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SERMON 128 On the Birth1 of St. Apollinaris2 lessed apollinaris,3 the first in the priesthood, alone adorned this church with the exceptional honor of having one of her own martyred. It is fitting that his name was Apollinaris, since according to the injunction of his God he lost4 his life in order to acquire it for life everlasting .5 Blessed is he who so finished the race and so kept the faith6 that he truly was found to occupy the first place among the believers. Let no one suppose that he is anything less than a martyr on account of his title as Confessor, since it is well known that it was God’s will that he kept returning to the contest at least on a daily basis. Listen to Paul as he says: “I die daily .”7 To die once is too little for the one who is able to bring back again and again to his King a glorious victory over the enemy . It is not death as much as faith and dedication that make one a martyr; and just as it is a mark of virtue to fall in battle, in conflict, for the love of the king, so it is a mark of perfect virtue to engage in combat for a long time and to bring it to its con192 1. As in the previous sermon, “birth” refers to being born into eternal life as a martyr. 2. This sermon was delivered on July 23, the feast day of St. Apollinaris, the first bishop and martyr of Ravenna. See F. Sottocornola, L’anno liturgico, 111 and 299. 3. For more on St. Apollinaris, see Introduction with pertinent footnotes, FOTC 109.2–4. 4. Chrysologus traces the etymology for Apollinaris to ajpovllumi (“to lose”). In Sermon 154.3 (FOTC 17.260), Chrysologus again gives evidence of knowing Greek by mentioning that Stephen derived his name from a “crown.” Other allusions to Greek in Chrysologus’s preaching are noted in D. L. Baldisserri, San Pier Crisologo, Arcivescovo di Ravenna (Imola, 1920), 79. 5. See Jn 12.25. 6. See 2 Tm 4.7. 7. 1 Cor 15.31. clusion. Therefore, the enemy did not make him a martyr, since he did not inflict death, but he proved him to be a martyr, because he did not remove his faith; the crafty enemy hurled the weapons that he could, and he aimed at him everything he had in his arsenal; nevertheless, he was unable to budge this bravest of leaders, nor could he tarnish his constancy. It is the highest honor, brothers, to despise this present life for the Lord’s sake, if that is necessary, but it is also glorious even while living to scorn and trample underfoot the world and its ruler. 2. Christ was hastening to the martyr, and the martyr was hastening to his King. It is appropriate that we said he “was hastening ,” in conformity with the words of the prophet: “Rise up, run to meet me, and see.”8 But so that the holy Church retain for herself her defender, she runs eagerly to Christ, so that she may both preserve the crown of righteousness9 for the victor, and may furnish for herself the presence of her warrior in time of war. The confessor often used to shed his blood, and with his wounds and with faith in his heart he kept bearing witness to his Creator. Casting his gaze toward heaven he despised both the flesh10 and the earth. Nevertheless, the Church still in her tender infancy conquered, held fast, and succeeded in delaying his martyrdom by her longing. I call it an “infancy,” brothers, since it always obtains everything and fights more with its tears than by reason of its strength. For the determination and the sweat of the strong are not as powerful as the tears of children, because in the former case bodies are broken, but in the latter situation hearts are broken; by force of strength, judgments of the mind are influenced only with difficulty, but to children’s tears, a devotion that is already disposed towards them yields completely. 3. And why should I say more, brothers? She has seen to it, Holy Mother Church has seen to it that she would in no way be separated from her high-priest.11 He is alive here, here as a SERMON 128 193 8. Ps 58.6 LXX: Ps 59.4. 9. See...

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