A Bishop Praised

Dedit enim eis benedictionem qui legem dederat, ut ambularent de virtute in virtutem: de virtute fidei sincerissimae in virtutuem conflictionis constantissimae; de virtute caritatis flagrantissimae in virtutuem passionis gloriosissimae. Credidit enim, locutus est; dilexit, et secutus est. Audierat enim a Domino dictum: Qui me diligit, sequitur me; et iterum: Qui credit in me, non morietur in aeternum. Et pater fidelis secutus est vestigia Salvatoris. Interritus contempsit principum jussa et et judicum edictum. Paratus excepit percussoris ictum, et animum soli Deo subditum etiam ipsa mors servavit invictum. Denique nihil eum revocavit a pastoris gregisque custodia, exsilii locus, apparitor violentus, persecutionis tempus, judicis metus, imminens gladius, proximus mortis occasus. Nam et in exsilio constitutus, atque ab Ecclesia sibi commissa corpore tantum non mente separatus, pauperum alimenta; et in occulto absconditus, disciplinae censuram; et a principe detentus, virginum pudicitiam; et ad tribunal exhibitus, clericorum tutelam; et minis actus, robustam conscientiam; et subdole consumptus, spiritalem cautelm; et inique judicatus, Christianam patientiam custodivit. Plebem frequentibus litteris admonens, inopes largioribus eleemosynis fovit, martyres hortamentis pariter et exemplis ad subeundum praelium promovit, et donce ponat animam, non deserit curam. Sanctus Fulgentius Ruspensis, Sermo VI, De Sancto Cypriano Martyre Source: Migne 65.740d-741a

He gave to them a blessing who gave the law, that they might walk from virtue to virtue, 1 from the virtue of sincere faith to the virtue of perfect constancy in conflict, from the virtue of blazing love into the virtue of a most glorious passion. For he believed and he spoke; he loved, and he followed. He heard from the Lord the words: 'He who loves me, follows me,' and again: 'He who believes in me shall never die.' 2 The faithful father followed in the way of the Saviour. This fearless one scorned the judgement of princes, and the sentence proclaimed. He was prepared to receive the blow of the executioner, and his death preserved unconquered a soul obedient to God alone. And then nothing turned him from caring for the flock of the shepherd, no exile, no appearance of violence, no period of persecution, no fear of a judge, no threat of the sword, no approach of the coming of death. For even in exile and from the Church removed in body, but not separated in the mind, he attended to the feeding of the poor; and hidden in a concealed place, to the judgement of discipline; and detained by the prince, to the modesty of virgins; and arraigned before the tribunal, to the guardianship of priests; and sent threats, to the firmness of conscience; and assailed with cunning, to the watching over of the spirit; and judged in wickedness, to the guarding of Christian patience. He admonished the people with frequent letters, and cherished the poor with bountiful alms, and with words and example he encouraged martyrs to endurance in the conflict, and he did not abandon his duty until he placed down his soul. Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe, from Sermon 6, On Saint Cyprian The Martyr 1 Ps 83.8 2 Jn 11.2