The Lapsed / The Unity of the Catholic Church

Ancient Christian Writers #25

by Cyprian, Maurice Bevenot (Translator)

2022 Reprint of the 1957 Edition. Exact facsimile of the original edition and not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Cyprian was a pagan public speaker and teacher from Carthage in North Africa who converted to Christianity around the year 246 AD. He immediately set himself to the study of Scripture and the writings of the first great Latin theologian from North Africa, Tertullian. Saint Cyprian grew so rapidly in holiness and knowledge of the faith that he was appointed bishop of Carthage only two years later. Within only a few months of his election to the episcopacy, the persecution of Decius broke out and Cyprian was forced to flee his see. Upon returning, he set himself to dealing with the problem of the reconciliation, after suitable penance, of those who buckled under pressure and lapsed in their faith. After a few years of peace, the persecution of the emperor Valerian began. Cyprian gave himself up and was martyred in Carthage on September 14, 258. St. Cyprian's writings that survive are mainly letters and short treatises. Most notable among them are De Catholicae Ecclesiae Unitatis (251) on the Unity of the Catholic Church and the importance of the Episcopate as safeguard of this unity. St. Cyprian's writings portray vividly the life of the Christian Church in the middle of the third century. The two pastoral addresses of this intensely devout bishop reveal the aftermath of the persecution by the Emperor Decius.

Genres: Religion, Theology

140 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1957

About the author

Cyprian (Latin: Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus) was bishop of Carthage and an important Early Christian writer, many of whose Latin works are extant. He was born around the beginning of the 3rd century in North Africa, perhaps at Carthage, where he received a classical education. After converting to Christianity, he became a bishop in 249 and eventually died a martyr at Carthage.

He is held to be a saint within the Roman Catholic; Anglican; Lutheran; Western Rite, Oriental, and Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Reviews

[Noah Reimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cyprian wrote “De lapsis” ("On the Lapsed") and “De Unitate Ecclesiae (On the Unity of the Church) during a period of intense Roman persecution and internal strife within the church in the mid-3rd century. The intensity of his writings really show the difficulty of the situation the church found itself in. Having gone from intense persecution to whether lapsed believers could reenter and how, is a seriously difficult reality. I was convicted and blessed by how Cyprian biblically faced these challenges. Cyprian does not hold back! You can feel his passionate love for Christ and the church through the pages. Totally recommend 5/5




“Let us await the sudden coming of Our Lord, ever attentive and on the alert, so that when He shall knock, our faith may be watching, ready to receive from Our Lord the reward of its vigil. Were but these commands obeyed, were but these warnings and precepts observed-it is impossible that we should be tricked and overcome by the devil in our sleep; from being watchful servants we shall, under Christ's lordship, come to reign ourselves.”

-St Cyprian

[Rohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is definitely a cross-cultural experience (e.g. he talks a lot about penance but what about grace?)
But the challenge to his culture on wealth is definitely applicable to our day too!

p.s. How good that these two treatises (out of quite a few) are collated in just one book, so I can tick it off on Goodreads woot!

[FatherSwithin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for the Work, the Translation, and the Notes. These are two important treatises (sermons/addresses) that the Church badly needs today.