Tuesday, October 30, 2012

It was Christ himself who told Constantine the Great to fight in his name. God is not indifferent but active in our history- Roberto de Mattei














Pof. Roberto de Mattei was speaking yesterday at a Conference on Constantine the Great (Costantino il Grande).It was  organised by the Lepanto Foundation and held  near St.Peter's Basilica. It marked  the 1700th anniversary of the battle at the Milvian Bridge (Ponte Milvio).

Prof. Roberto de Mattei said that this was the first time ever that the Cross of Christ appeared to a Sovereign before a battle.It confirms that God is not indifferent but active in our history.

No Holy War was held under the apparition of a Cross. This was the first Holy War for Christians. They fought in the name of the one true God.It was Christ himself who told Constantine to fight in his name.

The sign in the sky was seen by the whole army and not just Constantine.All saw the sign with the words. They did not doubt.The prodigy was not finished here. The second vision was seen only by Constantine in a dream.

The era of Constantine ended the epoch of the catacombs and was a time of liberty for the Church.Before in thousands Christians were tortured, decapitated and exiled. The Collosium, he said, is a symbol of years of persecution.

Ironically at Vatican Council II,Prof.Mattei observed, Yves Congar said that the Church has exited from the Constantine period.

Today the Faith cannot be proclaimed aloud but has to be kept private.Diocletian lives today, he said but so does Constantine.

The Communists today want a mere Christianity, without Constantine.

The persecution in present times  is juridical, psychological and spiritual.Throughout the world Christians are persecuted and the life of every Christian is one of struggle.

Let us pray for a militant spirit, he said, like Constantine.

Prof. Massimo Viglione presented a brief history of Constantine and his times. He said that on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross last month Pope Benedict XVI remembered Constantine. -Lionel Andrades

No comments: