FINDING OUT MORE
PRAYER, HOPE AND DEVOTIONS
Besides this, in the underground cemeteries
we find very numerous signs showing many aspects of the spirituality of
the Early Christians. One of the most frequently occurring themes is that of
prayer. This was done in a very meaningful gesture, which is preserved even
today in the liturgical actions of the celebrant: raising the arms to heaven
in offering our petitions and waiting for God's grace. It is in fact a double
gesture, of both offering and receiving. However, this gesture did not originate
among Christians. The famous Orante of Berlin kept in a museum of that
city, shows a completely naked man raising his arms and eyes to heaven in this
gesture of prayer.
In the middle of the Third Century, Christians
of Rome had to endure the frightful persecution of Decius. Not only did a large
number of people through fear renounce the faith, but Pope Fabian himself and
his seven deacons, i.e. all those who governed the Church, were killed. Barely
seven years later, during the persecution of Aurelian, the same thing happened
again. First Pope Sixtus II (258) was taken by surprise in the catacombs and
killed there together with four deacons; immediately afterwards two more deacons
were killed and buried in the cemetery of Praetextatus. Only Lawrence was left
in charge of the Church. Even he was executed a few days later.
But the most alarming aspect of these terrible days
was the extraordinary number of lapsi, i.e. those who through fear had
renounced the faith. We know from the letters of Cyprian, who himself died in
September 258, that this was a very dark time for the Church of Rome and hence
for that of Trastevere. A painter of those years, had shown a barque about to
founder: it seems all is lost, the main mast is broken, the sails torn to shreds,
but a man stands serenely with his arms raised. It is a gesture of tranquillity.
From above, God places a hand on the man's head. All around are shipwrecked
survivors, but he shows the certainty which is shared by all Christians: in spite
of the dreadful situation, hope would prevail.
Pictures in the catacombs always reveal the devotions, beliefs and mentality of the Christians. For people of Trastevere, Mary was important.. The basilica of Santa Maria was dedicated to the Virgin in the VI century. It certainly predates Maria Antiqua and is probably after that of Santa Maria Maggiore, which dates back to 432. Some paintings in the catacombs show how widespread was this devotion to the Madonna. In a famous fresco in the Catacombs of Priscilla is shown the Virgin and Child and the prophet pointing to a star indicating the fulfilment of Balaam's prophecy ("when the star arises, the Saviour will be born of a virgin"). Probably the prophet pointing to the star is Balaam himself. Other scholars think it is Isaiah proclaiming the fulfilment of the prophecy of a virgin becoming a mother.
Also the adoration by the Magi is a very frequently-repeated scene in the catacombs. The Magi, in the ancient pictures, are not always three in number but sometimes four and other times two. The Gospels do not say there were three: they speak of three gifts, not of three people: three (kinds of gifts) could have been given by four, two, or five people. In the most ancient portrayals, in fact no crib exists, no manger with ox and ass. This is a much later scene, which is shown on some sarcophagi of the IV century. The only example of this as a painting is in San Sebastiano. The preference given to the Magi can be explained by the fact that the Roman Christians came from the pagan world of idolatry.
The only praying Madonna we have is in a fresco from the Cimitero Maggiore. She is praying to the Child, asking Him for grace.
(Umberto Fasola)
