The Words They Carved in Stone

In the ancient catacombs beneath Rome, two kinds of inscriptions line the tunnel walls. Pagan tombs bear the letters D. M. — Dis Manibus, "to the spirits of the dead" — followed by words of finality: "farewell forever," "eternal sleep," "no more." But walk a few passages deeper into the Christian burial chambers, and the language changes completely. There you find anchors, fish, and olive branches carved into limestone alongside words like in pace — "in peace" — and vivit, "he lives."…