Homily for Memorial of Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian

Homily for the Memorial of
Sts. Cornelius & Cyprian

Sept. 16, 2025
Collect
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

Derived by Sailko
from Cyprian mosaic,
Sant'Apollinare Nuovo  
Ravenna 

Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian share a feastday because of mutual support in ministry, altho they were separated by the Mediterranean Sea and were martyred 5 years apart.  Their names are linked in the Roman Canon, where Cyprian is the only non-Roman bishop mentioned.

Elected Pope in 251, Cornelius was challenged by an antipope, Novatian.  As bishop of Carthage and primate of Africa, Cyprian recognized Cornelius as the authentic bishop of Rome, and that recognition carried weight.

Further, Cornelius and Novatian disputed about how the Church should deal with Christians who had lapsed in faith by offering pagan sacrifice during persecution but now repented.  This was an issue everywhere.  Novatian’s party were the rigorists of the day, maintaining that the Church could do nothing for the lapsed; they were to be left to God’s mercy.

Others were receiving the lapsed back without any hesitation or requirement of penance.

Both Cornelius and Cyprian, and synods over which they presided, arrived at a solution in the middle:  the lapsed could be restored to full communion either in danger of death or after serious public penance.  So Cyprian supported Cornelius in his pastoral and political difficulty, and Cornelius supported Cyprian’s pastoral approach.  This moderate approach to the care of souls is, presumably, why the collect calls the two saints “diligent shepherds.”

In a new persecution, Pope Cornelius was exiled.  Cyprian wrote to commend his witness and leadership (one option in today’s Office of Readings).  Cornelius died from ill treatment in June 253.

During 2 persecutions, Cyprian had evaded arrest by hiding.  In letters he kept in touch with his flock, as well as with other bishops.  His letters fill 4 volumes in the Paulist Press series Ancient Christian Writers.  Those and his treatises on church unity, the Lord’s Prayer, and other topics give him a place among the Fathers of the Church.

Persecution resumed in 257.  Cyprian had taken a lot of flak for hiding out previously, but this time didn’t run.  He was arrested and exiled.  After a year, Emperor Valerian stepped up the pressure on the clergy, ordering the execution of those who still refused to sacrifice to the gods.  At that time, Pope Sixtus II and his 7 deacons, including Lawrence, were martyred.  By letter Cyprian congratulated the Roman church for their steadfast faith and anticipated his own imminent trial.

He was brought back to Carthage, boldly proclaimed his faith, and was beheaded.  An excerpt from the acts of his trial and martyrdom is a 2d option in today’s Office of Readings.

In times of bloody persecution and theological and pastoral controversy, Cornelius and Cyprian worked for unity of the Church, sought reasonable pastoral solutions to vexing problems, and “were diligent shepherds and valiant martyrs” (collect).  We pray that those facing persecution today “be strengthened in faith and constancy” (collect) to witness to the faith, and that those disrupting unity may  undergo conversion.

May we, too, give courageous witness to the faith in a society that worships so many false gods.  May the prayers of the saints assist us.