God Consecrated Rome’s First Fruits in the Blood of the Martyrs, by John Grondelski

By John Grondelski, National Catholic Register, June 30, 2025

John Grondelski John M. Grondelski (Ph.D., Fordham) is former associate dean of the School of Theology, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey. He is especially interested in moral theology and the thought of John Paul II. [Note: All views expressed in his National Catholic Register contributions are exclusively the author’s.]

SAINTS & ART: With firm courage, we draw strength from their struggle and rejoice in the triumph of faithful love.

It’s not coincidental that today’s (June 30th) optional memorial follows the Solemnity of Peter and Paul. Sts. Peter and Paul stand at the head of the first Christian martyrs: the Pope crucified upside down on Vatican Hill, the preacher to the nations beheaded in Rome.

As we saw from Paul’s journeys, Christianity spread quickly in the Roman Empire, especially in the cities, so there was no way it would not reach the most important city of all: Rome.

For Romans, Christians and Jews were at first indistinguishable, united more by their monotheistic (one god) faith that put them at odds with almost every other people. We should remember that the ancients believed that the gods so controlled events (and, therefore, the fate of men and nations) that being conquered by another meant their gods were stronger and could now, as a sign of their power, demand worship. If one is already worshipping multiple gods, adding a few more poses no problems. It did for Christians and Jews.

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