From the Editor’s Desk (Thursday, 05-21-2015, Gaudium Press) On the death of St Paul, the apostle of the gentiles, Jimmy Akin wrote:
A few years ago, former Pope Benedict proclaimed a “Year of St. Paul” to study the life and writings of the great saint. But he had a surprise up his sleeve–a surprise connected with the martyrdom of St. Paul, a surprise he didn’t reveal until the end of the Pauline year. Here are some of the things Pope Benedict said leading up to the Big Reveal (plus an added quotation from the 2nd century Roman historian Tacitus to help set the stage).
St. Paul’s Death
“The ancient Christian tradition witnesses unanimously that Paul died as a consequence of his martyrdom here in Rome. The New Testament writings tell us nothing of the event. The Acts of the Apostles ends their account by mentioning the imprisonment of the Apostle, who was nevertheless able to welcome all who went to him (cf. Acts 28: 30-31). Only in the Second Letter to Timothy do we find these premonitory words: ‘For I am already on the point of being sacrificed’; the time to set sail has come (2 Tm 4: 6; cf. Phil 2: 17).”
When It Happened
“The date of his death already varies in the ancient sources which set it between the persecution unleashed by Nero himself after the burning of Rome in July 64 and the last year of his reign, that is, the year 68.”
Nero’s Persecution
The 2nd century Roman historian Tacitus records how Nero persecuted Christians to deflect the charge that he had set fire to Rome:
“To get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. . . . Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths.
“Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer or stood aloft on a car. Hence, even for criminals who deserved extreme and exemplary punishment, there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not, as it seemed, for the public good, but to glut one man’s cruelty, that they were being destroyed” (Annals 15:44).
How St. Paul Died
“Referring to the Emperor Nero, [early Church historian] Eusebius was to write: ‘It is, therefore, recorded that Paul was beheaded in Rome itself, and that Peter likewise was crucified during Nero’s reign. This account is substantiated by the fact that their names are preserved in the cemetery of that place even to the present day.'”
The Burial
According to ancient sources, St. Paul’s “burial not only took place ‘outside the city . . . at the second mile on the Ostian Way,’ but more precisely ‘on the estate of Lucina,’ who was a Christian matron. It was here, in the fourth century, that the Emperor Constantine built a first church. Then, between the fourth and fifth centuries it was considerably enlarged by the Emperors Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius. The present-day Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls was built here after the fire in 1800.”
The Big Reveal!
At the close of the Pauline year, in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Pope Benedict declared: “We have gathered at the tomb of the Apostle whose sarcophagus, preserved beneath the papal altar, was recently the object of a careful scientific analysis. A tiny hole was drilled in the sarcophagus, which in so many centuries had never been opened, in order to insert a special probe which revealed traces of a precious purple-colored linen fabric, with a design in gold leaf, and a blue fabric with linen threads. Grains of red incense and protein and chalk substances were also found.
In addition, minute fragments of bone were sent for carbon-14 testing by experts unaware of their provenance. The fragments proved to belong to someone who had lived between the first and second centuries. This would seem to confirm the unanimous and undisputed tradition which claims that these are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul.”
By Jimmy Akin
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