A portentous day

Posted on 24 August 2011 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Late in the day, but on this day in ancient history:

  • 72 A.D. — martyrdom of Bartholomew at Albanopolis
  • 79 A.D. — Vesuvius erupts, burying Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae
  • 410 A.D. — Alaric sacks Rome

Quite a portentous day, isn’t it?

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About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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3 Responses to A portentous day

  1. Andrew says:
    25 August 2011 at 8:11 am

    “Interim e Vesuvio monte pluribus locis latissimae flammae altaque incendia relucebant.
    … mare in se resorberi et tremore terrae quasi repelli videbamus. Certe processerat litus, multaque animalia maris siccis harenis detinebat. Ab altero latere nubes atra et horrenda, ignei spiritus tortis vibratisque discursibus rupta, in longas flammarum figuras dehiscebat; fulguribus illae et similes et maiores erant. [...] Iam cinis, adhuc tamen rarus. Respicio: densa caligo tergis imminebat, quae nos torrentis modo, infusa terrae, sequebatur. ‘Deflectamus’ inquam ‘dum videmus, ne in via strati comitantium turba in tenebris obteramur.’ Vix consideramus, et nox – non qualis illunis aut nubila, sed qualis in locis clausis lumine exstincto. Audires ululatus feminarum, infantum quiritatus, clamores virorum; alii parentes alii liberos alii coniuges vocibus requirebant, vocibus noscitabant …” (Plinius, Epistulae)

  2. seanl says:
    25 August 2011 at 6:13 pm

    I taught on Bartholomew today in class to my students. Portentous indeed!

  3. MAJ Tony says:
    25 August 2011 at 10:09 pm

    In “not so ancient” history, MAJ Tony joined the Army, A.D. 1992.