|
For Montreat College Adult
Education Course
Handout to students by Mary K. Killough
CALLISTA: A Tale of
the Third Century by John Henry Newman (1856). New Edition
witn an Introduction by
SETTING Decius (249-251) rules as Emperor of Rome. The scene is Proconsular Africa, under light senatorial Roman Rule; Sicca Veneria (today’s El Kef in Tunisia) is the town where the story takes place; Carthage is the nearby metropolis. Sicca sits among hills, on steep banks of the Bagradas River; N and E is wild and barren; W and S is a lovely wooded area leading toward the Atlas mountains. There are gardens, vineyards, hills are dotted with villas and hamlets small market towns, basilicas and temples. PLOT (Chapter by Chapter) 1. Sicca Veneria. After a birds-eye overview, we zero in on the principal location of the story. On a hill a quarter mile southeast of the city of SICCA VENERIA is the idyllic cottage of AGELLIUS. It is set among and temples of Punic deities where human sacrifice has taken place, shrines of the Syrian goddess Astarte, Roman statues in a landscape similar to Sicily. AGELLIUS has European features, is shy, wearing a tunic and high boots; guiding slaves in pruning vines. Speaks Latin. AGELLIUS is Christian, disdains the revelry associated with the feast of the goddess Astarte. VITRICUS, an older man, the bailiff, asks AGELLIUS why he doesn't join in the feast of Astarte. AGELLIUS disdains idolatry. Others accuse him of being a gnostic and of wizardry, since he makes the sign of the cross. They taunt AGELLIUS. 2. Christianity in Sicca. AGELLIUS’s father STRABO (deceased for over a decade now) had been a Roman legionary who became Christian. His widowed (or divorced) second wife, GURTA, is a non-Christian witch. This has been a time of religious peace. Christians are tolerated and thus there are many pagan/Christian mixed marriages. But in the absence of persecution Christians have been growing lukewarm. There are not enough priests. After their father died, AGELLIUS and his brother JUBA had been raised by Uncle JUCUNDUS, who owns a shop in town which sells pagan amulets and statues. JUBA, a Christian catechumen, is under the sway of his pagan step-mother GURTA. AGELLIUS was baptized at age 6 but there was no one around to foster his religious training. His Christianity is only tested when he is asked to worship idols. 3. AGELLIUS’s cottage is a modest hut, with many trees, flowers, fruits. He is a rather a lonesome, depressed young man of 22. (JHN compares Roman provincial life with modern England.) 4. JUBA is a counterbalance to his brother AGELLIUS: tall, swarthy, wild-looking, mocking both the prayers of AGELLIUS and the pagan customers in his uncle JUCUNDUS’s shop.. 5 The skeptical, “enjoy life” uncle JUCUNDUS is at a supper party with a young Greek ARISTO and Roman CORNELIUS. There is much praise of Rome and the games; Caracalla had given Roman citizenship to non-slaves all over the Roman world 6. News: The Goths (250 A.D.) have crossed the Danube threatening Rome. To worship new gods is treason; Christians begin to hide. ARISTO has a sister who might win AGELLIUS's heart. 7. JUBA mocks the statues made in his uncle's shop. He is told not to laugh, for they are made by the 'DIVINE' CALLISTA (p. 68). She and her brother ARISTO are Greek orphans who have migrated to Africa to find work. There is talk of new emperor and his new policy of persecution. DECIUS came to power in 249 AD and launched the Seventh Persecution by suddenly issuing a new edict to exterminate Christians. This was addressed to proconsuls in the provinces. In order to bring peace to Rome, every Christian should sacrifice to the gods; they will be tortured if they do not. Bishop CAECILIUS CYPRIAN has gone into hiding near Carthage. There is not much local government will to persecute Christians of Sicca. JUCUNDUS feels that CALLISTA would be a good instrument to woo AGELLIUS away from Christianity. (Even though GURTA thinks Callista is already a crypto-Christian). 8 The New Generation. Young schoolboy FIRMIAN and his tutor discuss Polemo of Rhodes and riddles such as which came first the chicken or egg. (p. 86). and ideas current in North Africa. Christians are renouncing their faith. 9. JUCUNDUS baits his trap.
AGELLIUS remains the busy farmer. Becomes a friend of the Greek siblings,
CALLISTA and
10. THE DIVINE CALLISTA. AGELLIUS visits ARISTO and CALLISTA. She is very homesick for Greece. AGELLIUS hopes to convert her. 11. AGELLIUS tells CALLISTA that marriage needs to be strengthened by being a sacrament. CALLISTA. tells of a Christian slave she once had and the slave's dream: a vision of the Virgin Mary (p. 126) P. CALLISTA summarizes what she already knows of Christianity. CALLISTA admits that she prefers to remain single yet finds a mysterious affinity with AGELLIUS. She is disappointed that he is not a more forceful, unselfish voice for his God. 12. A Death. AGELLIUS chides himself for being a lukewarm Christian. People in the Forum keep an eye on him. A new decree says that Christians must sacrifice to the Roman gods. AGELLIUS faints and is brought home by his Christian slave. 13. ...AND RESURRECTION. CAECILIUS (= CYPRIAN), a priest, disguised as a peasant, comes to care for AGELLIUS. who lies ill. They discuss baptism and penance. AGELLIUS vows to atone and devote himself to God. 14. A Small Cloud. CAECILIUS tells AGELLIUS that grace is given freely to all. He urges AGELLIUS to "save his soul by saving the souls of others". JUBA enters and recognizes that this is a priest. 15. A Visitation of Locusts. Millions of locusts devastate the area around Sicca. The gods are thought to be angry. 16. Worse and Worse. The
bonds of society are broken. Looting. Hysteria. Taxes are demanded; shouts
of "Christians to
17--18. A frenzied
mob (P.191) goes looking for Christians. People are
19--20. A Passage of Arms. CALLISTA comes to the priest looking for AGELLIUS. She is wary of CAECILIUS. (p. 212-13). CALLISTA. tells the priest that she is not a Christian because you have to be born one. She says she cannot be a Christian as the doctrines revolt her: e.g. that her ancestors are suffering in hell. I cannot do without my own land, Greece with its pride of mind, voice and eye of genius. The priest: he too was a proud Roman but converted. He answers her objections. He is obliged to flee but first gives her AGELLIUS’s copy of a holy scripture, the gospel of Luke. CALLISTA asks for his name: Cyprianus of Carthage The priest is captured but then rescued by JUBA. 21. Startling Rumors. Civil peace is restored, JUCUNDUS gets custody of AGELLIUS. after denouncing him; claims he will keep AGELLIUS. imprisoned. JUCUNDUS hears that CALLISTA has been imprisoned because she is a Christian; she is called before a tribune. Her case is not yet decided. 22. JUCUNDUS tries to get AGELLIUS to renounce Christianity, says he must leave Sicca (P. 243) JUCUNDUS urges: only show loyalty to the empire as we all do--a civic duty; AGELLIUS we do pray for Rome. AGELLIUS collapses, thinking CALLISTA is not a Christian and will therefore die in vain (p. 254). Resolves to visit her in prison. 23-24. GURTA, very anti-Christian, casts a spell on her step-son JUBA. Late Antiquity’s world of demons is described vividly. 25. CALLISTA in Durance. She had been captured and brought to prison by a gigantic Canaanite who couldn't understand her Greek or Latin. 26. ARISTO comes and tells of his family background. CALLISTA’s only hope for life is to offer incense to the gods. 27. Am I a Christian? CALLISTA has been thinking in concentric circles, felt she had heard 3 different testimonies from CHIONE her slave, from AGELLIUS and from CAECILIUS. The notion of an intimate Divine Presence in the heart (p. 294) will not leave her. She asks for a Christian priest. She is led to the local police courts for testimony; sees instruments of torture (p. 299) and nearly faints; an altar is brought to her for her to worship at; she refuses; she claims she is not a Christian; Judge: then prove it; sacrifice to the genius of the emperor. CALLISTA: I cannot. ARISTO argues that she must be deranged; asks that she remain in custody in her former lodging; the magistrate sends to Carthage for instructions. 28. A Sick Call. The scholar POLEMO comes to argue with CALLISTA. She will sacrifice only to the God she does not see; her inward guide; "I will acknowledge Caesar but not make him my god.” POLEMO gives up. 29 CONVERSION. If CALLISTA
will merely claim to have sacrificed to the Roman gods, she can be released;
she will not. JUCUNDUS argues that it would be a mistake to strike at any
but the leaders of Christianity. CALLISTA finally opens the sacred
scripture given her by CAECILIUS,
30. AGELLIUS is in hiding with others. He hears that CALLISTA is still in prison. Mass celebrated in a cave for about 50 faithful. A lector reads one of the canonical epistles, people stand for the gospel, the catechumens leave. All PRAY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. The consecration of bread and wine is said secretly. Lord's prayer.There is talk of how to baptize CALLISTA in prison. 31. BAPTISM. CALLISTA is in at the home of a Roman official. Two men come and demand to see her. One is is CAECILIUS. He finds her meek, humble, simple, no longer proud. She agrees to all Christian beliefs and accepts the chance of being martyred; receives baptism, confirmation and communion. The two return to their caves, meeting JUBA en route. He has become like a wild, raving beast. 32. The Imperial Rescript. CALLISTA must die. She dreams of Greece; She sees her slave CHIONE glorified, then the Blessed Mother and Christ and his wounds. 33. A Good Confession. ARISTO sends her a dagger to kill herself and die nobly. Her sentence is read, she is to be racked, burned and beheaded and left to the dogs and birds 34--35. Guards come for CALLISTA, calling her a witch. Her execution was outside the city walls near a slave burial place. CALLISTA is peaceful and composed; they rack her; she dies, left to wolves. Her corpse is untouched by decay and exerts a strange influence on people; has a mysterious, soothing effect. Five men, among them AGELLIUS with a shroud, come with a bier.The rabble has tried to take parts of her body; but soldiers protect from the crowd. 36. Lux perpetua sanctis tuis, domine. JUBA is brought in to hidden Christian caves and treated by exorcists. He falls as if dead, awakens and worships with others; this is CALLISTA’s first miracle; she brings many converts. Ten years later a church is built in Sicca. JUBA is baptized, his mind restored; dies by CALLISTA’s tomb. AGELLIUS, in old age under Diocletian, was martyred as bishop at Sicca. He had removed the body of CALLISTA and placed it under the high altar of his cathedral church. As SAINT AGELLIUS his body was later placed under the same altar. -OOO- Mary K. Killough
|