1. I have great confidence in speaking before you, beloved, as often as there is need, in love of the blessed martyr, to recall to memory the praises of a martyrdom which a spirited faith brought forth, spurred on by suffering that yields gain—though the tongue may not suffice for as much as the martyrdoms demand. But when could the service of a mere man discharge all that a heaven-sent virtue has wrought amid the array of battle? And so, what alone we can do, we render to his merits the favor of our lips; since the deeds of the contest can be hidden from no one's understanding, which every single year renews for us as proofs of virtue. You have heard the Psalmist saying: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints (Ps. 116:15).
What can be more precious than that death which, in the clash of battle, knows not how to yield to the enemy's darts? Assuredly that mightiest soul is proven to carry off the palm of victory, which does not consent to serve impious laws, being deceived. This is truly the mark of surpassing virtue, in time of persecution to favor death more than life. It makes a place for eternal life, which the voluntary punishment of the cross commends in the confession of our Christ, the Lord Himself saying: He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world, shall find it unto life eternal (John 12:25). Who that is wise, despising the loan of this light, if occasion so come, would not eagerly hasten to martyrdom, when he sees that to have counted his soul as given over to death belongs to the gain of life?
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But why should not a man run devotedly to so precious a work, and boldly cast himself before the hands of the impious, when heavenly grace awaits him with the reward of recompense, according to that which the Lord recalls in that description of blessedness: Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:10)? 2. You see how great fruits faith, proven by human sufferings, has conferred, or in what place the victory won by contempt of the body is set. But who could doubt of this reward which we have mentioned, when he sees the zeal of the whole world gathering in love of the saints, and everywhere running from all sides to the devotion of the yearly solemnity?
We easily understand what place is prepared for them in the heavenly seat, whose memory so great a care of services attends. Let us therefore fit our souls to the future glory which is laid up for us, and let us set heavenly things before earthly, that we may be able to attain those promises of eternal life. But let no one flatter himself with the ambition of this world, whom he sees failing day by day with the advance of age and time. If in short we compare present things with eternal, those which we possess for a time are plainly proven to be worthless enough and useless.
Seek then the grace of the inheritance owed to you, and you will understand that the riches of this world are displeasing, and you will judge that nothing is dimmer than gold, nothing more sordid than the splendor of silver. But in comparison with paradise, a most precious gem is like glass. For such is the dignity of this light and of the time to come, as if, while the moon stands in heaven, a morning ray poured itself into the eyes of men. For the moon's exchange pleases only so long as it renders its office to the dark night by fixed laws; which, however much it may please by the whiteness of its nocturnal light, is nevertheless darkened by the brighter clearness of a better star coming upon it. 3.
This alone is what commends the times of the present life: if we do those things which are not subject to accusation in the judgment to come, nor can, once accused, be convicted. But that no soul may hereafter labor under the odium of injustice before God, that psalm assuredly must be embraced which says: They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy (Ps. 126:5). This it is to sow in tears and reap in joys: to confute the preceding acts of one's life by one's own judgment, and to have subjected the wanton soul to just punishment. For sadness quickly gives way to gladness, if you forestall the severity of the Judge by amends, and confound the guilt of the crime committed by unceasing chastisement.
But lest you should think you have won a lesser grace from this, come to the aid of the afflicted and those worn out with grief, and settle your cause before the poor by lavish giving. For thus says the Lord: Blessed are the merciful, for God will have mercy on them. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matt. 5:7, 5). If therefore any of you, beloved, earnestly seeks the consolation of Christ, let him cut away the sorrows of others by alms, and earnestly commend his own tears to this patron in whose honor we are gathered;
and let him insinuate himself by frequent acts of patronage, so that he may the more easily obtain whatever he shall have suggested to the Lord for his own advantage. We must always run to God's friends, and serve our neighbors, and pray without ceasing, that we may be able to obtain the support of holy intercession. But what place of pardon will there be before the just Judge, if you know not how to entreat the royal friends? 4.
In short, look to the order of worldly discipline, and you will understand what care ought to remain with you concerning the service of the saints. Without doubt, unless first the spirit of him who guards the inner recesses of the praetorian house be appeased, one does not easily come to the friendship of the higher power. Surely the supports of patrons must be earnestly sought, to whom alone it is given to know how to soften the wrathful spirit of an angered lord and to temper his anger. In a great house, therefore, the rank of friends is always second after the master. They alone are those through whom, before the master, a free place for suggesting and an easy access for obtaining are afforded.
With special veneration, therefore, must the memory of the saints be cultivated by us, that they may open the door of salvation, and cause the desires of our servitude to reach the knowledge of the Lord. For it is a great portion of security, in harsh circumstances to have had support from the house of the king. For the odium of a crime in some measure decreases, where the accused begins to belong to the friendships of the royal household. Thus a man passes his life without danger, if there be one who may excuse the negligence of a sinner before the Lord. But there is no one who does not need, even in the greatest security, the support of one more powerful.
For although a proven faith sanctifies some in this number, yet there is need that there be one who may commend that very faith to the Lord by suppliant intercession. For you will not find one so strong that he does not need the aid of a stronger. As one wages war well behind a shield, so a defendant's case is safely conducted before witnesses under a patron; where, although punishment threatens, if there be one who intercedes, the injury liable to the laws is undoubtedly pardoned. But what limit to death can there be, if, when the judge strikes with his sentence, there be none who by suppliant intercession may come to the aid of the defendant? 5. If we would consider, beloved, how much the virtue of our fellow-citizen the martyr has bestowed on us, our tongue's zeal, our mouth's office would never cease from the praises of our God.
Look to the zeal of those who drink foreign waters, and thirsting seek out fountains set far off, and you see how much of grace a possession flooded with its own waters holds. But it cannot be estimated how much of usefulness accrues to an estate, if ever what elsewhere is ambitiously sought is born within one's own possession. Behold, the Lord of hosts has granted you to have a living fountain, upon which you might daily rely, one that does not fail, is not harsh, is not bitter: of which, if anyone shall wish to drink, he will ever thirst for justice, and never will he depart from that law of the heavenly commandments.
If then you wish, beloved, that there be for us a portion in the heavenly seat which the Lord has promised to the victors, let us first of all imitate the holy martyr's faith in confession, and follow his way in virtue, nor let us hesitate to oppose our breast, in love of the Lord, to the bloody hands of the executioner. For the crown of victory quickly protects the willing soldier in the clash of battle. But while these things come upon the blessed and are conferred upon the merits of the fortunate, let us meanwhile, so far as pertains to the present salvation of the soul, resist adversities. Nor is there lacking that in which you may daily conquer, if you are willing to fight against the desires of the flesh. Look and see how great are the contests of crimes that rage about you, or how many a battle-line of vices is drawn up.
On this side pride, on that envy assails our faith; now drunkenness supplies the matter of luxury, now covetousness inflames the mind to every kind of falsehood; whose zeal, among other things, is to sow quarrels, to stir up strifes, to breed hatreds. Against these legions, therefore, we must fight with spiritual arms, and stand in the battle-line day and night, until either the vices give way, or, bent toward penitence, take refuge in it. These being overcome, we can without doubt also enter the contest with him who seeks the highest palm of martyrdom. Who there would refuse to fight, or who would not strive to conquer, where a man is taught not only by the preceding merits of labors, but also by the present examples of virtues?