| Tum summa cura est fratribus (Ut sermo testatur loquax) Offerre fundis venditis, Sestertiorum millia. Addicta avorum praedia Foedis sub auctionibus, Successor exheres gemit, Sanctis egens parentibus. Haec occuluntur abditis Ecclesiarum in angulis. Et summa pietas creditur Nudare dulces liberos. Prudent.  Hymn 2 [v. 73, sqq.]. |
| The subsequent conduct of the deacon Laurence only proves how proper a use was made of the wealth of the Roman church; it was undoubtedly very considerable; but Fra Paolo (c. 3) appears to exaggerate when he supposes that the successors of Commodus were urged to persecute the Christians by their own avarice, or that of their Praetorian praefects. |