_In
Pace_'--that is, 'In Peace.'

For all this great underground city is in reality one huge cemetery:
the quiet resting-place where the first Christians of heathen Rome
buried their dead, where the martyred bodies so cruelly tortured by
Nero were laid at last. In pace, in peace.

How wonderful to read the names of those who loved Christ and suffered
for His sake so long, long ago! Their very names speak to us of the
courage and joy which, in spite of torture, Christ had brought into
their lives.

[Illustration: TWO EMPTY TOMBS IN THE CATACOMBS, THE LOWER ONE SHOWING
PART OF THE COVERING SLAB WITH A ROUGH CARVING OF THE MARTYRS' PALM OF
VICTORY]

'Rest,' 'Constancy,' 'God's will.' Many names have meanings like
these. Sometimes a simple picture of a victor's crown or martyr's
palm-branch is placed beside them; sometimes a few words are added.
Latin is a dead language now, but in those days it was the everyday
language of Rome, so most of these inscriptions are in Latin.

Some of them are sorrowful, for the mourners grieve to think that the
loved one will open his eyes on earth no more; but in all the hope of
eternal life is sure and certain. Our beloved mother, our little
child, our dear brother is with Christ; the parting is only for a time.
Yonder, in our beautiful Heavenly Home, we shall meet once more.

How different from the words carved over heathen tombs! We know what
these were like, for not very far away is a heathen catacomb.

'_Valeria dormit in pace._' Valeria sleeps in peace. So the Christian
woman was laid to rest.

'I lift up my hands against God, who snatched me away.' We can still
read these despairing, rebellious words on a heathen tomb.

'Spare your tears, dear husband and daughter, and believe that it is
forbidden to weep for one who lives in God.' How beautiful to know
that we shall one day meet the woman in Heaven of whom these words are
written!

Now, about the time of Nero's cruel persecution, the Christians of Rome
began to use the Catacombs for meetings and services. Their heathen
tormentors had a horror of death, and therefore among the quiet dead
the Christians were safe for a while.

So they met deep underground in the dim galleries, their little
oil-lamps twinkling like stars, and there they listened to the Word of
God, and prayed and sang together.

Many touching stories are told of these days; and of the meetings held
underground in these Catacombs, where the liv