Visiting Prisoners

Vobiscum illic in carcere quodam  modo et nos sumus, divinae dignationis ornamenta vobiscum sentire nos credimus, qui sic vestris cordibus adhaeremus. Honori nos vestro charitas vestra individua connectit, separari dilectionem spiritus non sinit. Vos illic confessio, me affectio includit. Et nos quidem vestri diebus ac noctibus memores, et quando in sacrificiis precem cum pluribus facimus, et cum in secessu privatis, precibus oramus, coronis ac laudibus vestris plenam a Domino faventiam postulamus. Sed ad reddendam vobis vicem minor est nostra mediocritas. Plus vos datis quando nostri in oratione meministis, qui spirantes jam sola coelestia et tantum divina meditantes ad fastigia celsiora mora ipsa passionis ascenditis, longoque temporum ductu glorias vestras non trahitis, sed augetis. Beatum facit prima et una confessio. Vos toties confitemini quoties, rogati ut de carcere recedatis, carcerem fide et virtute praeelegitis. Tot vestrae laudes quot dies; quot mensium curricula, tot incrementa meritorum. Semel vincit qui statim patitur: at qui manens semper in poenis congreditur cum dolore nec vincitur, quotidie coronatur. Sanctus Cyprianus, Epistola XV, Ad Moysen et Maximum et Caeteros Confessiores

With you we are in prison, in a certain sense, believing that we are ornaments of Divine dignity which binds us to your hearts. Your individual charity joins us with your honour, the Spirit not allowing that love be separated. Confession shuts you up there in prison; affection does the same to me. And I am certainly mindful of you day and night, both when in the sacrifices I offer prayer with many, and when withdrawn I pray in private, asking of the Lord for a full acknowledgment of your crowns and praises. But my mediocrity is too little to recompense you. You give more when you remember me in prayer, since, already breathing only celestial things, meditating only divine things, you ascend to loftier heights by delay of your suffering, and by the long length of time you do not waste but increase your glory. A first and single confession makes blessed. You confess as often as, when asked to remove yourself from prison, you prefer prison with faith and virtue. Your praises are as many as the days, as the months roll on, so your merits increase. He conquers once who suffers at once, but he who remains ever battling with punishments, and is not conquered by suffering, is daily crowned. Saint Cyprian, Letter 15, To Moses and Maximus and Other Confessors