Adsum

January 2003

The Various Tortures to Which the Martyrs Were Subjected

By St. Alphonsus de Liguori

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT
From the book “Great Moments in Catholic History” by Fr. Edward Curran.

Constantine the Great (275-337 A.D.) was born in Servia. His father was Constantius, a Roman officer, who became Emperor of Rome in 305. His mother was Saint Helena.

At the time of his father’s death Constantine was with the Roman army in Britain. The popularity and bravery of Constantine made him loved by the men of the army, captains as well as spearmen. With great shouts and cheering the soldiers selected him to succeed his father as Emperor of Rome. His brother-in-law, Licinius, was already Emperor in Constantinople.

Constantine immediately marched towards Rome in order to take over his position as Emperor. Meanwhile a man name Maxentius, the wicked son of Maximian, one of the cruelest emperors who ever persecuted the Church, proclaimed that he was emperor of Rome.

Northern Italy hailed Constantine as Emperor. He then marched against the army of Maxentius. Suddenly, on the march, Constentine fixed his eyes upon the sky. A strange sight appeared before him. He saw a Cross, and on the Cross he saw some Latin words: “In Hoc Signo Vinces.”

He was not far from Rome. He was near the Milvian bridge, where the troops of Maxentius were waiting to destroy him and prevent him from becoming Emperor. The message of the Cross caused him to proceed courageously. He no longer feared. His tired troops became inspired. “In this sign,” said the Cross, “thou shalt conquer.”

Pledging his loyalty to the Cross, which he recognized as the Cross of Christ, Constantine marched on to defeat the troops of Maxentius. By the battle of the Milvian Bridge, October 28,312, Constantine the Great became Roman Emperor in the West. He had marched beneath the Cross of Christ and conquered. Other emperors had tried to destroy the Cross and were themselves destroyed. The victory of Constantine brought freedom and peace to the Catholic Church.

Constantine read and studied. He did not hasten his conversion. Towards the close of his life, he was baptized and received into the Church by Pope Sylvester I.

The Cross of Christ had conquered for Constantine at the Milvian Bridge. In the sign of the Cross we Catholics can conquer everything in life.

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