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Cyprian correspondence, Epistle XII

Cyprian of Carthage

Letter 12

About this work

Author: Cyprian of Carthage

Epistle XII.

To the Clergy, Concerning the Lapsed and Catechumens, that They Should Not Be Left Without Superintendence.

Argument.—The Burden of This Letter, as of the Succeeding One, is Found Below in the XIVth Epistle. “But Afterwards,” He Says, “When Some of the Lapsed, Whether of Their Own Accord, or by the Suggestion of Any Other, Broke Forth with a Daring Demand, as Though They Would Endeavour, by a Violent Effort, to Extort the Peace that Had Been Promised to Them by the Martyrs and Confessors,” Etc.

Section 1

1. Cyprian to the

presbyters

and

deacons

,

his

brethren

,

greeting

.

I

marvel

,

beloved

brethren

,

that

you

have

answered

nothing

to

me

in

reply

to

my

many

letters

which

I

have

frequently

written

to

you

,

although

as

well

the

advantage

as

the

need

of

our

brotherhood

would

certainly

be

best

provided

for

if

,

receiving

information

from

you

,

I

could

accurately

investigate

and

advise

upon

the

management

of

affairs

.

Since

,

however

,

I

see

that

there

is

not

yet

any

opportunity

of

coming

to

you

,

and

that

the

summer

has

already

begun

—

a

season

that

is

disturbed

with

continual

and

heavy

sicknesses

,

—

I

think

that

our

brethren

must

be

dealt

with

;

—

that

they

who

have

received

certificates

from

the

martyrs

,

and

may

be

assisted

by

their

privilege

with

God

,

if

they

should

be

seized

with

any

misfortune

and

peril

of

sickness

,

should

,

without

waiting

for

my

presence

,

before

any

presbyter

who

might

be

present

,

or

if

a

presbyter

should

not

be

found

and

death

begins

to

be

imminent

,

before

even

a

deacon

,

be

able

to

make

confession

of

their

sin

,

that

,

with

the

imposition

of

hands

upon

them

for

repentance

,

they

should

come

to

the

Lord

with

the

peace

which

the

martyrs

have

desired

,

by

their

letters

to

us

,

to

be

granted

to

them

.

Section 2

2. Cherish also by your presence the rest of the people who are lapsed, and cheer them by your consolation, that they may not fail of the faith and of God’s mercy. For those shall not be forsaken by the aid and assistance of the Lord, who meekly, humbly, and with true penitence have persevered in good works; but the divine remedy will be granted to them also. To the hearers also, if there are any overtaken by danger, and placed near to death, let your vigilance not be wanting; let not the mercy of the Lord be denied to those that are imploring the divine favour. I bid you, beloved brethren, ever heartily farewell; and remember me. Greet the whole brotherhood in my name, and remind them and ask them to be mindful of me. Fare ye well.

Notes

1
Oxford ed.: Ep. xviii. a.d. 250.
3
[2 Cor. ii. 10.]
4
“Audientibus,” scil. catechumens.
5
[See Hermas, vol. ii. p. 15, note 6.]