Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Saint Cyprian, an African bishop of the 3rd century, "the first African Bishop to earn the crown of martyrdom" whose fame is connected with the literary works and pastoral activity of thirteen years from his conversion to his martyrdom, was the subject of the teaching which Pope Benedict XVI gave at his General weekly Audience on Wednesday 6 June in St Peter's Square. Born in Carthage the son of a wealth pagan family, Cyprian became a Christian at the age of 35 after a dissipated youth. He was immediately elected to the priestly office and the dignity of bishop. As bishop he had to deal with the persecutions of Decius (250) and Valerius (257 -258), and after the particularly cruel Decian persecution he worked hard to restore discipline in the Christian community, since many Christians had abjured the faith (lapsi - ‘lapsed’ -, and ardently desired to re-join the community. In addition to this a serious outbreak of the plague devastated Africa and controversy with regard to the validity of baptism administered to pagans by heretic Christians.
“In these very difficult circumstances - Pope Benedict XVI recalled - Cyprian demonstrated a great gift for government: he was strict but not inflexible with the lapsi, granting them pardon after an exemplary penance; in front of Rome he firmly defended the healthy traditions of the African Church; most human and filled with authentic spirit of the Gospel, during the pestilence he exhorted Christians to offer pagans fraternal assistance; with the right balance he reminded the faithful - too afraid of losing their earthly life and goods - that for them real life and real goods are not those of this world; he fought unshakeably against corrupt habits and sins which devastate the moral life, especially avarice”. Arrested at the order of the proconsul, after a brief questioning Cyprian courageously faced martyrdom amidst his people.
His numerous treatises and letters, always related to his pastoral ministry, were written for the edification of the community and the good behaviour of the faithful. “The Church is the theme most dear to him by a long way- the Pope explained in his catechesis -. He distinguishes between the visible, hierarchical Church and the invisible, mystical Church, while firmly stating that the Church is one, founded on Peter ”. Not to be forgotten is Cyprian's teaching on prayer. In his book on the “Our Father” Cyprian teaches “that precisely in the ‘Our Father' the Christian is given the correct manner of prayer; and he underlines that this prayer is plural, so that when we pray we never pray only for ourselves… In this way personal and liturgical prayer appear strongly linked. Their unity stems from the fact that they respond to the same Word of God. The Christians does not say ‘My Father, but ‘Our Father', even in the secrecy of the closed room because he knows that every where and at all times he is a member of the one same Body.”
The Holy Father concluded his catechesis recalling that “Cyprian belongs to the origins of that fecund theological-spiritual tradition which sees the ‘heart’ as the privileged place for prayer. In fact according to the Bible and to the Fathers, the human heart is the most intimate place, the place where God lives. In the heart there comes about that encounter in which God speaks to man and man listens to God; man speaks to God and God listens to man: all through the one divine Word…Let us make our own this ‘listening heart', of which we hear in the Bible and the Fathers: and of which we have such need! Only in this way can we fully experience that God is our Father and that the Church, the holy Bride of Christ, is truly our Mother.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 8/6/2007 - righe 41, parole 613)
