PRAYERS TO/FOR THE DEAD & TO MARY PROOF IN THE CATACOMBS
(Spoiler: Apostolic Faith knew it before the proof because it was handed down…wait for it… apostolically.)
Evidence in the catacombs of prayers for the dead & to the dead date back to 2nd C. Evidence for prayers specific to Mary date to early 3rd C…see photo of a fragment found of the ‘Sub Tuum Praesidium’ prayer below.
Take time to read the article. And remember that the physical proof only shows when evidence appeared. The practice of prayers for the dead dates back to B.C. [i.e., Old Testament times].
Don’t you just love it when concrete discovery catches up to Faith?
Rome’s Catacombs witness to the Catholic faith of the early Church
95 Questions 