Post #6458

This great fame of his rare gifts quickly reached the court of Emperor Claudius II Gothicus: he had often heard of him as an excellent man, who stood out among all, and so he decided to invite him to court. The Emperor himself welcomed him by expressing how much esteem and respect he had for Valentine. As soon as he appeared before him, Claudius said: "Please, why don't you want to enjoy our friendship and live united with the citizens of our republic?" I have heard many things about your wisdom and virtue, but I do not understand how, being you so wise, you can follow the vain superstition of Christians”. To which the venerable priest replied: “Oh if you knew, oh lord, and if you knew the gift of God! I know well that you would rejoice, and your republic with you, and you would consider yourselves too happy to have as master Him whom I adore and serve. How soon would you be bored with the worship that you now blindly lend to the demons! I assure you that you would soon adore the true God, the One who created heaven and earth from nothing and all that is included in this vast universe, and His only Son, Jesus Christ, Redeemer of mankind, equal in everything to God the Father. From Him is the empire. He alone can make your happiness, and that of all your subjects!” The sweetness and the gentle way of speaking captured the heart of Claudius; at the side of the emperor was a certain doctor who, when he realized that the words of Valentine made a breach in the heart of the sovereign, immediately interrupted the Saint's speech and replied: "And what do you think then, what concept do you have of our great god Jupiter , and of Mercury? “. "What I think - answered the holy priest - is exactly what you yourselves should think, that is, that there were no men more impious and selfish than those you call gods: your poets have put all their study in letting you know their filth and infamous deeds. You have their stories in hand: just show me their genealogy, and the summary of their life; and I will give you a winning case, if it does not appear evident that they were unjust men, gross and wicked “. Such an unexpected and precise answer made the doctor go into a rage, and he began to shout: «This is a blasphemer! A sacrilege!”, And his cries echoed others, asking for the Saint to be sentenced to death. The Emperor, however, perhaps internally persuaded of the truth he had heard or perhaps not paying attention to the cries of the courtiers, wanted to continue talking with the saint, and after having questioned him with great affability about the many mysteries of the Christian religion, he said to him: "If Jesus Christ is God, why does he not manifest himself? Why don't you let me know such truth so interesting?”. "Hear your mercy, oh great prince," the Saint replied: and after explaining to him in the strongest and clearest way the essential points of the Christian faith, he added: "Do you, Emperor, want to be happy? Do you want the empire to flourish and all your enemies to be destroyed, and do you want to ensure yourself eternal happiness? You must cling to this party, and to this great memory: repent from the heart of the excesses committed in shedding the blood of so many innocent Christians condemned to death by you; believe in Jesus Christ, submit your empire to His holy laws, and receive Baptism. As there is no God other than the God of Christians, so there is no salvation to be hoped for outside this religion. Yes, or great prince, outside of Christianity there is no salvation”. The energy and wisdom of the conversation he had with Valentine had truly moved the heart of the Emperor, who, unable to conceal the strong impression received in his own spirit, addressed the courtiers: "It must be recognized that this man is telling us many good doctrines. You too, Roman citizens, hear the great truths that he announces to us, against which it is difficult to defend oneself: there is no argument that can reply to him”.