FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
JUSTINIAN’S TREACHEROUS ROLE IN THE UPROOTING OF THE ARIAN VANDALS
In his deadly campaign using persecution to force pagans, Jews, and those they classified as “heretics,” to convert to Roman Catholicism, Justinian had help in this abominable work:
“John of Ephesus [not the John the beloved] was employed in this apostolate [yes, they called this activity an ‘apostolate’!]. He boasts that in 546 A.D. he gained 70,000 pagans in Asia Minor, including nobles, rhetoricians and physicians, and many in Constantinople. Tortures discovered these men, and scourging and imprisonment INDUCED them accept instruction and baptism.
“A Patricius named Phocus, hearing that he had been denounced, took poison. The Emperor ordered that he should be buried as an ass is buried. The pious [?] Emperor paid all the expenses of this Christian mission [!], and gave to each of the 70,000 Asiatics the white garments for their baptism and a piece of money.
“Other heretics were given three month’s GRACE. All magistrates and soldiers had to SWEAR that they were Catholics. – ‘Studies in the Early Papacy,’ Dom John Chapman, p.222. London: Sheed and Ward, 1928, NY, Benziger Brothers.
The Vandals: “Justinian’s cherished aim was the reconquest of Italy by the Empire, but in order to succeed in this it was necessary to secure his rear by OVERTHROWING THE VANDALS and resuming possession of AFRICA. – ‘The Barbarian Invasion of Italy,’ P. Villari, Vol. 1. p. 197.
“A PRETEXT for BREAKING HIS OATH OF PEACE with the Vandals soon presented itself. The Vandal government had oppressed the Roman Catholics just as the Emperor, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE PAPACY, had oppressed the Arians. But when Hilderic came to the Vandal throne he, through the INFLUENCE OF HIS CATHOLIC WIFE, had restored the Roman clergy to their ancient privileges, and this has so displeased the Vandal leaders that Gelimer, a zealous Arian, had dethroned and imprisoned him, and reigned in his place. ‘A strong appeal was thus made to the piety [?] of the Emperor to deliver the true Catholic Church of the West out of the hands of the Barbarian heretics.’ -‘Medieval and Modern History,’ P.V.N. Myers, p.62. Boston. 1897.
“Justinian wavered for a time, fearing to attack this warlike Vandals, but a CATHOLIC BISHOP assured him of victory, claiming ‘he had seen a vision, in which commanded that the war should immediately undertaken. ‘It is the will of Heaven, O Emperor!’ exclaimed the bishop’- Ibid, p. 63. (From “Facts of Faith,” Christian Edwardson. pp. 41, 42. Southern Publishing Asso., 1943.
Continued Monday. Have a blessed and restful Sabbath starting sunset tonight. Bless all, NMF