Trials And Crowns

Gaudere nos et exultare voluit in persecutionibus Dominus, quia quando persecutiones fiunt, tunc dantar coronae; tunc probantur milites Dei, tunc martyribus patent coeli. Neque enim sic nomen militiae dedimus, ut pacem tantummodo cogitare, et detrectare, et recusare militiam debeamus, quando in ipsa militia primus ambulaverit Dominus, humilitatis et tolerantiae et passionis magister, ut quod fieri docuit, prior faceret, et quod pati hortatur, prior pro nobis ipse pateretur. Sit ante oculos, fratres dilectissimi, quod qui omne judicium a Patre solus accepit, et qui venturus est et judicaturus, jam judicii sui et cognitionis futurae sententiam protulerit; praenuncians et contestans, confessurum se coram patre suo consitentes, et negaturum negantes. Si mortem possemus evadere, a merito mortem timeremus. Porro autem cum mortalem mori necesse sit, amplectamur occasionem de Divina promissione  dignatione venientem, et fungamur exitu mortis cum praemio immortalitatis; nec vereamur occidi, quos constet quando occidimur, coronari. Nec quisquam, fratres dilectissimi, cum populum nostrum fugari conspexerit metu persecutionis et spargi, conturbetur, quod collectam fraternitatem non videat, nec tractantes Episcopos audiat. Simul tunc omnes esse non possunt, quibus occidere non licet, sed occidi necesse est. Ubicunque in illis diebus unusquisque fratrum fuerit a grege interim necessitate temporis corpore non spiritu separatus, non moveatur ad fugae illius horrorem, nec recedens et latens deserti loci solitudine terreatur. Solus non est, cui Christus in fuga comes est. Solus non est qui templum Dei servans, ubicunque fuerit, sine Deo non est. Et si fugientem in solitudine ac montibus latro oppresserit, fera invaserit, fames aut sitis aut frigus afflixerit, vel per maria praecipiti navigatione properantem tempestas, ac procella submerserit: Spectat militem suum Christus ubicunque pugnantem, et persecutionis causa pro nominis sui honore morienti praemium reddit, quod daturum se  in resurrectione promisit. Nec minor est martyrii gloria, non publice et inter multos perisse, cum pereundi causa fit propter Christum perire. Sufficit ad testimonium Martyrii sui, testis ille est qui probat martyres et coronat. Sanctus Cyprianus, Epistola LVI Ad Thibaritanos, De Exhortatione Martyrii Source: Migne PL 4.351c-353a

The Lord wished that we should rejoice and leap for joy in persecutions, because, when persecutions come, then crowns of faith are given, then the soldiers of God are proved, then the heavens open for martyrs. Indeed we have not mentioned the name of military service that we should think only on peace and draw back from and refuse service, when in this very service the Lord walked first, the teacher of humility and endurance and suffering, so that what He taught be done, He first did, and what He exhorts to suffer, He first suffered for us. Let it be before your eyes, beloved brethren, that He who alone has received all judgment from the Father, 1 and who will judge, has already declared the decree of His judgment and of His future recognition, foretelling and testifying that He will confess those before His Father who confess Him, and will deny those who deny Him. 2 If we were able to escape death, with reason we might fear death. However, since it is necessary that a mortal man should die, let us embrace the occasion that comes by the Divine promise and condescension, and perform the ending of death with the reward of immortality; let us not fear to be slain, when it is certain that we are slain to be crowned. Nor let any one, beloved brethren, when he sees our people fleeing and scattered by the fear of persecution, be disturbed at not seeing the brotherhood gathered together, and not hearing the bishops speaking. Not all are able to be there, those who may not kill but who must be killed. Wherever, in those days, one of the brethren is separated from the flock for a time, by the necessity of the time, in body, not in spirit, let him not be shaken at the terror of that flight; nor, if he is withdraw and concealed, let him be perturbed by the solitude of a wilderness. He is not alone whose companion in flight is Christ; he is not alone who guards the temple of God; wherever he is, he is not without God. And if a fugitive in the wilds assault you, or a bandit in the mountains, or if a wild beast should attack you, or if hunger, or thirst or cold should distress you, or the tempest and the storm should overwhelm you hastening on a swift voyage over the seas, Christ everywhere looks on His soldier fighting, and on account of persecution, for the honour of His name, gives a reward to him when he dies, as He has promised that He will give in the resurrection. Nor is the glory of martyrdom less because a man has not perished publicly and before many, since the cause of perishing is to perish for Christ. Sufficient testimony for his martyrdom is He who proves martyrs and crowns them. Saint Cyprian of Carthage, from Letter 55, To the People of Thibaris, Exhorting Martyrdom. 1 Jn 5.22  2 Mt 10.33