Loading…
VRSZ
This sets the art on your cards and whose commentary you read on each verse. You can change it later in settings.
Translation
Loading…
What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Cyprian
There they stood, victims of torture yet stronger than their tormentors. Their battered and lacerated limbs overcome the "claws" that tore and ripped at them. The savage, oft-repeated lashes could not defeat the martyrs' inextinguishable faith, though once their entrails were prized apart it was not the limbs of God's servants but their open wounds that were racked. It was as though their blood flowed to extinguish the fires of the persecution, to damp down the flames and burning coals of hell with its glorious streams. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
But the truth was revealed to the man who pointed out the things that were discovered. The place, you see, was indicated by preceding signs; and it was discovered to be just as it had been revealed in them. Many people received relics from there, because that was God's will, and they came as far as here. So both this place and this day is being commended to your graces'91 devotion; each is to be celebrated to the honor of God, whom Stephen confessed. …
Ambrose of Milan
By the death of the martyrs, religion has been defended, the faith spread and the church strengthened. The dead have been victorious, and the persecutors have been vanquished. Accordingly, we celebrate the deaths of those of whose lives we know nothing. So, too, David in prophecy rejoiced at the departure of his own soul, saying, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of the saints." He held death in more esteem than life. The death itself of the martyrs is the prize of life. …
Jerome
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Let the Jews now answer, how they say that every human body is unclean. Indeed in the Law, among the Jews, if anyone should die, whether a prophet, or a saint of whatever kind, if anyone should touch him, even if a priest, he is unclean until evening. This is written according to the letter in the Law. Let us say to them: If the body of a dead man is unclean, how is it now said, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints? …
Translation