[722] The adoring love of Cicero for his daughter found expression in the building of a temple to her memory.
[723] Rock quotes them as “proof” that the primitive Christians believed that the soul of the deceased might be in an intermediate state, where the efficacy of such aspirations could reach him, and his spirit could be refreshed and benefitted by the supplications of his surviving brethren.—Hierurgia, p. 322. He gives several examples similar to the above; but no accumulation of such evidence affords the slightest warrant for the corrupt practice of the Church of Rome.
[724] Burgon.
[725] Ibid.
[726] Ut ex recordatione eorum proficiamus.—Orig. in Rom., xii. These commemorations of the departed were generally celebrated on the anniversaries of their death—their birthday as it was called—Oblationes pro defunctis pro natalitiis, annua die facimus—Tertul., De Coron. Mil., c. 3; cf. De Monogam., c. 10.
[727] Quando isthinc excessum fuerit, nullus jam locus pœnitentiæ est, nullus satisfactionis effectus.—Cypr. ad Demet., § 16; cf. Greg. Naz., de Rebus suis, and Hieron. in Galat., c. 6. The modern Greek church offers prayers for the dead without believing in the doctrine of purgatory.
[728] The doctrine of purgatory was first preached by Gregory the Great; and this fiery realm, so rich in revenue of tears and blood, was afterward formally annexed to the papal dominions by a bull.
[729] See the barbarous Latinity of the inscription, [p. 426].
[730] Some of the examples of alleged invocation of saints given by Romanist writers are altogether gratuitous assumptions. Thus the letters P. T. PR. N. S. have been, without the slightest warrant, expanded thus, Pete pro nobis, “Pray for us.” Others are merely requests to be remembered by the dear departed, as ΔΙΟΝΥϹΙΝ ΕΙϹ ΜΝΙΑΝ ΕΧΕΤΕ—“Have ye in remembrance Dionysius.” The graffiti of the pilgrims at the shrines of the more celebrated martyrs, in which are occasional invocations of the dead, are no criteria of primitive belief and practice, for these are of every age down to comparatively late mediæval times. The example in the text is from Burgon.