Then, in another hall, a family vault of much the same size, decorated at a later stage, with naive mural paintings, the spot where St.Cecilia's body had been discovered was shown.

And the explanations continued.

The Trappist dilated on the paintings, drawing from them a confirmation of every dogma and belief, baptism, the Eucharist, the resurrection, Lazarus arising from the tomb, Jonas cast up by the whale, Daniel in the lions' den, Moses drawing water from the rock, and Christ--shown beardless, as was the practice in the early ages--accomplishing His various miracles.
"You see," repeated the Trappist, "all those things are shown there; and remember that none of the paintings was specially prepared: they are absolutely authentic." At a question from Pierre, whose astonishment was increasing, he admitted that the catacombs had been mere cemeteries at the outset, when no religious ceremonies had been celebrated in them.

It was only later, in the fourth century, when the martyrs were honoured, that the crypts were utilised for worship.

And in the same way they only became places of refuge during the persecutions, when the Christians had to conceal the entrances to them.