Julia

A Girl in Rome

By Piano Bookworm

            The elderly woman hurried through the crowded streets of Rome in the semi-darkness of evening. Had anyone been watching her, they would have noticed that she kept ducking into dark corners and looking around her anxiously, as if she was afraid of something. Darting quickly into an almost deserted alley, she seemed to gain confidence. Only one light shone, and she hurried down the center of the lane without caution.

Suddenly she turned a corner and slowed again. Now she was in a street along the back doors of many better-class homes. Entering one of these villas, she turned to a woman waiting there.

“I am sorry I am so late. The gathering took longer than usual. How are they?” She looked at the waiting one anxiously.

“I am afraid they are worse, Lydia. Julia will be very glad you came, since no one else will.”

“I am sorry. How is Mistress Julia?”

“She is well, but sorely afraid for her parents. She is convinced that if they do not get better soon, they will die, and I can give her no comfort, for I am afraid she is right.” The woman sighed. “Maybe you can help her.”

Lydia looked at the woman, whose extreme fatigue was evident. She could barely stand up or keep her eyes open.

“You need to get some rest, or else you will get sick yourself. I will try to comfort Julia first, then I will do what I can for her parents.” Turning, she hurried to Miss Julia’s room.

The sole occupant of the room was lying on the bed, her face buried in her arms. Hearing Lydia’s step, she lifted up her head to see who it was. She leaped up at once, with a cry of delight.

“Lydia! How good of you to come!” she cried, embracing her. “All of our friends have deserted us, and it seems as if the gods have too.” Tears sprang into her face unbidden, and her mouth quivered. “Father and Mother are so ill, and I am afraid . . .” She finished her sentence with a sob.

Lydia gathered the girl into her arms. “Oh, child, I am sorry for you. Yet maybe you will learn to find comfort in Another.”

Julia looked at Lydia, puzzled. “What do you mean, Lydia? This is not the first time I have heard you say such things.”

“I shall explain it all, Julia, but your parents must not be abandoned. They will certainly not recover if they are not attended.” So saying, she hurried to the room where Julia’s parents lay, it was feared, on their deathbeds.

Julia’s parents had both been stricken with the plague a few days before. Lydia was one of the few who would risk the danger to help them. She had been a slave of the family for a long time, but they had given her her freedom as a reward for faithful service. Lydia had been Julia’s nurse, and she visited her from time to time. When she had heard of their troubles, she immediately came to help. Today she had been called away, for she was attending a meeting with the followers of the Way, or Christians, as they were sometimes called. The church was enjoying a period of relative peace, for Titus was the emperor, and they were not persecuted as under Nero.

Inside the room was hushed and an oppressive air of sickness and stillness reigned. The only sound to be heard was the patient’s ragged breathing. Lydia moved silently, trying to alleviate their pain. Toward the end of the first watch, she heard Julia’s mother stirring.

“How are you feeling?” she asked softly. “Is there anything I can do for you?”’

Julia’s mother coughed. “Yes,” she rasped. “Please. . . come over here. I . . . would like to. . . talk with you.” She coughed again.

Lydia immediately went to the edge of the bed. “Yes, mistress?” She had reverted to her old way of talking to her former mistress.

“Lydia, . . . take care of her.”

“Mistress?”

“Take care . . . of Julia. She . . .needs you.”

“I will, mistress.”

Julia’s mother relaxed. “Poor girl. All . . . alone now.”

Lydia was saddened, for it seemed that her mistress was sure she had no hope of recovery.

Julia hurried along the street, her face covered. Many changes had taken place since her parents had died, two years ago. After their death, the grieving daughter had been taken in by Lydia. Her house had been seized by shrewd relatives, on the grounds that she was an underage girl, and she was left destitute. Meanwhile, she had begun to be admitted to the gatherings of the Christians, though she was still excluded from their rites, because she had not professed their faith yet. Lydia had told her the glorious story of Jesus Christ, but she was not sure if she wanted to believe. She was greatly surprised by their willingness to take her in. Lydia had explained that Christians were supposed to act that way, but Julia was impressed by the love they showed her. Also many changes had happened to the empire. Titus Caesar had died, and his less benevolent brother, Domitian, had become Caesar.

Julia was returning from the market, where she had heard some disturbing news. She would tell Lydia as soon as she got home. Suddenly she slipped, twisting her ankle severely. Julia well knew the danger of being alone, and hurt, in Rome. She tried to stand, but could not. Sitting on the ground in despair, Julia tried to think of a way out of her situation. In her predicament she could only think of one thing. She did not believe in the Roman gods anymore, for they had not helped her parents when she prayed to them. She would pray to the God of the Christians.

“Jesus,” she prayed, “I really need your help. I don’t know if there’s something special I need to do or not, but if You help me get home safely, I will follow you. Please help me.”

Almost she before she had finished praying, she heard a step, and a kind voice saying: “Can I help you?” She looked up, and there was a young man, clearly from an upper-class family, with an honest smile on his face.

“Did- did you say something?” she asked, in some fear. It was not usual for upper-class men to offer to help lower-class women.

The young man nodded. “I saw you sitting on the ground and I thought you might need help. Do you?” he enquired kindly. No one would have noticed it unless they were paying special attention, but with his foot he traced the figure of a fish.

Julia saw it and was relieved. Here was a follower of the Way! She could trust him. In response to his inquiry, she nodded. “Yes, I fell and I think that I sprained my ankle.” She looked into his face, but her finger traced the fish again, then erased it. “Could you help me get home?”

Lydia hurried to the door and opened it when she heard Julia’s knock. She was much surprised to see the young man Julia was leaning on. Before she could say a word, Julia was explaining.

“I’m sorry I’m late, Lydia. I slipped and sprained my ankle and Marcus helped me home. He’s a Christian, too. Oh!” Julia put a hand to her forehead. “I need to talk with you, Lydia. But first I have some news. Caesar has declared that he shall be called ‘Lord and God!’”

Lydia’s eyes widened, but she showed no other signs of emotion. “I am glad Marcus found you and helped you home. Here, let me help you sit down.” She took Julia’s arm and helped her to a couch. Returning to the door, she gave the young man a searching glance. “Have I seen you at the gatherings of the church?”

Marcus smiled wryly. “I know you’re afraid that I’m an informer. I am truly a follower of the Way. I might go to a different assembly than you. Rome is a big city.”

Lydia nodded. “Thank you for bringing Julia home. That was good of you.”

Marcus bowed. “I will not intrude any longer. God be with you.” He turned and walked quickly away.

Lydia turned back to Julia with a sigh. The news Julia had just shared with her was very bad. Now the emperor wanted to be worshiped! This would present a very serious problem to the Christians. She forced her mind to stop focusing on that and listen to Julia. “What did you want to tell me, Julia?”

Julia took a deep breath. “Lydia, I-I think I want to become a Christian.” She looked up for Lydia’s reaction.

Lydia smiled. “That’s wonderful, Julia! But what made you want to be a follower of the Way?”

Julia related everything that had happened to her on the way home, and how Jesus had answered her prayer.

“He sent Marcus to help me, Lydia. Now I know that His way is the right one.”

Lydia smiled. If Marcus had been an answer to prayer, he could probably be trusted. Lydia led Julia through the steps of accepting Jesus. Julia prayed, then got up.

“Oh, Lydia, I’m so glad! Jesus accepted me, and I, I feel. . . clean!” She turned toward Lydia eagerly. “When can I get baptized? I want to show I’m a Christian as soon as possible!”

Lydia looked sober. “Baptizing will be very dangerous now, Julia. Are you sure you want to get baptized right away?”

Nodding eagerly, Julia replied in the affirmative. “I want to get baptized as soon as possible,” she repeated firmly.

Months passed, and Julia was baptized into the Christian faith. She grew very eager for the word of God, and listened intently to the reading at each gathering. A few weeks after she had become a Christian, Marcus had appeared at their gathering of believers; now he came there all the time. He said hello to Julia at each meeting, but she had no other contact with him for a while.

One Sunday, after the reading of the word of God was over and the doors had been closed on the unbelievers, Marcus entered, breathing heavily. The elders looked at him sternly, and an incredulous murmur passed through the people.

“What do you mean thus coming in late to the celebration of the Lord’s Supper?” one of the elders asked gravely.

Marcus bowed his head. “I am sorry, brethren. I should have been here earlier, had I not overheard something of grave implications to this assembly.”

Murmurs again filled the assembled people, this time of fear and apprehension. The elders conferred together for a time. Then one of them spoke.

“You will tell us your news after we have finished the sacrament. Go to your place until we call for you.”

Marcus quietly returned to his seat, and the rite of the Lord’s Supper took place. When it was over, the elders called on Marcus.

“What detained you, and what news do you have to give the assembly, Marcus Caius?”

Taking a deep breath, Marcus stood up before everyone. “I will give my reasons for not coming on time as well as I can, brother. My news will be evident.” He paused, then began.

“Brothers and sisters, I wish that I did not have to tell such news as this, but it is true. As I was coming here, I saw a decree of the emperor being hung. The herald was already reading it. As I was already late, I was not planning to stay there, but I heard the herald say something about offering incense, so I tried to hear more. I couldn’t, so I made my way up to the written decree. It said that wherever a statue of the Caesar was, an altar must be erected to offer incense. It further said that an image of the emperor is to be erected in every major street and marketplace, so that when anyone passes by, they should offer some incense. After reading that, I hurried here. I noticed that statues of the emperor are already being put up in some of the marketplaces. I am sorry that that is the news.”

As he sat back down again, a hushed silence fell over the group. All knew what this meant. They now had to offer incense to the emperor any time they saw his statue. All also knew that they could not possibly do such a thing. That meant the retribution of the emperor.

One of the elders rose. “Thank you, Brother Marcus, for telling us this. The elders and deacons will meet and decide what is to be done in this emergency. You are dismissed.”                                                                       

As the group slowly exited the house, one or two leaving at a time, Julia confided her fears to Lydia.

“Oh, Lydia, more troubles! I wish that the emperor would just leave us alone. We won’t be able to do what he wants, will we?”

Lydia sighed. “No, we won’t be able to offer incense to him. It is in God’s hands what happens. We may have to move into the catacombs, as we did during the reign of Nero.”

“The catacombs? What are those?”

“They are the Christian’s underground burial places.”

“Burial places? I hope we don’t have to go there.”

Lydia smiled. “Don’t worry. There are places for living apart from the places for burying, but burying our dead there is another safe guard, since the Romans do not like to disturb the places where the dead are.”

Julia was hardly reconciled. Just then Marcus came up to them.

“Hello, sisters.” He grinned. “I hope you will take care of yourselves, for now if Sister Julia slips and twists her ankle it may go harder for her.”

Julia let out her breath indignantly. “My ankle is fully recovered, and I have been taking care of myself, Brother Marcus!” She bit her lip. “I don’t think we should be joking about such a serious matter, Marcus,” she went on in an entirely different tone.

Marcus’ face sobered. “You are probably right, Julia. It is not a matter to be taken lightly.” He turned to Lydia. “I suppose you agree with Julia, sister Lydia.”

She nodded. “Yes, I do. I do not think this is a matter to be taken lightly, as I have experienced persecution before. I wish this had not befallen us, but our Lord said that persecution would happen in this world.”

Marcus sighed. “Yes. I have more of a problem then you do, since I am a prominent citizen. I may simply have to go into hiding, or move away from Rome.”

Lydia stirred. “I think it is our time to leave now, brother Marcus. I hope we may meet again.”

“God bless you, Marcus,” Julia said.

“And you,” he replied. “Goodbye.”

Another month passed, and many changes occurred. Several Christians were imprisoned, and, when they refused to worship the emperor, were put to death. Lydia and Julia, with several others had moved into the catacombs early after the emperor’s decree. Still, they were not entirely safe.

One day, Julia was walking among the paintings on the walls of the catacombs, thinking solemnly of all that had happened. Lydia came up to her and stood beside her.

“Julia, I know it will pain you to hear this, but they have captured our good bishop.”

“They captured the bishop?” Julia looked into Lydia’s face earnestly. “You know it for sure?”

“Yes, it is true, Julia. A man who saw it happen told me.”

Julia sighed. “How can they do this to us, Lydia? Why does God let it happen?”

“I don’t know, Julia. Jesus Himself said that we would be persecuted for His sake.”

“Oh, Lydia! I’m so tired of having to stay here all the time. Can’t we ever go out sometime?” cried Julia impulsively. “I want to see the sky again, and feel the air.”

“It would be very dangerous, you know,” warned Lydia. “Are you sure you really want to do this?”

“Yes, I’m sure. We’ve been down here for weeks! Don’t you think that there is probably some way to go out safely for just an hour or two?”

“Well, yes, there probably is,” conceded Lydia reluctantly, “but it would still be very dangerous. If you want to go, you need to ask one of the elders, and find someone to go with you. It would not be good for you to go by yourself.”

“Oh, thank you, Lydia!” cried Julia. “I’m sure I can do that!”

Julia proceeded to do exactly as Lydia had suggested. The elder she asked for permission granted it reluctantly, with the condition that she have someone accompany her, preferably a man who could protect her. Unfortunately for her, Julia had a very hard time finding someone to go to the surface with her. Lydia would go with her, but only if she found someone else to go too. Finally Julia went to Lydia once more.

“Please, Lydia, will you go up with me by yourself? No one will go with me,” Julia begged.

“Julia, I have told you before. I will go with you only if there is someone else to go with us. I am not capable of protecting you.”

Just at that moment, someone they had not seen for over a month entered. “Well, if you are not capable of protecting sister Julia, I think I might be of some service.”

Julia whirled around. “Marcus!” she exclaimed. “Where did you come from?”

“I came from the elders. They told me that you wanted an escort to go up above ground.”

Lydia smiled. “And you came to offer to go up with Julia. That is good of you. But where have you been this last month? We have not seen you since you told us of Caesar’s decree.”

“I have been in a different part of these catacombs. They are very large, you know.” He smiled. “A few days ago someone told me where your church group was, and I came in search. I was fortunate to find the elders just as they were discussing whether or not to change their decision and make you stay underground. It was quite easy to convince them otherwise when I told them that I would accompany you.”

“Oh Marcus, thank you!” cried Julia gratefully. “I am so tired of being down here. When do you think that we can go up to the surface?”

The rest of their discussion was occupied in deciding when to go up to the streets of Rome. They finally decided to go on the Ides of the month, which was in just three days.

The night before they went to the top, Julia could not sleep for excitement and worry. She was finally thinking about what might happen, to either Lydia or Marcus, and she almost decided to stay underground. However, when she asked Marcus about it the next morning, she was overruled.

“Oh, Julia! You want to do this, don’t you really? Don’t let a little worrying stop you.”

“You’re right, Marcus. I will go, just I’m afraid I’m putting you and Lydia into needless danger.”

“Don’t worry, Julia.” He grinned. “We both chose to go with you, so it’s not your responsibility. Besides, it’s too late to change your mind. We’re leaving as soon as Lydia is ready.”

 They hurried through the tunnels and were soon at the entrance to the house that opened into the catacombs. Going up the stairs, they found themselves inside the cellar. They hurried up to the ground level and looked outside. The street was very crowded, which was in their favor. Julia rejoiced at the sight of the sun and daylight again. Moving cautiously, they moved out into the throng in the streets.

“I wonder what all the people are here for,” mused Julia aloud. “This street didn’t use to be so crowded.”

“I know, it’s very strange,” replied Lydia. “I hope nothing is wrong.”

“Maybe I can find out,” suggested Marcus. He turned to a man close to him.

“Hello, sir. Can you tell me what all this is about? I’ve been away for a while.”

The man turned to him, incredulous. “You didn’t hear it this morning, even? Caesar is going to have a parade today in his honor. This is one of the streets it’s coming down. They should be here soon.”

Marcus kept his composure with difficulty. “Oh, that explains it. Thanks, friend.” He hurriedly turned away and looked around for the women. They were nowhere in sight.

 A shifting of the crowd had separated the women from Marcus while he had been talking. They were now trying to find a way back to him.

Julia was a bit taller than Lydia, and she strained to look over the heads around them. “Let’s try to go back to the house, Lydia,” she suggested. “We might be able to see him from there.”

Lydia agreed and they slowly moved through the throng of people. They were almost to the house when the crowd shifted again and Lydia was swept away from Julia. Julia reached the steps of the house and turned to look back, saying as she did so, “Look, Lydia, we’re here!” She caught her breath when she realized Lydia wasn’t there. “Lydia!” she almost screamed. “Where are you?”

Julia turned to plunge back into the crowd and find Lydia, when Marcus came up to the house. “Oh, Julia, you’re here! Where’s Lydia?” he asked, looking around. “Is she inside?”

Julia bit her lip. “No, she’s not inside. I think she must have been separated from me in the crowd.”

Marcus paled. “Oh, no. We won’t be able to find her in time.”

Julia looked at him in terror. “What do you mean, ‘we won’t be able to find her in time’? What’s wrong?”

They went inside, where Marcus hid his face in his hands. “The reason the people are crowding is because Caesar is having a parade down the street. He could be here anytime!”

Julia covered her mouth, her eyes wide. “He’ll want people to worship him,” she gasped. “Lydia’s out there and she won’t worship him! We have to help her,” she decided with sudden resolve. “Don’t we, Marcus?”

Marcus looked at her, helpless. “We can’t help her, Julia,” he pleaded. “It would be impossible to find her in this crowd. We’d just be sacrificing ourselves for no reason. We can’t help her, Julia! Only God can help her now. We can pray for her safety, but we can’t go out there again.”

Julia looked away, slumping into a chair. She sighed. “You’re right, Marcus. We can help her by praying. Let’s do so now.”

Marcus agreed and they spent the next minutes in fervent prayer for Lydia’s safety to the Ruler of All, who can do anything.

The blast of a trumpet interrupted them, and they hurried to their feet, running to a window to see what was happening. One glance made it clear. A procession had turned the corner into the street, with a trumpet announcing it. The first people in the procession were some captives. They were in chains and they had been beaten, but they walked like they were the victors, not the captives. Julia gasped.

“Those are Christians! See, there’s the bishop!”

Marcus looked grim. “Yes, there he is. They have him in one of the places of dishonor, but he walks like it is the most honorable place.”

Behind the Christians were some priests of the Roman gods, and behind them was the litter of the emperor. A herald walked alone before him.

“Hail Caesar, lord and god!” he cried. The crowd replied by repeating the words in a thunderous shout.

Julia was glad for the curtains on the window that let them see without being seen.

Lydia had been trying to get back to the house when she heard the trumpet and saw the procession turn into the lane. She immediately realized what was happening and desperately tried to get back to the house, but to no avail. The crowd was too thick and she was too far from the house. At last she ceased struggling and went along with the crowd, asking God for strength. She was rewarded with a peace that everything would be alright. Somehow she was moved to the front of the crowd by the time the captives reached the place where she was.

Marcus and Julia saw her exactly when the bishop passed under the window of the house. The bishop looked at a woman in the crowd, and they naturally looked at her.

“That’s Lydia!” exclaimed Julia. She burst into tears that they couldn’t go and help her. There was a stir in the crowd around Lydia, and they couldn’t see her for a moment. Then she was thrust out of the crowd into the path of the parade. She stumbled, and lifted her head defiantly. A priest moved to her in anger, then grabbed her and pushed her into the group of Christians.

Julia sobbed and turned away. Her joy about the beautiful day was gone. Marcus went with her, and they sadly moved back to the entrance to the catacombs.

When they got back to their area of the catacombs, Julia went straight to her rooms, and Marcus went to visit the elders to tell them the news about Lydia.  That evening he went to her rooms to see Julia.

He found her calm, but she had obviously been weeping. Her face was pale, and she had a hard look in her eyes.

“Are you alright, Julia?” he asked softly.

She spoke, and her voice was hard. “No. I am not alright. It is my fault that Lydia was captured.”

“No, it’s not,” Marcus protested feebly. “She chose to go with you.”

“Yes, but I was the one who wanted to leave the catacombs. If I had never complained, Lydia would not have been there.”

Marcus was silent. He sat for a while, then got up slowly. “I am sorry, Julia, that you think it is your fault. Do not so, for it was in the hands of God.” He moved toward the door. “Goodbye, Julia.” He went out swiftly and Julia lost sight of him in the dark.

Julia wept, then thought of what Marcus had said. “It was in the hands of God.” If it had been in the hands of God, why had he let Lydia be captured? Her whole being protested against it. Lydia had done nothing wrong. Why was God doing this? She prayed, asking God to tell her why, but she heard nothing.

A thought struck her. They had asked God to save Lydia in faith, and He had not saved her. She could not get it out of her mind. Why had God not saved Lydia, when they had asked Him, fully trusting that he would do it? She rose and hurried into the darkness of the catacombs. A torch shone here and there, but everywhere else was dark.

Elder Ninnius was praying when he heard swift footsteps approaching his dwelling place. He was surprised that no gleam of light from a torch accompanied the sound, but he got up from his knees and looked out. He was even more surprised to see that it was Julia coming. She looked around anxiously, then went to his door.

“Oh, brother Ninnius!” she cried. “I am sorely troubled by Lydia’s capture.”

He looked at the grieving girl compassionately. “I know it is hard for you, child. I have grieved over our bishop, for he and I were good friends and brothers.”

She looked away, her eyes filling with tears. “It is even harder, because it will be the second time within three years that I have lost my nearest ones to me. But that is not the hardest to bear. When we realized that Lydia was in the crowd, brother Marcus and I prayed and asked God to keep her safe. But she was captured almost immediately after we prayed. It seems like God has abandoned me.”

The elder nodded his head gravely. “Yes, it does seem that way. But we must remember that we cannot see what God is doing. He has done this for the best, though it may seem like the worst now. Also, remember what the great apostle, Paul, wrote in his letter to the church here. ‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, not any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ That assures us that God loves us. He loves you, and He loves Lydia, and nothing, not even death, can separate us from that.”

Julia smiled faintly. “That helps a little bit, brother. Thank you for trying to encourage me.” She turned, and without a word left and went back through the catacombs to her room, where she spent the night thinking of the words that the elder had quoted.

A few weeks later, Marcus came to Julia’s dwelling. It was the first time she had seen him since the day Lydia was captured. He looked grave as he entered at her request.

“What brings you here, Marcus?” asked Julia.

He looked at her gravely. “Sister Julia, I have learned that there are going to be games in the Coliseum tomorrow. Do you want to see Lydia again, or do you want to stay and not watch the horrible things that will surely happen? It is your choice. If you want to go, I will accompany you.”

Julia turned pale. She sat down on a couch, averting her head. “Oh, Lydia!” she whispered. She turned and faced Marcus. “How much danger is there, brother Marcus? I will not endanger you, too.”

Marcus smiled wryly. “Julia, even if you do not go, I will go. I have taken it upon myself to write an account of the martyrs. If you wish, I will just tell you if Lydia was there.”

Julia looked relieved. “Oh, will you, Marcus? I don’t think I could watch. . .  that.”

After Marcus left, Julia dropped on her knees and poured out her heart to God. She dreaded that Marcus would tell her that Lydia suffered terribly when he gave her his report the next day, and her heart swelled up in anger again. It was only by remembering the words elder Ninnius had told her that she quieted her anger.

The next afternoon, Marcus came back, his face taught with grief. He had watched the hideous games of the Romans, and had hated them. Because of his promise to Julia, he went straight to her dwelling place. Julia sat waiting for him, her face tense. Her face paled when he entered. She looked at him in fear, unable to ask her question.

Marcus looked away for a moment. When he spoke his voice was husky with emotion. “She was there.” It was only a statement, but it told Julia her fears had been confirmed. She swallowed.

“How?” was all she could say.

“The lions. She did not look like she was suffering, though. She looked . . . at peace, somehow.”

Julia looked at Marcus eagerly. “Is that true?” she asked urgently. “You aren’t just making it up?”

“You know I wouldn’t lie to you,” he replied, semi-indignantly. “It is true.”

“Thank you, Marcus.” Julia looked at him gratefully. “I am indebted to you.”

“I am sorry because of the news I had to tell you, but I am glad I could be of service.” Marcus bowed and left Julia alone, striding out into the catacombs to tell the elders what he had seen.

As soon as he was gone, Julia threw herself on her bed and wept. Slowly she got up, several minutes longer. She realized from what Marcus had said that Lydia was still trusting God. If Lydia had been trusting God when she was thrown to the lions, surely she could still trust him. She rose up and rejoiced, saying: “Nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!”

Julia and Marcus eventually married and had a family of children which they brought up in the Way. After Domitian’s rule ended, they moved out of the catacombs and lived in Marcus’s house, which had somehow survived being confiscated during the persecution. Marcus became an elder in the church, and both he and Julia lived to a good old age, after which God took them to Himself.