The Sequel Compared with the Beginning of This History

We have already spoken of the great honor that custom gave to the brave and triumphant warriors. Yet not one of all these, however great, mighty, valiant, and victorious he may have been, or however great the honor and glory with which he may have been hailed, could in any way be compared with the least martyr who suffered for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Even aged and feeble persons, young men and young women, and such as were not noticed, yes, those whom the world did not value at all, did infinitely more through the power of their faith, their burning love for God, and above all their steadfastness even to death. By it they were able to forsake, and even to despise, all visible things, and to put entirely out of their thoughts, to forget, and to bid, as it were, an eternal farewell, until the end of all things, to money, property, houses, farms, brothers, sisters, parents, children, dear friends and relatives, yes, their own bodies and lives, and everything pleasing and delightful according to the flesh; while others, if they could, gladly enjoyed and kept all of this, and would have been glad to keep it always, or to keep it still.

The honor, therefore, that is due to the holy martyrs is infinitely greater and better than that of earthly heroes, just as the fight they fought was infinitely more profitable, and their victory, as coming from the hand of God, infinitely more praiseworthy and glorious.*

Through earthly wars, countries and their inhabitants are destroyed, the innocent are killed, those who flee are robbed of their property, and much weeping and mourning is caused among those who remain. But through the warfare of the martyrs, at least through the martyrs themselves, the prosperity of countries and their inhabitants was promoted, because of the fervent prayers the martyrs offered up to God for those who did them harm and for the common welfare of all the inhabitants.

The life of the innocent, who otherwise would have had to die, yes, their spiritual and eternal life, was obtained and preserved through the medicine of their good teachings, admonitions, examples, and unwavering continuance to the end of life.

The estates of men generally, both according to the soul and the body, they improved and multiplied, causing them to increase thirty, sixty, and even a hundred fold, by their uprightness, faithfulness, generosity, compassion, and incomparable mercy toward their fellow men.

They caused no one to lament or weep by doing him the least damage or injury, but they greeted everybody, even their enemies, with kindness, embraced them with the arms of love, and gave them cause to rejoice and be glad, outwardly as well as inwardly, in body and in spirit, here and (God granting them mercy) also hereafter.

O most delightful warfare, which did injury to no one, but good to all. O you blessed heroes, who fought this fight! No princes or kings can be compared to you, for all the honors won by earthly heroes on earth shall vanish with the earth; but your honor is an everlasting honor. Your glory shall never cease; yes, it shall endure as long as God endures, whom you served.