St. Cyprian of Carthage
“Let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again;
he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.”
Luke 15:24
September 13 is the day set aside in the Church calendar to honor St. Cyprian of Carthage. Cyprian was born to a wealthy pagan family in North Africa around 200 A.D. and later became a Christian. “In 248 he was chosen Bishope of Carthage. A year later the persecution under the Emperor Decius began, and Cyprian went into hiding. He was severely censured for this. After the persecution had died down, it remained to consider how to deal with the lapsed, meaning with those Christians who had denied the faith under duress. Cyprian held that they ought to be received back into full communion after suitable intervals of probation and penance, adjusted to the gravity of the denial.”[1]
As I read the account of St. Cyprian’s life and ministry, this small portion stood out to me. How many times have we learned of those who have made mistakes or have not stood up against foes to fight for what they believe? And then they are forever considered to be outsiders or they are rejected by the community. Cyprian advocated for forgiveness for those who had “lapsed” and reception back into the fullness of the community. Just as the return of the Prodigal Son was celebrated by his father, we, too, should welcome and love those who have lapsed in their faith and then return. If we encounter a situation where members of our community have left the fold and denied our beliefs, hopefully when they return, we can remember and embody Cyprian’s capacity to forgive and to reunite formerly separated members of the community.
Collect for Cyprian
Almighty God, who gave to your servant Cyprian boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“Lesser Feasts and Fasts” 2006, page 377
[1] Cyprian of Carthage, by James Kiefer, http://satucket.com/lectionary/Cyprian.htm , accessed 8/26/2024.
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