1. Very necessary was it for this world, beloved, as the matter shows, for the kindling of the glory of virtues, that the knowledge of so illustrious a victory should be had. This world would still without doubt lie in dark chains, were it not illumined by the renowned examples of the saints; and it would fight amid byways and uncertainties, did not the crown of martyrdom, spread through the whole globe, put to confusion the unbelieving minds of men. For which cause thanks are to be rendered to God, who armed the minds of mortals for such great endurance, and did not idly behold the great labors of the work; so that, while He appointed the necessity of battle for those who love Him, He prepared by just recompense a reward for the victors, as the evangelist says: Blessed are they that suffer persecution for
justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Ibid. 10). Whoever therefore, being wise, strives after higher things through zeal for religion, let him first learn whence the crown may more readily come to the virtues. For we need not seek far the one whom we should follow. Behold, before our eyes is he who daily provokes us by saving examples, and with fatherly affection invites us to the fellowship of holiness. Easily therefore, if you wish, you will lay hold of those things which are worthy of the heavenly kingdom, since you have daily one whom you can follow, and whom you ought to imitate. Look, beloved, to the zeal of other regions, which we see flourishing more widely in love of the saints through foreign exchanges;
and you will understand how much the Lord has bestowed upon us, or how much of solicitude or of love He has expended about us, who, among the other nations which He regarded with zeal for saving, has also drenched our places with the blood of martyrdom. Seek, and you will find how ambitiously almost the whole world craves the patronage of holiness: so that the merits of such great virtues are continually attended with rivaling vows and frequent services. Easily therefore you recognize how special a care of services awaits us in the office of the martyrs, since you see even foreign nations flocking hither with the love of a devout mind, and, as the case requires, seeking the consolations of the holy martyr. You have plainly cause for special rejoicing.
For from your fountain arises whatever of religion is anywhere drunk, and from you is born whatever elsewhere is ministered to the thirsting. Learn therefore from this, beloved, to love God, who daily commends Himself to the heavenly realm by the outpouring of His own blood: and recognize how much patience confers upon the lovers of our Christ, how much sorrow in persecution confers upon the acts of religion. 2. Behold, as the reading teaches, the possession of the heavenly kingdom receives the victor. So great a thing it is to have endured the executioner, for whom the punishment provides the reward. Who then, being wise, if it so come to pass, would not, well conscious to himself, seek the work of so great a virtue, and boldly cast himself before his enemies?
But why should that man not without anxiety look upon the flames, or why should he dread the torturer's claws, whom so precious a grace of recompense awaits? It belongs to perfect faith to give place to sufferings that yield gain, especially when you are taught by such great examples of preceding virtues. Very easily indeed you can understand what it profits the bravest to have conquered in persecution, since you daily see the sentence of spiritual judgment rage against the wickedness of diabolical presumption throughout the several places of the saints. Nor is it an idle matter, beloved, that we frequently see human bodies vexed in the chastisement of the unclean spirit, and, the names of the saints being invoked, the author of crimes confess his deeds.
When would the reading alone suffice for unbelieving minds? When would ancient knowledge implant in human perceptions the whole faith of truth? Or when would the soul descend to the belief of such great matters, if for the confirmation of things past mere hearing alone were awaited? Sufficiently unhappy then, and estranged from Christ, is he whose heart is still besieged by the error of foolish unbelief, when he sees the merits of the saints stand fast by such great virtues. For to these it looks—which we frequently see—that the aerial spirit chants under the person of another, and utters the speech of trembling confession by a strange mouth. In which, though the flame works, it seems no injury; one is believed, and another confesses. 3.
So great a virtue does the Lord work through His saints, that He puts to confusion the acts of diabolical wickedness by the hidden strokes of wounds and by invisible tears, by the authority of judgment; and He restrains the lurking allurements of crimes, chastised under a certain torturer. What wise man would await these things, and not at once accuse whatever there is of infidelity in himself, and, mindful of his own condition, by continual service prepare a worthy honor for the memory of the saints? Easily indeed he can understand what place they have before the Lord, or with what honor they are to be held by us, to whom he sees judgment committed by the examination of palms. Their examples therefore, beloved, are to be followed, their faith to be pursued, their virtue to be imitated.
Nor is it difficult for anyone to accomplish these things: for if you consider the crown of the promised recompense, it will be easy for you to conquer the injury of persecution. Behold, the Lord says: He that shall persevere, to him will I give the crown of victory (Rev. 2:26). Let no one therefore flee, if it so come to pass, the clanging of chains and, in dark abodes, the idle sufferings of the sinews, prepared for the use of the impious. Without doubt the whole apparatus of death gives way, if only the will to fight increase. All hope, therefore, of obtaining victory rests in faith and will. For if the will follow faith, it never forsakes the will. But it is difficult that he should feel the pain of the body, who has taken upon himself the injury of a voluntary passion.
Assuredly, that you may the more easily advance secure, set in the battle-line, the deeds of the saints must always be placed before your eyes. For in the greatest battles the fighter does not lack consolations, if the examples of the bravest men are sought. Behold, the Lord says: Take up thy cross, and follow me (Matt. 16:24). But perhaps these things do not suit all, because a body given to pleasure frequently yields to injury. Let him who despairs of his body's frailty take refuge in the arms of justice, which are assigned to voluntary service. Easily, moreover, does he sustain the onset of the coming enemy, whom the will has armed for battle; nor does he dread the sword of the bloody executioner, whom the virtue of souls fortifies. 4. But to whom these things seem laborious, beloved, let them undertake easier ones.
There is indeed one and an arduous way, as the evangelist says, which leads to life (Matt. 7:14). But if we inquire, there are many ways by which one comes to glory. Behold, luxury presses in, pride lords it, avarice rages: against these we must fight with the zeal of discipline, to which all heavenly glory of virtue submits. Bow down pride, in short, and at once you will obtain the crown of graces; restrain avarice, and without doubt you will be able to obtain victory over all vices. Conquer therefore first the desires of the flesh, and it will not be difficult for you to conquer the torments of the executioner. You know to how great evils envy is subject; which, while it grudges others, wounds itself; or how greatly the soul is imperiled by the fire of covetousness.
You know how grave a sight is for the kindling of desires, how swift are the castings of the eyes, how base is drunkenness, how perilous are the arrows of words, which do not strike without pain, nor depart without weariness. Against these things, therefore, the battle of the cross must be made ready by us. In short, so many times a day will you carry off a reward, as often as you conquer the desires of your soul. 5. There are, moreover, beloved, many things which frequently impose upon us the necessity of battle: which being subdued and overcome, you will as victor obtain no small palm by just labor. For as great as are the vices in a man, so great also are the wounds, so as great as are the contests, so great are the rewards; as many as are the victories, so many are the crowns.
For that man does not pass the day without a small triumph, who, his vices being chastised, walks purified in spirit. Behold, the Lord says: Take up thy cross, and follow me (Matt. 16:24). I know indeed that the crown of martyrdom is owed to few, the Lord Himself saying: Many are called, but few are chosen (Matt. 20:16). But while these things come upon the fortunate, in those which we have set forth above faith must be aroused, so that when there is need the enemy's onset may find us prepared by the assault of a religious life. For great virtue always takes its trial in lesser things. So the raw recruit, before he comes to battle, exercises his strength against a truncated tree, and, playing, composes the wounds of a practiced hand. Now he is raised on foot, now with the rapid course of horses he imitates the winds;
in short, his zeal so far advances that it is almost a lesser labor to have conquered the enemy than to have exercised his valor. In like manner, therefore, beloved, we must rehearse beforehand, and the mind, about to come to stronger things, must be fitted by exercises. For the virtue which is promised in small things is more easily exhibited in the greatest. Thus, while we grow accustomed to conquer lesser things, we learn to endure greater.