Promise Of Fruit

Flores multi, multitudinem fructuum pollicentur, sed examinati ventorum flabris, ad fructum paucissimi perseverant : sic credentes in Christo multi Ecclesiae videntur in pace: ubi autem persecutionis procella perflaverit, pauci martyrii reperiuntur in fructu.  Sanctus Petrus Chrysologus, Sermo XCVII Source: Migne PL 52.472

Many blossoms promise abundant fruit, but, put to the test by gusts of wind, very few persevere to bear fruit. So in peaceful times the Church seems to have many who believe in Christ, but when the storm of persecution blows, few are found to bear fruit in martyrdom. Saint Peter Chrysologus, from Sermon 97