Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian (Memorial)
These two contemporaries, martyred in 253 and 258 respectively, were linked by one particular issue: what to do with those Christians who lapsed through fear in time of persecution, and then wished to return? An influential Roman priest, Novatian, maintained that they could not be forgiven (along with murderers, adulterers and those in second marriages). Cornelius and Cyprian strongly took the opposite view. Cornelius was elected Pope in 251, at the time of the persecution of the Christians by the Emperor Decius. In 253 he was exiled to Civitavecchia and from there wrote several times to Cyprian on the above-mentioned issue. He died of ill-treatment and was because of this was considered a martyr. Cyprian, a brilliant thinker and speaker, was a native of Carthage in North Africa; he was converted to Christianity in 245 and only three years later was unanimously elected Bishop by the local Christian clergy and people. He had to flee when the persecutions began, but encouraged his flock ...