Love And Victory

Diligite inimicos vestros. Forte illi quem recens pulsat injuria, videantur ista non convenire rationi. Sed respiciat, quicumque est, ad vitae suae quietem; et intelliget quia inimicum dilexisse, vicisse est. Infinitum autem est, quantum periculi homini incumbat, cum duos aemulo furore consimiles ad pugnam ille diabolus magister litis armaverit, cujus est consuetudinis ad instiganta odia amoras portare ac reportare sermones. Quando est autem ut ille diem sine tribulatione transigat, vel quando est ut ab illo nox sine impia cogitatione discedat, quem ira indignatione stimulat? Numquam profecto sine suspicione vitam ducet, cui est semper necesse cogitare et timere quem laeserit. Summa itaque cura sunt dolores asperi blando verborum medicamine temperandi, quatenus et duritia cordis pacis studio castigata mollescat. In quo loco beatos illos judico, qui verba labiorum suorum tacito ore custodiunt, et memores coelestium mandatorum alienae vocis contumeliam non requirunt. Cessant enim odia, ubi non reputatur injuria; nec habet ullam virtutem iracundia, si desit unius in contentione persona. Ita duplex patientiam manet victoria: hominem vicisse proprios animorum motis, et temperasse mores alienos. Sanctus Valerianus Cemeliensis, Homilia XII De Bono Conservandae Pacis Source: Migne PL 52.729c-d

'Love your enemies.' 1 Perhaps to one recently struck by injury these words seem little in harmony with reason. But let him, whoever he is, look again to the peace of his own life and he will understand that to have loved an enemy is to have gained a victory. Unlimited peril looms over a man when the devil, the master of strife, has armed to fight two men who match each other in their fury, he whose custom it is, in order to kindle hatred, to carry bitter words back and forth. When does a man pass a day without distress, or when does night run its course without wicked thoughts, if wrath is provoking him to indignation? He shall never live a life without anxiety who always finds it necessary to think about and fear someone he has harmed. With the greatest care harsh pains should be soothed by the gentle medicine of words, so that even hardness of heart may soften corrected by the desire for peace. With which thought, I deem them blessed who with silent mouth guard the words of their lips, and mindful of the heavenly precepts, do not draw forth insults in the voice of another. For hatred ends when injury is not pondered; anger has no power if the voice of one person is absent in a quarrel. Thus a double victory awaits patience: a man has gained victory over his own impulses and he has restrained the conduct of another. Saint Valerian of Cimelium, from Homily 12, On The Good of The Preservation of Peace 1 Mt 5.44