The shades, those sombre hatchers of primitive Christianity, only awaited an opportunity to bring about an explosion under the Caesars and to inundate the human race with light. For in the sacred shadows there lies latent light. Volcanoes are full of a shadow that is capable of flashing forth. Every form begins by being night. The catacombs, in which the first mass was said, were not alone the cellar of Rome, they were the vaults of the world.
In this passage, Victor Hugo reflects on the duality of shadows and light as symbols of potential and transformation within early Christianity. He suggests that shadows hold dormant energy, waiting for the right moment to ignite change. The imagery of volcanic eruptions conveys how hidden forces can erupt into brilliance, signifying that beginnings often emerge from darkness.
The catacombs, where the first mass was conducted, represent more than just a burial place; they symbolize a universal foundation for faith and hope. Hugo implies that these sacred spaces contain the essence of a transformative light capable of changing the world, indicating that out of darkness can arise great illumination and enlightenment for humanity.
