be reformed if they are given
a chance for repentance.
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