Our
King, despite His exalted majesty, came in humility for our sake; yet
He did not come empty-handed. He gave of His bounty, yet without any
loss to Himself. In a marvelous way He changed into wealth the
poverty of His faithful followers while remaining in full possession
of His own inexhaustible riches. And so the love that brought Christ
from heaven to earth raised Stephen from earth to heaven; shown first
in the King, it later shone forth in His soldier. His love of God
kept him from yielding to the ferocious mob; his love for his
neighbor made him pray for those who were stoning him. Love inspired
him to reprove those who erred, to make them amend; love led him to
pray for those who stoned him, to save them from punishment.
– Saint
Fulgentius of Ruspe
