25. The foregoing sketch is sufficient to show that, as a man of action
and a ruler of the Church, Dionysius's personality is no less striking
than as a student, a writer and a thinker. He was clearly a strong yet
conciliatory administrator of his province as Bishop of Alexandria, just
as he had been a competent and successful teacher and director of sacred
studies as head of the Catechetical Schools--one who in each capacity
carried on and maintained the great traditions which he inherited from S.
Mark and his successors, from Pantænus, Clement and Origen. And not only
at home and within his own jurisdiction, as we have seen, did he worthily
"magnify his office" and "make full proof of his ministry"; for he made
his influence for good felt throughout Christendom. Bishops and clergy
from all parts naturally turned to him in their difficulties for advice
and guidance; and it is impossible not to feel that his wonderful breadth
of judgment and his love of conciliation were of the greatest value to
the Church of the third century, and will remain a model for imitation to
each succeeding age. Men will always be tempted, as they were in that
century, to speak strongly and to act vehemently where their spiritual
beliefs are involved, and we may pray that God will never fail to raise
up amongst the rulers of His Church men of the type of S. Denys the Great
of Alexandria.